Genovese Italian Sauce

Genovese Italian Sauce

4 cans (28 ounces each) whole plum tomatoes

1 1/2 ounces dried porcini mushrooms

4 tablespoons butter

1/3 cup imported Italian extra virgin olive oil

3 medium onions, chopped fine

6 large cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped fine

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon oregano

2 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste

2 bottles (3 ounces each) of concentrated beef extract (BV, the beefer upper, available at major supermarkets)

Salt and pepper to taste

3/4 cup dry red wine

Spray bottom of an 8-quart stock pot with cooking spray. Drain tomatoes. Pour juice into stock pot. Remove seeds from tomatoes. Process tomatoes in a food processor until they are thick, but not soupy. Add tomatoes to stock pot, bring to a simmer and cook over medium heat.

In a separate saucepan bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add dried porcini mushrooms; remove from heat and let soak for 30-40 minutes. Drain mushrooms into bowl and pour juice into stock pot. Process mushrooms in a food processor until finely chopped (or you can grind the mushrooms in a meat grinder.) Mushrooms should not be mushy.

Saute chopped onions in the butter and olive oil until they begin to turn golden. Add onions and any drippings from the pan to the stock pot. Add chopped garlic, basil, oregano, tomato paste and beef concentrate to stock pot. Let the sauce simmer, stirring frequently.

After 3 hours add the wine. Simmer 1 more hour. Taste the sauce as it simmers, adjust seasonings to taste.

Serves 16.

Cook’s note: Salt may not be needed because of the beef concentrate. Taste the sauce as it cooks and salt accordingly. Also, if the sauce tastes acidic add a shredded carrot to the pot and simmer until very soft. The carrots cook down and you won’t know they are in the sauce. Sauce can be stored for up to one week in the refrigerator or frozen for six months.