Italian-Americans on the east coast of the U.S. often call tomato sauce "gravy." Apparently, it comes from the Italian word sugo, which means gravy. Sugo al pomodoro is tomato gravy, and sugo all'arriabbiata is a spicy tomato gravy.
Tomato gravy, or tomato sauce, is made of fresh or canned tomatoes with garlic, onion and herbs such as parsley, oregano and basil. It's a simple recipe, quickly put together and simmered until the sauce is as thick as a gravy. Italian sausages, sweet or spicy, add flavor and richness to the sauce.
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Things You'll Need
Large heavy pot
1 pound sweet Italian sausages
Small knife or fork
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
Mixing spoon
4 large garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes with added puree
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 teaspoons fresh oregano leaves
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Salt
Pepper
8 large basil leaves, cut into strips
Instructions
- Heat a large heavy pot over medium-high heat.
- Pierce the sausages in several places with a fork or small, sharp knife.
- Cook the sausages until they start to brown, about 5 minutes.
- Remove the sausages from the pot and pour off the fat.
- Heat the olive oil in the same pan.
- Add the onion to the oil and sauté over medium heat, stirring frequently with a mixing spoon.
- After 5 minutes, add the garlic and sauté for another minute.
- Pour the crushed tomatoes and puree into the pot with the sausages.
- Add the parsley, oregano and crushed red pepper to the pot.
- Stir to combine all the ingredients.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Simmer the tomato gravy and sausages for 30 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sausage is cooked through.
- Taste for seasoning. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish with strips of basil leaves.
- Serve the sausages whole or sliced, with the tomato gravy and your favorite pasta.
Tip
- If you like a more pronounced tomato taste, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of sugar with the canned tomatoes.
- Try spicy Italian sausage instead of sweet, or a combination of both.
- Add 1 cup of red wine for a more complex taste.
- Add strips of bell pepper or sliced mushrooms when you sauté the onions.
- Stir frequently, as the natural sugar in tomatoes can cause the sauce at the bottom of the pan to burn.
