GMA Recipe: 15 Minute Tomato Sauce

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What's the best tomato sauce in a can?
1997

30 professional and unprofessional tasters tested several cans of seven of the most popular national brands of canned crushed tomatoes. The testers tasted all brands two ways: raw, and cooked as part of a simple sauce. They rated everything from appearance, color, chunkiness, wateriness, sweetness, acidity, bitterness, consistency to overall flavor.

And for the results? The two top brands that were selected rated tomatoes before tomato puree as their primary ingredient. They were filled with real tomatoes and strong tomato flavor. There were two brands out of seven that were "highly recommended." The brand rated the highest was "Progresso recipe ready crushed tomatoes with added puree." (average price is $1.29) the second favorite was "Muir Glen Organic premium ground peeled tomatoes." (average price is $2.19)

The surprising results of the study were that the Italian brands came in dead last and that the top winning brand for taste, "Progresso" is not the most expensive. The "Muir Glen" was the most expensive of all the brands tested at $2.19. But you don't always have to spend the most money to get the best taste.

Let's start your "15-minute sauce" with the winning can of crushed tomatoes. This is a killer easy tomato sauce with great flavor.

15 Minute Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

2 minced garlic cloves

1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

28 oz can crushed tomatoes

salt to taste

fresh herbs (basil, oregano, or coriander)

Directions

In a large heavy saucepan, add the olive oil, garlic, pepper and onion.
Cook over moderate low heat for 5 minutes, or until fragrant.

Add a 28 oz can crushed tomatoes. Simmer and stir for 10 minutes.

Season with salt and your favorite chopped fresh herb. (basil, fresh oregano, or fresh coriander.) Fresh herbs make a big difference in quality and flavor.

Note: You can make a large batch and freeze sauce in portion sizes in plastic bags. If you freeze the sauce right after you make it, you will capture the flavor.