Description
This Italian spaghetti sauce features sweet, concentrated roasted tomatoes and a vibrant basil oil gloss, creating a comforting and flavorful meal perfect for busy weeknights. It transforms simple ingredients into a healthy, memorable family dinner that tastes like it simmered all day.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ripe plum tomatoes, halved
- 1 large bunch fresh basil (about 2 cups packed leaves)
- 0.5 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 4–6 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 0.5 tsp granulated sugar, optional
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Roast the Tomatoes: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Halve plum tomatoes, toss with olive oil, salt, pepper on a large baking sheet. Roast 25-30 minutes until softened and caramelized.
- Build the Sauce Base: In a large pot, heat 2 Tbsp olive oil, sauté diced onion 7-8 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic, cook 1 minute until fragrant.
- Simmer to Perfection: Stir in crushed and roasted tomatoes, sugar, salt, pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to low. Cover, cook 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Prepare the Basil Oil Gloss: While sauce simmers, blend fresh basil leaves with 0.5 cup (120ml) olive oil in a blender until smooth and vibrant green.
- Finish and Serve: Adjust seasonings. Stir a spoonful of gloss into sauce, or drizzle generously over individual portions. Optional: blend half for smoother texture.
Notes
Store basil oil gloss in the fridge after preparing it in advance. If sauce is too acidic, add a pinch of sugar or simmer with a peeled carrot for 20 minutes. Adjust sauce thickness by simmering uncovered to reduce or adding warm pasta water/broth to thin.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 84 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting, Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 g)
- Calories: 180 calories
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg