Simple Tomato Sauce With Wine

Photo: flickr user avlxyz

Ingredients

1 cup whole plum tomatoes (or 1-28 oz. can crushed tomatoes)

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced (I confess, I use 3!)

Pinch of hot red pepper flakes

Basil leaves

1 teaspoon sugar

1/4 cup red wine

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation

Run the tomatoes through a food mill or puree them with an immersion blender, chop them, or just break them up with your hands (or just used pre-crushed tomatoes!).

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, then add the garlic (or 2 tablespoons finely chopped onions) along with the red pepper flakes and 1 whole basil leaf.

Lower heat (you do not want your base to brown) and saute until the garlic is lightly golden (or the onions are translucent), 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the tomatoes and raise the heat back to medium; when the sauce begins to simmer, add the sugar, wine and salt.

After about 5 minutes, check to see if it needs more salt; if it tastes acidic, add another pinch or two of sugar. Reduce the heat to low and taste after about 15 minutes. When all the flavors are nicely blended, it's done.

Garnish the top of pasta with fresh basil leaves.