Basic Tomato Sauce

Basic Tomato Sauce

(Or gravy if you may)

This is the recipe my mother used.  She never measured or followed a specific recipe, so here goes my best effort to quantify the ingredients.

RECIPE:

 2 Boneless Beef Short Ribs  - approx 1 lb

Olive Oil – 2 tablespoons

Fresh Garlic – 5 cloves chopped fine

2 cans Tomato Sauce – 29oz each

1 can tomato paste – 6 oz

Onion powder - 1 teaspoon

Oregano – pinch or 2

Fresh Basil *– chopped, approx ½ cup

Fresh Parsley* – chopped approx ¼ cup

                        If you don’t have fresh available dried is fine.

Note:  If you like more oregano add more – personally it is not my favorite flavor and my some of my children refer to it as “dirt” so I can only hide a small amount in the sauce.  Why do I add it at all you might ask – answer is because my mother did – enough said.

1.     Add the olive oil to a large saucepan - medium heat

2.     Add the short ribs and brown on all sides.  Remove from pan and set aside.

3.     Add the chopped garlic to the oil and cook until soft (2-4 minutes) Do not brown – the garlic will become bitter. 

4.     Add the tomato sauce - and tomato paste, rinse all the cans with water - half full and add to the sauce.

5.     Add the onion powder, oregano.

6.     Simmer for 1 hour

7.     Add the fresh parsley and basil, if using dried herbs they should be added along with the onion powder and oregano.

8.     Simmer for and additional 1 or until the beef ribs are tender and fully cooked.

Makes enough sauce for 2 lbs of pasta with some to spare – it also freezes well.


-D