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The BEST Authentic Italian Tomato Sauce (Sugo al Pomodoro)! You will love This go-to, easy, classic, and flavorful tomato sauce recipe! It comes together in less than 30 minutes with only four ingredients.
Best Italian Tomato Sauce
We call this our “Mother Sauce” of Italian cuisine. This delicious and authentic tomato-based sauce (Sugo) is the base for Nonna’s Famous Traditional Italian Meatballs (Polpette) and Classic Italian Ragu Recipe (Meat Sauce), Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna with Tomato Sauce, Best Arrabbiata Sauce Recipe (Spicy Spaghetti Sauce), Pasta with Pink Sauce and Baked Eggplant Slices Recipe with Ricotta Cheese.
Use as your favorite pizza sauce for our Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Dough Recipe. You can also use this to make Baked Rotini Pasta!
Simple Ingredients
The ingredient list is fairly simple so that the best ingredients will take this sugo recipe from great to amazing!
- Onion
- Best quality olive oil (see recommendations)
- Best-quality canned tomatoes (see recommendations)
- Fresh basil leaves
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
How To Make Sugo al Pomodoro (step-by-step photo instructions)
Making this sauce is nostalgic for me as I saw my nonna and mother do it many times my entire life.
Start by slicing or dicing your onion. Add good-quality olive oil to the pan. Heat oil and place the onions in the pan to cook until translucent.
Then, add the whole canned tomatoes and crush them with the back of a wooden spoon.
Stir occasionally as the sauce cooks for 20-25 minutes on low heat.
After turning off the heat, add a little salt and pepper, and the fresh basil, and stir to combine. The fresh basil at the end will add a depth of fresh flavor to the sauce.
Try this delicious Italian pasta recipe Authentic Italian Spaghetti alla Puttanesca Recipe.
Another sauce variation with canned tomatoes is this Homemade Marinara Sauce recipe.
Variations
This authentic Italian sugo recipe is simple and rustic. If you want to vary the recipe, try these variations the next time you make it.
- Add a couple of cloves of fresh garlic. (Cook the onions and garlic separately so you don’t burn the garlic!)
- Fresh herbs such as fresh oregano, fresh thyme, or fresh rosemary
- A dash of Italian seasoning with dried herbs
- Add a bit of fresh parsley as a garnish
Most canned tomato pasta sauces are filled with a dozen ingredients and spices. The overdone sauce complicates the pure sweet flavor of the tomato itself. The key is using the right canned tomatoes and good quality olive oil as a base. Italian recipes are mostly simple– a few fresh ingredients create a balanced combination of flavors that complement one another perfectly. This is the authentic Italian way!
Absolutely! I encourage it. If you harvest and can your own fresh tomatoes in the summer months, they are perfect for this simple sauce. You will highlight the freshness of the tomatoes with this minimalist Italian tomato sauce recipe.
For this recipe, we use the best-canned tomatoes we can find. Picked at the peak of ripeness and properly packaged, the right canned tomatoes are perfect for this classic Italian tomato sauce recipe. Don’t use a brand that uses a lot of citric acids to preserve freshness- or it can make the sauce acidic. If you end up with a sauce that is a little acidic, add a teaspoon of sugar. I like to use whole tomatoes, such as the San Marzano tomato. Whole tomatoes are less processed since they aren’t diced or crushed by a machine.
Brands I recommend: Bianco DiNapoli Organic Whole Peeled Tomatoes, Cento Italian Style Peeled Tomatoes, Dellalo San Marzano (DOP) Whole Peeled Tomatoes, Muir Glen Organic, and Mutti Peeled Whole Tomatoes.
If you are interested in reading more in-depth about canned tomatoes the NY Times published a great article.
Yes! Absolutely. I often make a double batch, or even triple, and store the extra in the refrigerator or freezer.
I don’t cut corners regarding quality extra virgin olive oil. Flavorful olive oil is a good base for any recipe. I always recommend using high-quality ingredients because you will really taste the flavor difference, and it is worth it!
These are the olive oil brands that I recommend that you can find at most grocery stores in the United States: DeLallo, Colavita, Bertolli, California Olive Ranch,HemisFares, and Spectrum. (Contains affiliate links.)
What To Serve With This Recipe
This delicious tomato sauce pairs perfectly with long or short pasta, simply topped with freshly grated Parmigiano or parmesan cheese. You can also use it as a dip for crusty bread to create a simple meal on its own.
You can also serve it over Easy Polenta Recipe Authentic Italian Style, BEST Pillowy Soft Potato Gnocchi, or Authentic Homemade Pappardelle Pasta Recipe.
Don’t forget to make a batch of easy homemade bread to soak up the extra sauce! Fast Italian No Knead Ciabatta Bread, No Knead Italian Focaccia Bread, or Softest No Knead Bread Italian Recipe.
More suggestions: this is a great sauce to use as a dip for crispy chicken wings. This sugo recipe also pairs well with a nice red wine.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
This sugo recipe is perfect for making ahead and storing in the refrigerator or freezer so you can have it on hand anytime!
Fridge- store prepared tomato sauce in Mason jars or tightly sealed airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Freezer – as long as the cooked sauce is sealed in a proper container or in a proper freezer bag it will last several months in the freezer.
I always have this sauce on hand as we eat it weekly and I use it as a base for several other Italian recipes!
Make sure to leave a ⭐️star rating on the recipe card and comment below if you make the recipe. I love to connect with you through my recipes.
I would love for you to tag me on Instagram @cucinabyelena so I can see your delicious Italian recipes. To get more ideas, follow me on Pinterest.
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Sugo al Pomodoro Recipe
Easy Creamy Polenta Recipe Authentic ItalianFresh, flavorful and light taste, a simple authentic recipe for classic Italian tomato sauce (Sugo al Pomodoro). Great for any pasta dish! Add chicken or fresh mozzarella and make it a meal!
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 small onion (yellow or white), chopped or cut into thin slices (depending on preference)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (good quality such as Colavita)
- 1 28 oz can of good quality whole peeled canned tomatoes (you can also use crushed tomatoes, or passata (tomato puree)
- 5–6 leaves of fresh basil, whole and washed
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large saucepan or pot, medium heat, add olive oil and sauté onion for about 6 minutes, until translucent.
- Add canned tomatoes. Cover and let simmer on low-medium heat (the sauce should bubble, but not boil) after 10 minutes of cooking crush the whole tomatoes with a wooden spoon to break them up. You can also use an immersion blender.
- Cook for 20-25 minutes until the liquid reduces slightly. Stir occasionally during cooking.
- Turn off the heat and add the basil to the sauce. Add salt and a bit of pepper to taste. If you notice any bitterness you may add a teaspoon of sugar. If you notice the sauce isn’t as thick as you like it add a tablespoon of good quality pure tomato paste.
- Store in the fridge or freezer and use as a sauce for pasta, polenta, gnocchi, and more!
Notes
Storing Fridge- store prepared tomato sauce in Mason jars or tightly sealed containers in the refrigerator for up to one week. Freezer – as long as the cooked sauce is sealed in a proper container or in a proper freezer bag it will last several months in the freezer.
I always have this sauce on hand as we eat it weekly and I use it as a base for several other Italian recipes!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Sauces
- Method: Italian
- Cuisine: Italian
Lovely, the longer it cooks the better the taste!
Yes, the depth of flavor. ❤️
This is a great basic sauce.
Exactly! So versatile.
Hello, do you add any water to this recipe at all?
No, unless the canned tomatoes you are using a very dense- then you can add a 1/2 cup.
Hi there! Can this sauce cook on low for a few hours if I want to start it now? Thanks
Yes! Absolutely.