This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Made with canned tomatoes, garlic, and a few spices, this Pomodoro Sauce is proof that sometimes simple is best. Enjoy this flavorful tomato sauce over pasta for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.
Like bolognese sauce, pomodoro sauce is a classic Italian recipe that everyone should know how to make. Pomodoro sauce is a simple tomato sauce with garlic and spices. It’s similar to a marinara sauce but made with canned Roma tomatoes instead of crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. As a bonus, it freezes very well so it’s a great pasta sauce to double and save for later!
Why Everyone Needs This Pomodoro Sauce Recipe
- Simple ingredients. Pomodoro sauce is made with canned tomatoes, garlic, and a few spices. I almost always have everything needed to make it in the pantry, which makes it great for those days I don’t know what to cook.
- Minimal effort. The key to pomodoro sauce is letting the tomatoes simmer for 30 minutes. The only hands-on step of the recipe is sauteing the garlic first. It’s so easy!
- Amazing flavor. And yet, despite the simplicity of the recipe, this pomodoro sauce is super flavorful. The tomatoes and garlic are obviously the star flavors but the seasonings add an extra touch.
Recipe Ingredients
The simplicity of the ingredients in pomodoro sauce is one of the best things about it. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Olive oil
- Minced garlic – Either freshly minced or from the jar.
- Roma tomatoes – Look for canned Roma tomatoes with juices (I prefer San Marzano tomatoes). Don’t drain them – you want the juice in the sauce!
- Spices – Onion powder, dried basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper season the sauce.
- Sugar – Just a tiny amount of sugar helps to balance the acidity of the tomatoes in the sauce.
How To Make Pomodoro Sauce
The simplicity of this recipe continues in the prep. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Cook the garlic. Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Cook the minced garlic until fragrant and transparent.
- Simmer the tomatoes. Add the canned tomatoes (including juices) to the pan. Bring to a low boil then reduce the heat to low, add a lid slightly vented, and cook for 30 minutes.
- Season. Stir in the seasonings and sugar. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Blend. Use an immersion blender to smooth the sauce as desired. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Enjoy! Serve over pasta and enjoy.
Tips & Variations
Here are a few things to keep in mind when making this pomodoro sauce recipe.
- Remove any tomato skins. Occasionally canned roma tomatoes will still have some skins attached to the tomatoes. Be sure to remove those from the pan to ensure a smooth sauce.
- Use real onion. If you prefer to add onion instead of onion powder, use a small white onion diced and sauté with the garlic until translucent before continuing to the next step.
- Italian seasoning works too. You can also use one Tablespoon of Italian Seasoning in place of the basil and oregano.
- Add some heat. If you prefer a kick to your sauce, sprinkle in some red pepper flakes.
- Blend the sauce. Since this recipe uses whole roma tomatoes, it is necessary to blend it after it simmers. Feel free to leave it a little chunky or blend until fully smooth, based on your preferences.
- Taste test. I always like to give this sauce a taste test at the end to see if it needs more salt or pepper.
Serving Suggestions
Serve pomodoro sauce over spaghetti, pizza or any other pasta dishes. I like to top it with some chopped fresh basil and freshly grated parmesan cheese. A classic Olive Garden salad makes an excellent side, with some breadsticks or cheesy garlic bread.
Proper Storage
- Fridge. Leftover pomodoro sauce can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week. I recommend storing it separately from the pasta.
- Freezer. This sauce freezes well! I recommend adding the cooled sauce to quart-size freezer proof Ziplock bags and freeze them flat. Then you can store them vertically like in a file cabinet to save space.
- Reheat. To reheat, defrost in the microwave for a few minutes and then add to a saucepan and heat over medium-low.
Pomodoro Sauce
Made with canned tomatoes, garlic, and a few spices, this Pomodoro Sauce is proof that sometimes simple is best. Enjoy this flavorful tomato sauce over pasta for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.
Servings: 8 people
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced (fresh or bottled)
- 2 (28-ounce) cans of Roma tomatoes with juices
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon dried basil
- 1 ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Fresh chopped basil for serving
- Fresh grated parmesan for serving
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Once hot, add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant and slightly transparent.
- Add the canned tomatoes, along with the juices and bring them to a low boil (Make sure to remove all the extra skins that may have still been attached to the tomatoes).
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover with lid and leave it slightly vented for 30 minutes.
- Remove the lid and add the onion powder, basil, oregano, sugar, salt and pepper. Stir to combine and cook for another five minutes.
- At this point, you can use an immersion blender to smooth out the sauce to your preference. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Add to fresh pasta to serve!
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
Leftover pomodoro sauce can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Nutrition
Calories: 39kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 147mg | Potassium: 27mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Leave a Review!
We LOVE hearing from you! Submit your question or comment here.
Your email address will not be published.