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Basic Tomato Sauce

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  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME:
  • SERVINGS: Makes 4 Cups
  • •MAKE-AHEAD
  • •VEGETARIAN

  1. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  2. 1 Spanish onion, chopped in 1/4-inch dice
  3. 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  4. 3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves, or 1 tablespoon dried thyme
  5. 1/2 medium carrot, finely shredded
  6. Two 28-ounce cans peeled whole tomatoes, crushed by hand and juices reserved
  7. Salt
  1. In a 3-quart saucepan, heat the olive oil over moderate heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and light golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the thyme and carrot and cook 5 minutes more, until the carrot is quite soft. Add the tomatoes and juice and bring to a boil, stirring often. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and serve. This sauce can be refrigerated for 1 week or frozen for 6 months.
Make Ahead This sauce can be refrigerated for 1 week or frozen for 6 months.