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Easy Zesty Homemade Tomato Basil Sauce Recipe

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A quick and easy zesty homemade tomato basil sauce made with simple ingredients, ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, this sauce delivers bold flavor without hours of simmering.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 to 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes (preferably San Marzano)
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil, packed and roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional, if tomatoes are acidic)
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients: Mince garlic, chop basil, and measure out all other ingredients.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat until shimmering.
  3. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes; sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant and just barely golden. Do not burn.
  4. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Let it come to a gentle bubble.
  5. Add balsamic vinegar, salt, black pepper, onion powder, and sugar (if using). Stir well.
  6. Reduce heat to low-medium and simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens slightly.
  7. Remove from heat and stir in fresh basil until wilted.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed (more salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes).
  9. Serve immediately with pasta, or use as pizza sauce. Reserve pasta water to thin sauce if desired.

Notes

For best results, reserve 1/2 cup pasta water to thin sauce if needed. Let sauce rest 5-10 minutes off heat before serving for deeper flavor. Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: tomato basil sauce, zesty sauce, homemade pasta sauce, quick tomato sauce, easy marinara, fresh basil sauce

Find it online: https://cooksyla.com/easy-zesty-homemade-tomato-basil-sauce-recipe/