Authentic Italian Tomato Sauce Recipe (Sugo al Pomodoro)

The BEST Authentic Italian Tomato Sauce (Sugo al Pomodoro)! This is a go-to, easy, classic, and flavorful tomato sauce recipe you will love! It comes together in less than 30 minutes with only 4 ingredients.

We call this our "Mother Sauce" of Italian cuisine. This delicious and authentic tomato sauce 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, and Baked Eggplant Slices Recipe with Ricotta Cheese.

Use as your favorite pizza sauce for our Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Dough Recipe.

Authentic Italian Tomato Sauce Recipe

Honestly, this is the best homemade tomato sauce recipe! It comes straight from our Italian kitchen and I know you will love it too. Once you try this homemade tomato sauce you'll never go back to the jarred marinara sauce for your spaghetti sauce. It tastes like an Italian restaurant with halft the cost.

If you do have extra spaghetti with red sauce make sure to make Fried Spaghetti Recipe with Leftover Pasta. It is a family favorite.

This recipe for Authentic Italian Tomato Sauce is my Nonna Laura's recipe. I grew up eating this sauce and now make it in my home for our family. It's the perfect sauce to serve with spaghetti and enjoy with a loaf of homemade bread!

Try this sauce in our Classic Italian Lasagna Bolognese with Bechamel Sauce.

Simple Ingredients

The ingredient list is fairly simple so the best quality ingredients will take this sauce 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 Authentic Italian Tomato Sauce Recipe (Sugo al Pomodoro)

The process for 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 canned tomatoes and stir occasionally as the sauce cooks for 20-25 minutes on low heat.

Right 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 these delcious Italian pasta recipes Authentic Italian Spaghetti alla Puttanesca Recipe and

Why Make Homemade Tomato Sauce?

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 kind of 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 true and authentic Italian way!

Can I use my own canned tomatoes for this Italian tomato sauce recipe?

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.

What canned tomatoes should I use?

For this recipe, we use the best brand of 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. In case you do end up with a sauce that is a little acidic add a teaspoon of sugar.

I like to use whole tomatoes, such as San Marzano. Whole tomatoes are less processed since they aren't diced, or crushed by a machine. Use the best quality tomatoes for this easy homemade tomato sauce and you will use this sauce on and with everything. Try it with Easy Italian Style Nachos (sheet pan).

Brands I recommend

You can use whole peeled, crushed, petite diced, or a mix! You can use a variety of Italian tomatoes, or locally sourced in the area where you live. The quality is the important part.

•  Bianco DiNapoli Organic Whole Peeled Tomatoes 
•  Cento Italian Style Peeled Tomatoes 
• Dellalo San Marzano (DOP) Whole Peeled Tomatoes
•  Muir Glen Organic
• Mutti Peeled Whole Tomatoes

If you are interested in reading more in-depth about canned tomatoes the NY Times published a great article.

Olive Oil Variety

I don't cut corners when it comes to quality extra virgin olive oil. Flavorful olive oil is a good base for any recipe.

Olive Oil Brands

I recommend using high-quality ingredients. You will really taste the flavor difference and it is worth it! These are the olive oil brands you can find at most grocery stores in the United States.

Extra-virgin Olive Oil brands- DeLallo, Colavita, Bertolli, California Olive Ranch, HemisFares , and Spectrum.

Contains affiliate links.

Authentic Italian tomato sauce story

I wrote this story, Saturday Story: Sweet Summer Mornings for a high school English class and it sums up my memories of this Authentic Sugo al Pomodoro that my Nonna Laura made multiple times a week.

Other Recipes for YOU:

• Best Italian Style Stuffed Peppers
• Authentic Italian Pasta Carbonara (no cream)
• Pasta e Ceci (Italian Pasta with Chickpea Soup)
• Authentic Italian Pasta Puttanesca Sauce
• BEST Italian Beef Short Rib Ragu

An authentic and delicious Italian Tomato Sauce that has been passed down through generations! This will become a staple in your home too.

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 the delicious Italian recipes you make. To get more ideas follow me on Pinterest.

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