Fast Tomato Sauce

Makes: 4 servings; enough for 1 pound of pasta

Time: 20 minutes

F M O

This is among the most basic and useful pasta sauces and one of those staples, like vinaigrette, that is too easy not to make yourself. This sauce works tossed with any pasta or noodle, for pizza (page 613), or as an accent to other simply cooked foods like grains, beans, tofu, eggs, or vegetables. And you can still enjoy spaghetti and meatballs, shaping any of the veggie burger mixtures (pages 502 to 508) into “meat” balls (page 506). It’s also a versatile sauce that you can take in many different directions (page 313).

• 3 tablespoons olive oil or butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 24- to 32-ounce can whole tomatoes, drained and chopped
• Salt and pepper
• Chopped fresh parsley or basil for garnish (optional)
• Grated Parmesan or other cheese (optional)

1. Put the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When it’s hot, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes break up and the mixture comes together and thickens, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Use immediately, garnished with herbs or cheese if you’d like. Or cover and refrigerate for up to several days; reheat gently and add the herbs and cheese just before serving.

Fast Tomato Sauce with Pasta The Italian — rather than American — way to sauce pasta: Before you start the sauce, put a large pot of water on to boil and salt it. When the tomatoes have been cooking 5 minutes or so and the water comes to a boil, add 1 pound of any pasta to the water and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but not mushy (start tasting after 5 minutes). Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of the cooking water. Combine the pasta with the sauce (return it to the pot if you want some elbow room) and toss it until coated and steaming, adding enough of the reserved water to keep the pasta from sticking. Garnish with the herbs and/or cheese if you’re using them and serve immediately.