8fresh basil leavesthinly sliced OR 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
½teaspoon(2g) sugar
Instructions
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat (the pot is going to seem much too big, but this sauce likes to splatter and the larger pot will cut down on cooking time). Add garlic and cook until browned and fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Add crushed tomatoes (the oil will sizzle and splash when you add them, so do so carefully), sugar, and basil. Stir and bring to a simmer.
Simmer uncovered* for 20-30 minutes (your cooking time can vary greatly depending on the size of your pot), stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened and has reduced down to about 1 1/2 cups.
Notes
*Or two 14-ounce cans.*If you'd like to use diced or whole tomatoes, pulse them in your food processor or with an immersion blender until they're mostly pureed with some small pieces of tomato still intact, like a not-too-chunky salsa. *If your sauce is making a mess, you can turn the heat down slightly and add a couple minutes to the cooking time, or if you have one, use a mesh splatter screen to keep your stove clean.