SIMPLE TOMATO SAUCE

HANDS-ON TIME 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME 40 minutes
MAKES about 8 cups

INGREDIENTS:

• ¼ cup olive oil
• ½ cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cans (each 796 ml) whole tomatoes
• 2 cans (each 156 ml) tomato paste
• 2 sprigs fresh basil and parsley
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
2. Sauté the onion and garlic until softened and translucent, about 3 minutes.
3. Stir in the tomatoes, mashing them with the back of a spoon.
4. Stir in the tomato paste, 2 cups of water, basil, parsley, bay leaves, and salt; bring to a boil.
5. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer, stirring often to prevent scorching, for 30 minutes.
6. Discard the bay leaves, basil, and parsley.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION, PER ¼ CUP:

• About 34 calories
• 1 g protein
• 2 g total fat (trace sat. fat)
• 4 g carbohydrates
• 1 g fiber
• 0 mg cholesterol
• 148 mg sodium
• 213 mg potassium
• % RDI: 2% calcium, 6% iron, 2% vitamin A, 15% vitamin C, 2% folate.

VARIATION: PURÉED TOMATO SAUCE

1. Remove the bay leaves from the cooked sauce.
2. Working in batches, purée the sauce in a food processor or blender until smooth.
3. Press the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve, discarding the solids.