Sarah's Super Simple Sugo
Ciao Bee-yotch!!!! Long time no talk huh? I’m still in shock with what’s going on in our world right now and although it’s all kind of scary…we are making the best of it over here in the Gosnell house and I am going to utilize this time to really get back on track with my blog and my purpose. Part of that purpose is sharing my favorite food and what we’re cooking over here. If you’re new here…I am absolutely obsessed with all things Italian, especially the food and even MORE… the people! Before I go any further, I do want to say that what is going on right now and recent events in Italy with the COVID-19 situation, my heart has broken for them as this has been beyond anything I could ever imagine. I feel so blessed to have close friends and family there so I have been able to speak with them often. One thing that I admire so much about them is their will to still have that vivacious Italian spirit.. even in quarantine. We have seen in the media people singing from their balconies and showing pride and love for eachother and their country, making the world fall in love with them and Italy even more. I really hope WE as Americans can take a page from their book as we face so many uncertainties in our near future with COVID-19. We must remember to stick together and that we WILL get through this! Hopefully stronger than before. #foodforthought
Ok, now that I have spoken my piece on all of that let’s get to the food part…
If there is one thing I have learned from all of the Italians in my life it’s KEEP IT SIMPLE. Don’t over season, don’t add a bunch of unnecessary ingredients. Now obviously there are times to add a bunch of other flavors and ingredients depending on what you are making but I always use this super easy idiot proof sauce recipe (I don’t even know if I would qualify this as a recipe) as the base to all of my red sauces. You really can’t go wrong with this one guys. Like legit….it doesn’t get any easier than this. In fact, it’s so easy you can throw it together in 5 minutes probably. SIDENOTE: Obviously I would love to use alllll fresh ingredients always (sometimes I do) but let’s get real, we usually don’t have that kind of time and I have YET to find freaking fresh San Marzano tomatoes anywhere in the states. (Listen, if you got a guy, you better tell me. No Seriously….Tell me!) Ok, let’s go!
Ingredients:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - just enough to cover the bottom of your pot
Canned San Marzano Tomatoes Peeled- look for a brand where the Tomatoes are actually from the region of Campania in Italy. Just Trust me.
Canned San Marzano Tomatoes Crushed - get those Italian tomatoes gurrrlllll
Tomato Paste - you don’t need much of this. If I am making a whole pot I will use a 6 oz can.
Garlic (Chopped) - some people only like 1 or 2 cloves. I want alllllll of the garlic so I usually use 5 or 6.
Fresh Basil -to taste. (Sidenote: If you’re not about that fresh basil life because it dies too quickly, I recommend you trying to find “Lightly Dried” basil in the refrigerated section at your grocery store. I always find mine at my local Publix in the produce section. It’s SO MUCH more flavorful than the completely dried kind and it will last you a month or 2. (Pictured)
Directions:
Combine all of your ingredients and cook on low heat/simmer and cover
Sarah’s TIP: If the sauce seems too acidic, you can add a carrot to the sauce to absorb some of the acidity then disgard before serving.
………..Ok that’s it. Lol. No Seriously you’re done. My only advice I will say is give it the wooden spoon taste test while it’s cooking and see how it tastes. Listen…if it’s boring or feels like it’s missing something, then guess what? Add something to it if you want to! That’s what is so fun about making sauces is it gives you the freedom to create. I just gave you a really easy base line. No matter what, don’t get intimidated by the ideas of making Sauce from scratch because really, this is all it is!
Ok……so now that you know how to make some Home Made Pasta Sauce, what are you going to do next with it? Are you going to use it in some other recipes? Seeing you cook the food I share makes me over the moon happy so if you do, share it with me! You can email it to me or share it on Social Media but if you do….pretty please will you tag me in it? @sarahmgosnell and PLEASE hashtag it so I can re-share on mine as well! As always if you have any questions or I can help any way, holler at ya girl and again, let’s all try and channel our inner Italian while we get through this and remember we CAN live La Bella Vita, it’s all what we make it. Love you all!