Nothing beats a good homemade tomato sauce. No, sir. No, ma’am. I know there are many recipes out there but this one is my favorite. My mom’s is really my first favorite and this one somewhat stems from it and is therefore a favorite as well. A good tomato sauce can take any dish from average to fabulous. It can make a world of difference in pasta, soups, casseroles, pizza, beans, marinades, fish, rice, dips, and much, much more. Well, you get the idea… it can be used in everything! — except, debatably, desserts. I hope you like this one; it is perfect.

PERFECT TOMATO SAUCE RECIPE

Yield: 2 1/2 CUPS

Prep Time: 5 MIN

Cook Time: 25 MIN

Ingredients:

4 large ripe tomatoes (1.75 to 2 pounds)
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon harissa or other hot sauce (optional)
1 teaspoon honey
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup water
3 tablespoons tomato paste

Directions:

Halve the tomatoes and grate them using the large holes of a box grater into a medium saucepan. Alternatively, you could peel and puree them in a blender or food processor.

Add the rest of the ingredients except the tomato paste. Bring to a gentle boil. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer the sauce until it looks thicker, 20 minutes.

Discard the bay leaves. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Voilà!