Tomato's play a major role in my home kitchen. I make a lot of meals with fresh tomatoes when they are in season but I make even more meals with canned tomatoes all year round. Tomato sauce however is the number 1 thing that I find myself making week after week. It's just such a fab staple. 

If you follow me on Instagram, especially my Instastories you know I preach time and time again about utilizing one ingredient and making multiple meals out of it and canned tomatoes are a prime example of this. 

Like all food, recipes, and cultures, everyone makes the same recipe differently and tomato sauce is one of those things that varies. There is no “wrong way” to make tomato sauce and I also find it’s the perfect recipe to use what you have, whether it’s one can or tomato paste, a half drank bottle of red wine or an abundance of fresh tomatoes. Here with the below recipe, there's no exact quantities as you just want to make the tomato sauce that's perfect for you. 

3 Tips For Utilizing Canned Tomatoes: 

Always Take Advantage of the 2/$3 or 3/$5 Canned Tomato Sale At Your Local Supermarket - canned tomatoes are a fab kitchen essential and you always want to make sure you have them in your pantry. You can grab a can for soups, sauces and many other dishes. 

Buy A Variety of Canned Tomatoes - when you utilize the above sale, be sure to select a variety of canned tomatoes. The most common types of canned tomatoes will include whole peeled plum, diced, crushed, sauce and paste. No matter how you mix up the variety, the different textures of tomatoes will make a fab meal. I prefer to use whole peeled plum tomatoes when I'm making soups and a mix of diced and sauce when I'm making dishes such as shrimp & grits or quick 15 minute pasta. 

Create Multiple Meals with One Pot Of Tomato Sauce - this one recipe can be a base for many meals. Think spaghetti & meatballs , chickpeas with tomatoes & spinach , quick & easy tomato soup , baked eggs , or pan roasted lobster with tomatoes and shallots.

My Go-To Tomato Sauce Recipe:

canned tomatoes, sauce - diced & crushed is my favorite combo for sauce

onion, peeled & diced  

garlic, peeled & thinly sliced

stock or water 

3T. sugar

sea salt 

pepper 

oil

1 stick of cold butter 

your desired herbs & spices

juice of 1/2 a lemon, optional 

Parmesan rinds, optional

In a deep skillet or a medium sized pot heat a small amount of oil over a low flame. Add in diced onions and garlic and sauté until onions and garlic are soft, about 5 minutes. Add your desired variety of canned tomatoes and at least 1/2c. of water or preferred stock (parmesan rind if you are using) stir and cook for about 10 minutes. When sauce comes to a simmer, season with salt, pepper, 3T of sugar and your desired herbs and/or spices. Add in cold butter and stir until butter is fully incorporated.