Along with fried meatballs in our Italian family and of course on holiday braciole (stuffed meat rolls)!
A tradition in our house was Grandma's Homemade Egg Noodles(all by hand) every Sunday.
That's where Sunday Sauce came from and the tradition in our American Italian family.
Here is our version handed down from generation to generation.
Mom would occasionally make little ears (or we also called the hats) pasta all handmade, then, of course, using all fresh tomatoes would be in a huge saucepot enhanced by fresh herbs and spices, simmering on the stove.
Simply the best smell in all of cooking for me is on Sunday with a pot of good old-fashioned Italian sauce simmering.
This is an easy recipe passed down for many many years and over 100 years old.
If you love Italian food, this is a Rome, Italy-style sauce that Grandma and Mom made that we love.
Sunday morning was always a joy with New York's finest tomato pie, fried meatballs, and this delicious Sunday sauce over our favorite cavatelli pasta!
Scroll down for the recipe and it's printable!.
No Two Are Alike!
It seems like all tomato sauce that is made never has that same taste as any other.
Grandma and mom made almost the same recipe, both tasted different.
They all are unique in their own flavors.
In Rome where grandma was from, no oregano went in sauce, just fresh basil.
Mom loved oregano.
Basic Recipe
This is a basic recipe from two different Regions, Rome Italy and Bari.
This is our family Italian-style sauce.
Hope you all enjoy Mom's and Grandma's sauce.
You can adapt this sauce any way you like with your personal additions, this is a basic tomato meat sauce.
Authentic tomato sauce has no oregano in Italy, that herb is reserved for pizza toppings, however as time went on in the U.S. Mom was a big fan of that ingredient and put that in the sauce too.
Ingredients You Will Need To Make Traditional Sunday Sauce
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for exact measurements
- whole tomatoes
- water
- Olive Oil for frying
- tomato paste
- fresh chopped garlic or more to taste
- granulated garlic powder
- fresh basil leaves
- fresh parsley
- dry oregano, dry parsley, sugar, salt, pepper
- red wine Merlot of Cabernet
- Meat Suggestions:
- Italian sausage links cut up and fried and set aside and/or
- hamburger meat to make meatballs
- boneless spare ribs country-style fried and set aside
- loose cooked ground beef if you want a meat bolognese sauce
Meats to use
- Boneless spare ribs make the richest sauce to me but you can use any pork.
- Meatballs, sausage, and braciole all make a delicious tomato sauce.
- Ground beef sauteed in garlic would be a bolognese sauce
- You can make the sauce without meat, which is referred to as marinara sauce.
Tips
- use only European tomatoes, I always use fresh tomatoes living here in Florida(plum tomatoes) however San Marzano from Italy are what I recommend
- use pork in your sauce, boneless spare ribs, leftover beef, or braciole, meatballs, Italian sausage that's what makes a rich thick sauce
- keep the sauce on low when cooking for at least 2 to 3 hours and stir often so it doesn't stick or burn on the bottom
- always taste the sauce by dipping fresh Italian bread into it to ensure you have seasoned it properly with salt, pepper, and any other herbs you put into it
- Do Not Rinse: Pasta should never, ever be rinsed. The starch in the water is what helps the sauce adhere to your pasta. The only time you should ever rinse your pasta is when you are going to use it in a cold dish like a pasta salad or when you are not going to use it immediately
- If using fresh tomatoes just make an X on the bottom of your tomatoes and throw them into a pot of boiling water for no more than a minute. Fish them out with a slotted spoon, plunge them into a bowl of cold water (or an ice bath), lift them directly back out, and peel back the skin with a knife or your fingers. It will slip off like a charm
Dipping the bread
I love dipping the Italian Bread in the tomato sauce. It's a must-do if you're Italian to ensure it's seasoned properly!
You need to make sure all the spices are just right in that sugo!
Make sure you do the taste test.
Pasta Suggestions
- Ravioli
- Manicotti
- Baked Ziti
- Lasagna
- Cavatelli
- Gnocchi
- Orecchiette
- Egg Noodles
- Any boxed kind cooked to package instructions
For More Recipes:
Braciole
Italian Meatballs
Homemade Sausage
Calamari Sauce
Bolognese Sauce
Puttanesca Sauce
Marinara Sauce
Traditional Italian Sunday Sauce Recipe Pin for later
My Hometown
Mom carried many Italian traditions in our family.
Our hometown Utica, New York is famous for so many foods and not only are there many fabulous authentic Italian restaurants there Utica's nickname has always been "Little Italy".
Traditional Italian Sunday Sauce Recipe
Yield: 10
Prep time: 15 MCook time: 3 hourTotal time: 3 H & 15 M
This is an original recipe my mom and grandmother made called tomato sauce. This sauce goes over any kind of macaroni, The sauce we make is from the Regions of Rome Italy. Everyone makes their sauce differently and no two taste alike. This is our family recipe.
Ingredients:
- 2- 28 oz cans of whole tomatoes put in a food processor and pulse till pureed add 2 cans water
- or use 4 lbs of fresh plum tomatoes for the whole sauce, put through food processor no water.
- (or use)
- 2 -28 oz cans of crushed tomatoes, tomato puree or use 4 pounds of plum tomatoes put through a food processor
- Olive Oil for frying
- 1 small can (6 ounces) of tomato paste
- 2 cloves fresh chopped garlic or more to taste
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic powder
- 2 fresh basil leaves
- 2 teaspoons fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoons each dry oregano, dry parsley, sugar, salt, pepper
- 1/2 cup red wine Merlot of Cabernet
- Meat Suggestions:
- 2 pounds of Italian sausage links cut up and fried and set aside and/or
- 2 pounds of hamburger meat to make meatballs (meatball recipe) fried and set aside and/or
- 2 pounds of boneless spare ribs country-style fried and set aside
- 2 pounds of loose cooked ground beef if you want a meat bolognese sauce
- Note: all herbs are optional ingredients, season to your taste
Instructions:
How to cook Traditional Italian Sunday Sauce Recipe
- In a large saucepan, saute fresh garlic in 3 tablespoon olive oil don not brown. Remove from the pot.
- Add the tomato paste and stir.
- Add the cooked meatballs, sausage, or pork if using.
- You can fry or bake the meat you use.
- Add all the tomatoes and spices to the pot, simmer for 3 hours on low heat.
- If the sauce gets too thick add more wine or water.
- Note: You can make this in a slow cooker or instant pot low heat 4 to 6 hours.
Traditional Italian Sunday Sauce Recipe Pin for later
Recipes From My Hometown Utica, New York
My hometown has so many wonderful creations and often referred to as Little Italy for some many ethnic authentic dishes, some famous for just the area like Tomato Pie, Italian Greens, Italian Lemon Ice, Pizza Fritta, Chicken Riggies, Manny's Cheesecake, Oscugnizzo Pizza, Pusties and Rosato Chocolate Cookies.
