Rustic Italian Tomato Sauce with Soffritto

The soffritto is the quiet heart of this sauce — onion, carrot, celery just lazing in olive oil till they go soft and a little sweet. That’s when the magic kicks in. Then in go the tomatoes (crush them with your hands, it feels right), a pinch of salt, maybe a bay leaf. Let it putter on low heat and the kitchen starts smelling like a family Sunday. It’s simple, warm, and kind of nostalgic — the sort of sauce that turns plain pasta into dinner you remember.

I learned it watching my grandma: don’t rush, don’t blast the heat, taste as you go. That’s pretty much the whole recipe.

Ingredients

Portions

-

6

+

Metric US

Soffritto

• 2
  tbsp
  olive oil
• 1
  medium
  onion, finely chopped
• 1
  medium
  carrot, finely chopped
• 1
  stalk
  celery, finely chopped
• 2
  cloves
  garlic, minced

Tomato Sauce

• 800
  g
  canned whole peeled tomatoes
• 1
  tsp
  salt
• 1/2
  tsp
  black pepper
• 1
  tsp
  dried oregano or fresh basil
• 1
  tsp
  sugar (optional, to balance acidity)

Author

Mario Kapustic

Hi! I’m Mario from Croatia. I love cooking and sharing recipes that combine tradition with creativity. I started Tasty Empire to share my family’s recipes — the ones from Mom and Grandma — and all the little tricks I’ve picked up along the way. I especially enjoy pasta, risottos, homemade breads, and desserts, always looking for little ways to enrich flavors.

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Method

Preparation

• Prepare the soffritto
  Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté gently for 8–10 minutes until softened and lightly golden. Add garlic in the last 1–2 minutes.
• Add tomatoes
  Crush the canned tomatoes by hand or with a spoon and add them to the soffritto. Stir to combine.
• Simmer
  Add salt, pepper, and oregano or basil. Simmer gently for 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and flavors meld. Add sugar if needed to balance acidity.
• Finish and serve
  For a smoother sauce, blend with a hand blender. Serve hot over pasta, pizza, or use as a base for other dishes.

Note: Best simmered slowly for at least one hour for maximum flavor. Can be frozen for later use.

Nutrition per serving

Calories

120 kcal

Updated: August 30, 2025

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