Embark on a culinary journey with this delightful tomato sauce recipe, perfect for enhancing your pasta dishes or as a base for a variety of Italian classics. Here's a step-by-step guide to creating a vibrant and flavorful sauce that will impress your taste buds.

Ingredients:

• 4 pounds of ripe tomatoes, cut in half  
• 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil    
• 2 small garlic cloves, gently crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 teaspoons of tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar    
• 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt  
• 1 sprig of fresh basil

Instructions:  

1. Begin by removing the seeds from the tomatoes and discarding them. Use a box grater with large holes to grate the tomatoes, leaving the skins behind. Transfer the grated tomato pulp to a medium-sized bowl, ensuring you have approximately 4 cups of pulp.  
2. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the crushed garlic and red pepper flakes, stirring frequently until the mixture starts to sizzle, which should take about 2 minutes.    
3. Pour in the grated tomato pulp, tomato paste, sugar, salt, and basil into the saucepan. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a vigorous boil.
4. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and let the sauce simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Allow the sauce to reduce by half, which will take approximately 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes.
5. After the sauce has reached the desired consistency, remove the basil sprig and discard it. Your sauce is now ready to serve either warm or chilled. For later use, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week, or freeze it for up to six months.

Equipment:    

• A box grater
• A medium-sized saucepan

Frequently Asked Questions:

Nutritional Benefits: Tomatoes, with their vibrant color, are rich in antioxidants. They are also an excellent source of vitamin C, and a good source of vitamin K and potassium. These nutrients contribute to heart health, potentially lowering blood pressure and stroke risk, and may also reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men.

Vegan-Friendly: Yes, this recipe is plant-based and does not contain any animal products, making it suitable for vegan diets.

Grating Tomatoes: Grating tomatoes results in a chunky fresh tomato purée that can be used for various dishes such as fresh tomato sauce, gazpacho, or tomato soup. This method conveniently removes the skins without the need for blanching.

Tomato Paste: Tomato paste is a concentrated form of cooked tomatoes, which enhances the flavor of the sauce by adding umami and a hint of sweetness.

Serving Suggestions: Enjoy this sauce over spaghetti or your preferred pasta, or use it in recipes like lasagna and eggplant Parmesan. It can be served plain or with additions such as freshly grated Parmesan cheese, chopped herbs, meatballs, or sausage.

Storage: Yes, you can store the sauce. Once cooled, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to one week, or freeze for up to six months.

Nutrition Facts (per serving):

• Calories: 105  
• Total Fat: 5g    
• Total Carbohydrates: 14g
• Dietary Fiber: 4g
• Total Sugars: 9g  
• Protein: 3g
• Vitamin A: 2636IU    
• Vitamin C: 43mg
• Folate: 46mcg    
• Sodium: 251mg  
• Calcium: 34mg  
• Iron: 1mg  
• Magnesium: 36mg
• Potassium: 777mg

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day, with the percent Daily Value (%DV) indicating how much a serving contributes to those totals. The FDA bases the daily value on a standard 2,000 calorie diet, but individual needs may vary.

For personalized nutrition advice, especially if you have specific dietary requirements or health conditions, consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian.