Mom's Best Spaghetti Sauce

Recipe View Gather all ingredients.

Recipe View In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the whole tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, chopped onions, fresh basil, minced garlic, sugar, and one pinch of baking soda. Season generously with salt and pepper. (5 minutes)

Recipe View Bring the mixture to a vigorous boil over high heat, stirring frequently. Once boiling, reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting, cover, and gently simmer for at least 4 hours, or up to 6 hours for an even richer flavor. Stir occasionally, ensuring the sauce doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. (4-6 hours)

Recipe View Stir in the remaining pinch of baking soda – the sauce will lightly foam, this is expected. Continue to simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened to your liking and deepened in color. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the pan as you stir, incorporating all those delicious caramelized bits. (30 minutes)

Recipe View Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and fully incorporated. Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as needed. If the sauce is still too acidic, add another tiny pinch of baking soda and simmer for an additional 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. (30 minutes)

Recipe View Allow the sauce to cool completely at room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld and deepen further. Reheat gently before serving. (8 hours)