Simple Tomato Sauce

Buying tomato sauce in a jar can make cooking easy, but so can this simple recipe. If you use fresh herbs the taste is sure to be extra delizioso! That’s Italian for delicious in case you were wondering.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed and thinly sliced
• 1 (14.5oz) can diced tomatoes, fire roasted.
• 1 (6oz) can tomato paste
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh oregano leaves* (optional)
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 (8 oz) box of gluten-free linguine or other gluten-free pasta

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large pan and sauté the onions for 2 minutes or until translucent.
2. Add the garlic and sauté less than 1 minute so not to burn.
3. Stir in diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Cover and simmer on medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
4. Add the fresh chopped basil, parsley, and oregano if using. Reduce the heat to low, stir, cover partly with a lid, and simmer for 12 minutes or until hot. Cover and remove from heat. Reheat before using.
5. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package, in a large pot of boiling water. Add a pinch of salt after water is boiling. Stir frequently, and watch the time so not to overcook. Drain when done, then transfer to a serving platter and top with reheated sauce. Serve with extra sauce for anyone who wants to add more. Also serve with Vegan Grated ‘Cheese’ for added flavor. Unused sauce stores refrigerated in a container with an airtight lid for up to five days.

Yield:
Makes 4 servings

* You can omit the fresh oregano or replace it with 1 teaspoon dried oregano. All three herbs combined can be replaced with 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning. Adjust amounts to taste.