Sugo (Italian Tomato Sauce) Recipe

Rating 5.0
| 2
Sugo is an authentic Italian tomato sauce that benefits from slow-simmering on the stove. This recipe uses only a handful of ingredients to create a rich, flavorful sauce.
Utensils Dinner
Globe Italian
10
ingredients
5
steps
85
minutes
Views: 37066
Tiffany La Forge is a professional chef, cookbook author, and food writer who graduated from The Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. She runs the seasonal food blog, Parsnips and Pastries, and is author of The Modern Cast Iron Cookbook.

Ingredients

Servings:
4
2 tblsp
olive oil
1
small onion, minced
4
cloves garlic, lightly smashed
1/2 tsp
salt, or to taste
Pinch
crushed red pepper flakes
1
bay leaf
28 oz
can crushed San Marzano tomatoes
1/2 cup(s)
red wine, optional
Handful
fresh basil leaves, torn (plus more for garnish)
pasta, for serving

Directions 5 steps | 85 Minutes

Step 1

Prep and gather all ingredients. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.

Step 11 Shot
Step 2

Add the onion and cook until softened and translucent. Add the smashed garlic cloves and cook until fragrant and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove the garlic from the pan.

Step 12 Shot
Step 3

Add the salt, red pepper flakes, bay leaf, crushed tomatoes and wine, if using.

Step 13 Shot
Step 4

Bring the sauce to a simmer and cover. Simmer for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the lid and simmer uncovered for an additional 15-20 minutes, until the sauce is thickened to your liking. Stir in basil and remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust for seasoning and salt.

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Step 5

Serve with pasta.

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Notes:

  • The longer you simmer this sugo sauce, the creamier it will be. Simmer the sauce for 2-3 hours for more robust flavor and creaminess. If you're short on time, you can simmer this sauce for 30-45 minutes and use an immersion blender to speed up the process. We recommend Cuisinart® Smart Stick® 2-Speed Hand Blender.

Nutrition Per Serving
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CALORIES
411
FAT
8.3 g
PROTEIN
12 g
CARBS
67.3 g

FOOD FOR THOUGHT?

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2 Comments
2 Comments
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Sarah D.

Sarah

28 Jul 2022

This is even simple enough to make on a weeknight! Love the photos associated with each step in the directions!

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Sam N.

Sam

18 Jul 2022

Really cool recipe video! Love how simple it is to make sugo!

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