I reach for a big pot and make this sauce when the day feels busy and I still want real comfort. We talk and stir. The scent of garlic warms the room. The tomatoes start to sing. This fits spaghetti recipes and it loves a slow simmer that asks for little from us. I use this on quiet nights and on loud ones. It works for tomato pasta recipes and all pasta sauce recipes. You taste ripe tomato. You get a smooth body from olive oil. Herbs give lift. It is one of those easy pasta sauce recipes that builds flavor fast and stays light on the tongue. I first cooked a batch in a tiny flat with one pan and one wooden spoon. Now I keep jars ready for friends. We call it our homemade pasta sauce and some swear it is the best pasta sauce. It leans classic and clean so it also sits well as an italian pasta sauce for weeknights or a small dinner party.
Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce Recipe
- 3) Ingredients for Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce
- 4) How to Make Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce
- 5) Tips for Making Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce
- 6) Making Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce
- 8) Try these pasta recipes next
- 9) Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
We build flavor fast with pantry items. Garlic onion tomato and olive oil link and lift. The sauce tastes bright yet soft. It hugs pasta and makes dinner feel calm.
The method stays simple. We sauté stir simmer and taste. No fancy tools. One pot and one spoon handle the work. Clean up stays light.
Elena at Elena Cooks shares this for busy nights and slow Sundays. The recipe lives on elenacooks dot com and it grows with you as you tweak herbs and heat to your taste.
2) Easy Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce Recipe
I lean on this when I crave spaghetti recipes that feel warm and easy. We talk by the stove and stir the pot and smile. Spaghetti recipes need a sauce that coats every strand and does not weigh it down. This one brings gentle body and fresh tomato snap.
The pot warms the oil. The room fills with garlic. The tomatoes soften and sweeten. Herbs wake up. You hear a slow bubble and you know dinner sits close. The sauce fits pasta sauce recipes and slips into many shapes from long spaghetti to short penne.
On Elena Cooks we keep things honest. I make food that works on a weeknight and still feels right for guests. You can call this homemade pasta sauce or the best pasta sauce and both make sense after one bite.
3) Ingredients for Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce
Olive oil I start with a good splash in the pot. The oil carries flavor and gives the sauce a soft gloss. A mild extra virgin oil keeps the tomato bright.
Onion I chop it small so it melts. The onion brings gentle sweetness that rounds the tomato. Slow heat turns it tender and kind.
Garlic Three cloves minced fine. Garlic warms the base and gives the sauce a deep cozy note. Keep the heat medium to avoid color.
Tomato paste A spoon or two. It toasts for a minute and adds depth and a hint of savor. The paste helps the sauce cling to spaghetti.
Canned tomatoes I like crushed for ease. Whole work too if you crush them in the pot. Choose a ripe brand so the sauce tastes clean.
Dried oregano A small spoon lifts the tomato. The scent feels like a classic red sauce from a cozy kitchen.
Dried basil or fresh basil Dried brings steady flavor. Fresh adds a soft pepper lift at the end. Use what you have.
Red pepper flakes A pinch wakes the sauce. It stays balanced and friendly. Add more if you like heat.
Sugar Only if the tomatoes taste sharp. A small pinch smooths the edges without making the sauce sweet.
Salt and black pepper Season in layers. Taste at the end and add a little more if the sauce needs focus.
Spaghetti Cook a big pot. This sauce loves long strands and makes a fine base for many spaghetti dinner recipes.
Parmesan and fresh basil A final shower adds nutty depth and a green spark. It makes each plate feel generous.
4) How to Make Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce
Step one Warm olive oil in a wide pot over medium heat. Add onion. Stir until soft and sweet. Keep the pieces moving so they stay pale.
Step two Add garlic. Stir for one minute. The scent grows. If it starts to color lift the pot for a few breaths.
Step three Stir in tomato paste. Cook until the paste darkens. This small step builds body and gives pasta sauce recipes more depth.
Step four Pour in the tomatoes. Crush them if they are whole. Add oregano basil and a small pinch of flakes. Add a pinch of sugar if the tomato tastes sharp.
Step five Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle bubble. Lower the heat. Simmer twenty to thirty minutes. Stir now and then so the bottom stays clear.
Step six Taste. Add a splash of the pasta water for silk. For a smooth finish blend part of the sauce. Toss with spaghetti and top with parmesan and basil.
5) Tips for Making Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce
Use ripe canned tomatoes. If they taste flat add a tiny pinch of sugar. If they taste loud add a small splash of milk to round them out. Keep the simmer soft so the sauce stays bright.
Salt your pasta water well. Pasta should taste seasoned before it meets the sauce. Save a cup of that water so you can adjust the texture and help the sauce cling.
Cook the pasta to tender with a little bite. Then marry pasta and sauce in the pot for one minute. This turns simple noodles into a plate that belongs with strong spaghetti recipes.
6) Making Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce Ahead of Time
I make a double batch on Sunday. Jars cool on the counter then move to the fridge. The flavor deepens by the next day and makes quick meals possible.
For weeknight ease freeze portions in flat bags. They thaw fast in a bowl of cool water. A pot of boiling pasta and one bag of sauce can save a late evening.
This plan supports busy cooks who love reliable spaghetti recipes. It keeps stress low and keeps dinner warm and steady.
7) Storing Leftover Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce
Place the cooled sauce in airtight jars. It keeps in the fridge for four days. It freezes well for three months. Label the date so you track freshness.
When you reheat set the burner low. Add a splash of water to loosen the sauce. Taste the salt and add a touch of olive oil for shine.
Leftover sauce makes fast lunches. Warm it and spoon over toast with an egg. Or fold it into beans for a quick stew that feels cozy.
8) Try these pasta recipes next
9) Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce
Spaghetti Recipes Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cans tomatoes 400 grams each crushed or whole
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sugar optional
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil or a handful fresh torn
- Pinch red pepper flakes optional
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 500 grams spaghetti for serving
- Fresh basil and grated parmesan for serving
Instructions
- Warm the oil in a wide pot over medium heat. Add the onion. Cook until soft and sweet.
- Stir in the garlic. Cook for one minute. Do not let it color.
- Add the tomato paste. Cook and stir until it darkens and smells rich.
- Pour in the tomatoes. Crush with a spoon if whole. Add sugar oregano basil and red pepper flakes.
- Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle bubble. Lower the heat. Simmer for twenty to thirty minutes and stir now and then.
- Taste. Adjust the salt and pepper. For a smoother finish blend part of the sauce.
- Boil the spaghetti in salted water until tender with a little bite. Drain.
- Toss the pasta with sauce. Top with basil and parmesan. Serve hot.
10) Nutrition
One cup holds about one hundred eighty calories with modest fat from olive oil and natural sugar from tomato. Fiber sits near four grams and protein near five. Sodium depends on the salt you add. Use less if you plan to top the pasta with a salty cheese. This sauce fits many spaghetti dishes and leaves room for sides like salad or garlic bread.
Elena at Elena Cooks cares about clear steps and calm meals. Find more ideas at elenacooks dot com. Share what you tweak and we can test it and add notes for other cooks who love simple red sauce.
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