Spicy Marinara

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 9 1/2 ounces yellow sweet onions, finely diced (about 1 medium onion)
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/3 ounce sweet basil, chiffonade (fresh italian, about 12 leaves)
• 1 1/8 ounces garlic, minced (about 3 large cloves)
• 1 small red chili pepper (fresh, any variety, choose your spice level to meet your own tolerances)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 28 ounces crushed tomatoes (canned)

Recipe

• 1 heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat and add the finely diced onion and black pepper. saute until the onions start to brown. this will take about 5-8 minutes, depending on your stovetop's heat.
• 2 lower the heat to medium (about half what it was while browning the onions) and add the basil, minced garlic, chili pepper, and salt. saute for about 4-5 minutes until the garlic starts to brown, just a bit, around the edges.
• 3 add the tomato, stir everything together, lower the heat to medium-low, and cover the skillet with a tight-fitting lid. covered, simmer the tomatoes for 15 minutes, stirring once, after 7-8 minutes, to keep from sticking.
• 4 remove the lid and stir the tomatoes. simmer and stir occasionally (to prevent scorching), uncovered, until the watery liquids are evaporated or absorbed. this will take about another15 minutes.
• 5 remove from the heat and either serve right away with pasta or put the sauce in your blender to create a smooth puree.