TOMATO SAUCE IN ITALIAN RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat the Olive oil in a Large frying pan/Skillet until very hot.
• Add onions and stir until soft and slightly brown.Turn down the heat and add the garlic and Red wine. Leave for 1-2 mins.
• Add tomatoes, basil, oregano, and bay leaves, turn the heat down and leave to simmer for approx 5 mins stirring occasionally. If using fresh tomatoes allow them to reduce slowly, this will take approx 20 mins.
• Once mixture has simmered add puree and stir in, simmer for a further 5 mins.
• Remove from the heat and cool. Sauce can be refrigerated for use later on, If using for Pizza topping use a blender until smooth and spread on pizza using the back of a spoon. If using for bolognese, brown mince and add when ready.

Steps:

• 1. Peel and finely chop the garlic, then gently fry in a thick-bottomed pan with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Crumble in the chilli, add the oregano and tomatoes.
  2. Mix gently, but do not break up the tomatoes as this will release the pips, which will make the sauce slightly bitter – by leaving the tomatoes whole and letting the mixture cook slowly you’ll get a nice sweet sauce. (You can remove the pips from the tomatoes if you want, but I don’t bother.) Bring to the boil and simmer gently for 1 hour.
  3. Add the vinegar to the pan, then stir and chop up the tomatoes in the sauce.
  4. Pick the basil or marjoram and roughly chop, then add to the pan.
  5. Season well to taste with sea salt and black pepper, and finish with 2-3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.