Total time: 40 min • Prep: 10 min • Cook: 30 min • Serves: 12 • Difficulty: Easy

Making homemade tomato sauce is much easier than you think and well worth the time it takes to simmer on the stove. We like canned San Marzano plum tomatoes imported from Italy for this sauce. Garlic, finely minced, is an essential ingredient too. When you add garlic to the pan, sauté it slowly until the color is close to a pale gold. Throw in fresh basil at the very last minute, just before serving, for a hit of herbaceous flavor. Use it immediately or cool and chill to save to for later. Use it to toss with pasta, make lasagna, or to spoon over seared chicken or fish.