Summer Tomato Sauce

Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 lbs ripe plum tomatoes, quartered
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup minced carrot
• 1/3 cup minced celery
• 1/3 cup minced yellow onion
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 tablespoon minced fresh oregano
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
• salt
• 1 pinch hot red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 pinch sugar (optional)

Recipe

• 1 put quartered tomatoes in a heavy, medium saucepan. cover and simmer over moderate heat until tomatoes have collapsed and rendered their juices, about 15 minutes, uncovering and stirring once or twice.
• 2 uncover, adjust heat to maintain a slow simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes have reduced to a thick, sauce-like consistency, about 45 minutes.
• 3 pass the tomatoes through a food mill placed over a bowl to remove skins and seeds. you should have about 2 cups puree.
• 4 heat olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over moderately low heat. add carrot, celery, onion, garlic, oregano and parsley.
• 5 cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft and sweet, about 30 minutes.
• 6 add tomato puree. stir to blend.
• 7 season with salt and, if desired, hot red pepper flakes and sugar if the tomatoes seem too tart.
• 8 cover and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes to blend flavors. taste and adjust seasoning. you should have about 2 cups sauce.