Authentic Italian American Marinara Sauce Red Gravy Recipes

CLASSIC MARINARA SAUCE

Steps:

• Pour tomatoes into a large bowl and crush with your hands. Pour 1 cup water into can and slosh it around to get tomato juices. Reserve.
• In a large skillet (do not use a deep pot) over medium heat, heat the oil. When it is hot, add garlic.
• As soon as garlic is sizzling (do not let it brown), add the tomatoes, then the reserved tomato water. Add whole chile or red pepper flakes, oregano (if using) and salt. Stir.
• Place basil sprig, including stem, on the surface (like a flower). Let it wilt, then submerge in sauce. Simmer sauce until thickened and oil on surface is a deep orange, about 15 minutes. (If using oregano, taste sauce after 10 minutes of simmering, adding more salt and oregano as needed.) Discard basil and chile (if using).

ITALIAN SUNDAY GRAVY-RECIPE HANDED DOWN FROM NONNA.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line 2 large, rimmed baking sheets with aluminum foil. Brush the foil with olive oil.
• Arrange (in a single layer) pork neck bones or country-style ribs on one baking sheet and the Italian sausages on the second baking sheet. Brush the tops of all the meats lightly with olive oil.
• Cook meats in the preheated oven, until deep golden brown on all sides, turning as needed to cook evenly. Allow approximately 1 hour for the pork necks and ribs and 40 minutes for the sausage. Set cooked meats aside.
• Meanwhile, in a very large, heavy-bottomed stock pot, brown ground beef and pork, over medium heat, crumbling into small pieces. Remove ground meats to plate and set aside.
• Drain all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan. Add onions, minced garlic, and carrots and cook over medium heat for 6-8 minutes until they soften and begin to caramelize.
• Add the wine to the pot and cook, scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Continue to cook until the wine is reduced by half.
• Add whole tomatoes with their juices, tomato paste, water, bay leaves, oregano, fresh basil, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
• Add the browned grounded meats, pork necks or country style ribs, and sausages back to the pot. Bring the gravy to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer.
• Simmer, uncovered for about 3 1/2--4 1/2 hours. If you have the temperature right, you should see a cheerful little bubbling on the surface of the gravy. Moderate the heat to maintain this gentle simmer throughout out cooking time.
• Stir occasionally so the meats don't stick. If the gravy becomes too thick as it simmers, add water. (If it's simmering gently, you shouldn't need to add any extra water.)
• While the sauce simmers, make the meatball. After the sauce has cooked for 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 hours and is nice and thick, give it a very good stir, digging down to the bottom of the pot, then add the meatballs. Continue to simmer the gravy without stirring for another 30-40 minutes, or until the meatballs are hot and the flavors marry. Remove bay leaves. You're READY to Serve. Mangia! Mangia!

BEST ITALIAN MARINARA SAUCE RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat a heavy bottom large pot on medium low flame. Add a lug of olive oil and the diced onion with a pinch of sea salt. Cook for about 10 minutes until traslucent taking good care not to burn it.
• Stir in the minced garlic and let it infuse the oil for about 30 seconds.
• Use your hands and crush the tomatoes as you add them to the pot with the onion and garlic. Rustic chunks are what we are after.
• Add the bay leaf and the 4 sprigs of basil then bring everything to a gentle simmer. Partially cover with a lid and cook down until reduced and thick to your liking. About an hour or so. Stir a few times making sure the sugars from the tomatoes don't stick to the bottom.
• After the sauce has reduced season to taste with the sea salt. Discard the bay leaf and basil sprigs.
• Finish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and the reserved fresh basil. Serve with your favorite pasta to transfer to jars and refrigerate up to one week.

SPAGHETTI SAUCE (AKA: RED GRAVY)

Steps:

• In a large dutch oven or 8 quart pot. briefly cook garlic and olive oil.
• Place fresh sausage and neck bones in pot.
• Add desired amounts of salt and pepper to meats.
• Add enough of the 2 qts. of water to cover meats in the pot, (not all of the water may be used). Cover and cook on low-medium for at least an hour. Do not allow water to boil; this will toughen meats.
• Add the crushed tomatoes to the pot and stir. Begin with 4 cans and add the last can according to desired thickness, remembering that sauce will thicken as it cooks.
• Add spices, again according to taste, and stir. More may be added as sauce cooks.
• Stir frequently and keep on low to medium heat, making sure sauce never boils. Continue to cook for at least 4 hours; sauce may cook longer if desired.
• Homemade or store-prepared meatballs may be added to pot.
• Serve over pasta, raviolis, or as a base to lasagnas and zitis.

ITALIAN RED SAUCE AKA RED GRAVY OR SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Steps:

• Place olive oil in a large soup pot.
• Add garlic and simmer about one minute, do not let it brown.
• Put tomatoes in blender and blend briefly to smooth out the tomatoes.
• Then add to garlic.
• Cut Italian ham in chunks.
• When I order this from the Deli, I have them cut it in 1/2 lb slab.
• Add basil and crushed red pepper flakes.
• Let simmer about 6 hours.
• I always check the richness of the sauce by putting a spoonful in a clean bowl, let it sit for about 5 minutes and if water is seperating from the sauce, continue to simmer.

BASIC RED GRAVY (MARINARA)

Steps:

• 1. Heat the bacon grease or olive oil in a Dutch oven, over medium heat and add chopped onions, green onions, and bell pepper and saute on low until onions are transparent but don't let them brown.
• 2. Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and minced garlic; cook down for about 5 minutes stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
• 3. Add wine and beef stock, oregano, basil, granulated garlic & onion, bay leaves, sugar and salt & pepper to taste.
• 4. Simmer stock for about 30-45 minutes, adding more beef stock as needed to keep sauce fairly thin. Cover with a splatter screen or off-set the lid so steam can escape without splattering sauce all over the kitchen; cook for 2-3 hours or until desired thickness is reached. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed. Serve over pasta or add your favorite meat to red gravy. Buono Appetito!
• 5. *Options: ,I don't use carrots but if you like them add 2 finely chopped carrots to the onions and bell pepper if desired - it adds to the sweetness. If you like just a little heat in your red sauce then add crushed red pepper flakes to taste when adding tomato paste & sauce.