How to Make 10-Minute Tomato Sauce

This speedy recipe uses canned whole tomatoes and has a fresher flavor than any prepared sauce. It can be used on its own or as the base for other sauces. Makes enough for a pound of pasta.

Things You'll Need

• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tsp. minced or chopped garlic
• 1 (28-oz.) can whole tomatoes
• salt and pepper
• about 1/4 c. fresh basil, chopped
• Groceries
• Food Processors
• Saucepans

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a saucepan and sauté the garlic for 30 seconds.

2. Open the can of tomatoes and add it to the pan.

3. Bring the liquid to a fast simmer and cook for about 5 minutes.

4. Blend or chop the tomatoes. You can use a hand blender to coarsely puree the tomatoes or use a large spoon to mash them up right in the pot, or transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor.

5. Season to taste with salt and pepper and continue mashing or pureeing until sauce is coarse but smooth.

6. Add the basil and serve.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't worry too much about precise measurements. Just add enough cooked garlic, salt, pepper and basil until the sauce tastes right to you.

• You can also skip the garlic in this recipe or use garlic powder.

• The sauce can be enjoyed by itself for a quick dinner, but you can also add vegetables to your pasta for a more substantial meal: sautéed mushrooms, zucchini and so on.