Tag Archives: BosGuy

I regularly make a pot of tomato sauce that I use through out the week.  While one can buy jarred sauce, I prefer making my own because I believe it tastes much better and I also believe that it is far healthier.  The  total cost for making my red sauce costs approximately $9-$10 and will make 6-8 servings.  Total time prepping and making the sauce varies because you can let this simmer for hours if you like, but when in a pinch this can be done in 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Ingredients for BosGuy’s wicked awesome tomato sauce includes: 2 28oz cans of San Marzano tomatoes (I prefer the whole peeled or cubed variety), 1 Vidalia onion, 1 head of garlic (roasted), 1 bell pepper (roasted), 1 carrot, 1 spicy Italian sausage, 1 cup of red wine, curly parsley, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.

I start by pureeing the onion and carrot in my Cuisinart because they will cook more quickly then I add them to a hot pan with olive oil.  The carrot acts as a natural sweetener and will cut the acidity of the tomatoes when they are added.  This is a healthier option than sugar commonly found in jarred sauces.  

After the onions and carrots cook (it will only take a couple minutes) I combine the whole peeled tomatoes, roasted garlic and peppers and pulse them in my Cuisinart so there remains some chunks. Then I add it to the sauce pan and stir (repeatedly).  Next, I peel off the casing of the sausage and remove any large pieces of fat.  I add this along with the parsley and one cup of red wine into my blender to puree it until it looks like a paste (it looks gross but adds so much flavor). Add the contents to the sauce pan and stir (repeatedly).

Lastly, cover the sauce pan and lower the heat so the sauce will lightly simmer.  Let it cook for a minimum of 30 minutes (stir every 5-10 minutes).  If the sauce becomes too thick add another cup of red wine  / chicken stock / or water.If you would prefer a meatless option I suggest substituting the sausage with a roasted eggplant.  Fortunately for you I have a past post that shows you how easy this is to do, BosGuy cooks: Roasted eggplant.

Other Tips: purchase San Marzano tomatoes – I know they can be a bit more money but they taste better.  The red wine will add both flavor and deepen the color of the sauce, making it more visually appealing.