Basic Tomato Sauce

Dec. 09, 2008— -- Mario Batali divulges some of his favorite recipes for an Italian-inspired meal. From tasty tomato sauce to sweet and succulent blackberry pie, these recipes bring restaurant-quality cuisine right to your kitchen table.

For a Pasta with Spare Rib Sauce recipe click here.

Click here for his homemade pasta recipe.

View the Batali Family Blackberry Pie recipe here.

Looking for more meal ideas? Check out GMA's recipe archive by clicking here.

Makes 4 cups

Ingredients

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 Spanish onion, finely diced

4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced

3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme, or 1 tablespoon dried

½ medium carrot, finely shredded

2 28-ounce cans peeled whole tomatoes

Kosher salt, to taste

Directions

In a 3-quart saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and light golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Add the thyme and carrot and cook for 5 minutes more, or until the carrot is quite soft. With your hands, crush the tomatoes and add them with their juices. Bring to a boil, stirring often, and then lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the sauce is as thick as hot cereal. Season with salt and serve.

Courtesy of Mario Batali