Basic Southern Tomato Sauce

Directions

This is a typical southern Italian sauce. If you like it spicier, add peperoncino (red pepper flakes).

Coarsely chop the tomatoes on a plate, saving the liquid they release.

Halve the garlic clove. Heat the olive oil in a broad sauté pan and simmer the garlic in it until lightly golden, then press the pieces against the pan and remove them. Raise heat to medium-high and add the chopped tomatoesand their juices from the plate. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, until the sauce is lightly thickened. Add the chopped parsley and ¼ teaspoon salt, stir all together once, then remove the sauce from the heat.

Makes 2½ Cups