Tomato sauce

This fresh tangy basic tomato sauce recipe can be used in many dishes. Spread it on pizza, toss it with pasta, fish, chicken or veggies. This versatile basic sauce freezes well too. So when you have lots of fresh tomatoes you can make this and freeze in small amounts. I have also added two variations of this sauce. One is the meat sauce where you can add ground chicken or mutton and use it in lasagna, or in spaghetti bolognese. Substitute meat for a bunch of veggies and make the veggie tomato sauce.

For plain tomato sauce (makes 9 cups)
2 tbsp olive oil
4 large red onions chopped
4-5 cloves of garlic
1/2 tsp red chili flakes
12 large tomatoes chopped fine
1 can tomato puree
1 can tomato paste
2 tsp sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
3-4 bay leaves
2 tsp each basil and oregano
1 tsp hot sauce

1. To make tomato sauce heat olive oil in a large stock pot and add onion and garlic and bay leaves. Saute for 2 minutes till onions soften a bit. 
2. Add red chili flakes and the dry herbs. Saute for 20 seconds. 
3. Add all other ingredients and bring to a rolling boil for about 3-5 minutes. 
4. Simmer covered for about 30 minutes stirring every so often.

For meat sauce (makes 9 cups)
In addition to above ingredients
2 lbs ground chicken or lamb

1. Add ground chicken/lamb after step 2. 
2. Cook on high stirring often for about 2-4 minutes till chicken/lamb cooks a bit. 
3. Continue with the basic sauce process from step 3.

For vegetable tomato sauce (makes 12 cups)

In addition to ingredients for basic tomato sauce

5-6 cups chopped vegetables(carrots, green peppers, celery, zucchini, mushrooms)

1. Add all the chopped veggies after step 2. 
2. Cook on high stirring often for about 2-4 minutes to sweat them a bit. 
3. Continue with the basic sauce process from step 3.

Dishes you can make using the tomato sauce

Eggplant Parmesan

Chicken, mushroom, spinach Lasagna

Three cheese Lasagna

Portobella mushroom Pizza

Italian meatballs

Stuffed shells

Spaghetti with meatballs

Feta Olive pizza