Tomato basil sauce

My husbands favorite sauce is a simple tomato basil sauce that only has a few ingredients.  It is so good and versatile yet can be made in just a few minutes. This sauce is the kind of secret you need to have in your arsenal of cheap quick recipes that feed and please a crowd.  You can serve it on pasta, over fish, in lasagna or as a pizza sauce.

Before I get to the recipe lets talk about the ingredients.  We start with the star here, Tomatoes. 

Whether you can your own or buy them is up to you.  I have no problem using canned tomatoes because the canning process actually preserves most of the vitamins and minerals.  Tomatoes have lycopene, an antioxidant, that is reported to help reduce cancer risks and lower bad cholesterol. 

Basil is a delicious herb to always have on hand.  You can puree it with a little lemon juice and freeze it in ice cube trays  and then pop them in a baggie and you will have basil year round.  Of course if you can grow your own, even in a sunny window, it is well worth it.  Not only is it delicious but its nutritious too.  

It is used in  tinctures, oils and teas for all kinds of ailments all across the world.  Filled with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals it is as useful as it is delicious.

I think at one time or another you have heard about how good garlic is for you.  People even take it in a pill form for help with cholesterol and cancer prevention.  What you should know about it is that it is also an antibiotic.  It is used to kill viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites and has even been used to kill helicobacter pylori which can cause ulcers.

In my house we use it for colds.  Did I mention how amazing it is roasted. 


The sauce...

Tomato Basil Sauce   

serves 4

2 table spoons olive oil  

1-2 clove minced garlic ( we like it really garlicky so we go for 2)

1 large can or 3 cups of crushed tomatoes ( i sometimes use diced)

 large handful of basil chopped ( use 3T dried if you have to but its not ideal )

                                                                      salt to taste

Heat the oil in a skillet on medium, add garlic and saute for 1 minute.

Add tomatoes, turn the heat to medium low,  stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.

Add basil and cook for 5 more minutes on low.

Add salt to taste 

That's all it takes.  There are many uses like I said before.  Try it with chicken Parmesan or eggplant.  Fill up mushrooms and add cheese and bake them.  Be adventurous and serve over delicious spaghetti squash. 

Let me know how you like it.  Enjoy!