Marinara Sauce (Food & Wine, 1990)

Directions

1. In a medium nonreactive skillet, heat the oil over moderately Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until golden, about 4 minutes. Discard the garlic if desired.
2. Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes. Soft bits of tomato will remain, and the sauce should be thick enough to hold its shape on a spoon. (The sauce can be made ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. ) Stir in the basil just before serving.
3. Crushed, peeled garlic cloves can be discarded after browning for a very subtle flavor or left in and discarded at the end of cooking for a slightly more emphatic garlic taste. More often than not I used minced garlic and leave it in. This gives the sauce a strong garlic flavor. NOTE: Many southern Italians refer to a quick tomato sauce as “marinara” because it could be made at a moment’s notice by a fisherman’s wife upon her husband’s return. Serve over breaded or fried foods or mixed into baked pasta dishes or spaghetti, it is the most common southern Italian tomato sauce.