Yia Yia's Sunday Sauce

Serves: 4

Irwin Berge

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

50

Spice

48

Sweetness

56

Sourness

37

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.9

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Olive Oil

6 cloves

Garlic (sliced)

Directions:

1

What makes this sauce so good is the long, slow cooking time, which allows it to develop a complex flavor

2

It shouldn't simmer; there should be just a bubble rising to the surface every now and then

3

Meaty beef bones add more depth and complexity

4

(If you have beef stock, you can add two cups of it in place of the beef bones

5

) This sauce is chunky with abundant tomato and sliced garlic

6

Depending on what you're using this for, it can be served as is (over a very thick hearty pasta or as part of a braising liquid)

7

But if you were to use it for an angel hair or as a sauce for sauteed veal, you would probably want to puree it in a blender until it's uniformly smooth

8

This sauce freezes well, so you can make big batches, portion it into smaller containers, and freeze it when you need it

9

Heat the oil in a 4-quart saucepan or large Dutch oven over medium heat

10

Add the onions and cook until translucent, 2 minutes

11

Add the salt and garlic and cook until everything is soft but not browned, about 3 minutes

12

Squeeze the tomatoes one by one into the pan, pulverizing them by hand, and pour in their juice, too

13

Add the bones, wine, oregano, red pepper flakes, if using, black pepper and bay leaf

14

Bring the sauce to a simmer, and then reduce the heat to its lowest possible setting, and continue to cook for 8 hours

15

The sauce should reduce by about one-third

16

Taste for seasoning and add more salt if necessary

17

Remove the bones and bay leaf

18

If not using right away, let the sauce cool, then cover and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2 months