Making your own Prego sauce at home is not only a fun and creative endeavor, but it also allows you to customize the flavors to your liking. By using fresh, quality ingredients, you can create a savory and delicious sauce that is perfect for pasta, pizza, or any dish that calls for a rich and flavorful tomato sauce. With just a few simple ingredients and some patience, you can have a homemade Prego sauce that will rival the store-bought version.

One of the key components of Prego sauce is the use of ripe and juicy tomatoes. If you have access to fresh tomatoes, this is the perfect opportunity to use them in your sauce. However, if fresh tomatoes are not readily available, canned crushed tomatoes can also be used as a substitute. Along with the tomatoes, you will need onion, garlic, olive oil, herbs, and spices to give the sauce its signature flavor.

To start, begin by sautéing finely chopped onion and minced garlic in a large pot with olive oil over medium heat. Cook the onions and garlic until they become translucent and fragrant, which should take about 5-7 minutes. Be careful not to brown the garlic, as this can give the sauce a bitter taste.

Once the onions and garlic are cooked, add the crushed tomatoes to the pot and stir to combine. At this point, you can also add in any additional herbs and spices that you prefer. Common additions include basil, oregano, thyme, and a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat. Simmer the sauce over low heat for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

After the sauce has simmered and the flavors have melded together, you can use an immersion blender to puree the sauce until it reaches your desired consistency. If you prefer a chunkier sauce, you can skip this step and leave the sauce as is. Once the sauce is ready, taste it and adjust the seasonings as needed with salt and pepper.

Now that your homemade Prego sauce is ready, you can use it in a variety of dishes. It is perfect for serving over cooked pasta, as a dipping sauce for breadsticks, or as a base for a homemade pizza. The best part is that you can store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, giving you plenty of opportunities to enjoy it.

Overall, making your own Prego sauce at home is a rewarding and delicious experience. By using fresh ingredients and taking the time to let the flavors develop, you can create a sauce that is truly special and unique to your tastes. Give it a try and see for yourself how easy and satisfying it can be to make your own Prego sauce from scratch.

Homemade Prego Sauce Recipe:

Ingredients:
– 2 tablespoons olive oil
– 1 small onion, finely chopped
– 4 cloves of garlic, minced
– 3 28-ounce cans of crushed tomatoes
– 2 teaspoons dried basil
– 1 teaspoon dried oregano
– 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
– Pinch of red pepper flakes
– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the pot and cook until translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Add the crushed tomatoes to the pot and stir to combine.
4. Stir in the dried basil, oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes.
5. Simmer the sauce over low heat for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Use an immersion blender to puree the sauce to your desired consistency.
7. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper as needed.
8. Serve the sauce over pasta, as a dipping sauce, or as a pizza base.

Enjoy your homemade Prego sauce!