Quick Tomato Sauce

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 1 (28 ounce) can whole canned tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 jalapeno (optional)
• 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomato packed in oil, drained and chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, finely chopped

Recipe

• 1 open the can of tomatoes and pour off the juice into a bowl.
• 2 use the lid to press against the tomatoes to extract as much juice as possible.
• 3 then use your hand to squeeze the tomatoes to a pulp.
• 4 reserve the juice and pulp separately and set the empty can aside.
• 5 heat the olive oil in a heavy saucepan over medium high heat until hot.
• 6 if using the jalapeno, tilt the pan to collect the oil in a little pool against the side and drop the jalapeno into the oil.
• 7 cook until lightly brown, about 2 minutes.
• 8 remove the jalapeno and reserve.
• 9 add the onion to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 2 minutes.
• 10 add the garlic and cook briefly until light gold.
• 11 add the tomato juice and bring to a boil.
• 12 simmer rapidly for several minutes.
• 13 add the crushed tomato pulp.
• 14 then rinse the remaining pulp out of the can by filling it halfway with water and add that to the pan.
• 15 add the bay leaf, jalapeno, if using, and salt and pepper, to taste, and return to a boil.
• 16 add the sun-dried tomatoes and stir.
• 17 lower the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching, until the mixture thickens and the tomatoes have turned an orange red, about 30 minutes.
• 18 add the oregano halfway through the cooking.
• 19 discard the bay leaf.
• 20 peel, seed and mash the jalapeno with a spoonful of the sauce and add back to sauce.
• 21 variation for quick tomato sauce: substitute 2 pounds vine ripened tomatoes for the canned tomatoes.
• 22 peel the tomatoes, cut in 1/2 crosswise, and squeeze out the juice and seeds over a sieve suspended over a bowl.
• 23 chop the tomatoes.
• 24 proceed as directed, omitting the dried tomatoes and using jalapeno, if desired.
• 25 the recipe may be increased proportionately.