How to Make Your Own Tomato Sugo

Read Time:10 Minute, 39 Second

Sugo, also known as “the nectar of the gods” in Italian cuisine, is a rich and flavorful (but incredibly simple) tomato sauce that will transport you straight to the charming streets of Italy.

Made with a carefully curated selection of crushed tomatoes, infused with the robust flavor of garlic, and infused with the fresh aroma of basil, this sauce is a symphony of flavors that elevates pretty much anything it tops.

This recipe is a true celebration of simplicity and authenticity, where the quality of the ingredients takes center stage. The tomatoes are gently simmered with a touch of olive oil, allowing their natural sweetness to shine through. A hint of garlic adds depth to the sauce and brings out the richness of the tomatoes. One separate note on tomatoes: buy the best canned tomatoes you can find. Yes, I know, but even the most expensive canned tomatoes are actually pretty cheap – and you’ll thank me later!

Italian Wedding Soup

Serve it over your favorite pasta, spoon it over a thick slice of bread, or use it as a base for your pizza, the possibilities are endless. The subtle yet bold flavor of this sugo will elevate any dish, making it a true crowd-pleaser.

And by the way, don’t feel like you can only use sugo on Italian food. Pretty much any dish that calls for some umami packed tomato flavors can benefit from this recipe (did I hear anyone say shakshuka?)

.tasty-recipes-print-button{background-color:#667;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:.5em 1em;text-decoration:none}body:not(.tasty-recipes-print-view) .tasty-recipes-print-button.tasty-recipes-print-above-card{color:#fff;display:none}body:not(.tasty-recipes-print-view) .tasty-recipes-print-button.tasty-recipes-print-above-card:hover{background-color:#b2b2bb;color:#fff;display:inline-block;padding:.5em 1em;text-decoration:none}.tasty-recipes-image-button-container{display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-wrap:wrap;float:right;margin-left:10px}body.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-buttons{display:none}.tasty-recipes-image-button-container .tasty-recipes-buttons{margin-bottom:10px;margin-top:10px}.tasty-recipes-image-button-container .tasty-recipes-button-wrap{box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:10px}.tasty-recipes-image-button-container .tasty-recipes-buttons a{background-color:#f9f9f9;border:1px solid #aaa;border-radius:0;color:#aaa;display:block;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;line-height:16px;margin-top:0;padding:8px;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;text-transform:uppercase}.tasty-recipes-image-button-container .tasty-recipes-buttons .button:hover{background-color:#aaa;border:1px solid #aaa;color:#fff;opacity:1}.tasty-recipes-image-button-container .tasty-recipes-buttons a:hover{background-color:#979599;text-decoration:none}.tasty-recipes-image-button-container .tasty-recipes-buttons svg{display:none}.tasty-recipes-yield-scale{border:1px solid #979599;border-radius:2px;color:#979599;font-size:.7rem;margin-left:3px;padding:0 4px}.tasty-recipes-units-scale-container{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap}.tasty-recipes-convert-container{padding:0 1em 1em 0}.tasty-recipes-convert-container .tasty-recipes-convert-label{align-self:center;color:#979599;font-size:.6rem;text-transform:uppercase}.tasty-recipes-convert-container button{background:transparent;border:1px solid #353547;border-radius:2px;color:#353547;letter-spacing:0;margin-left:5px;min-width:34px;padding:2px 4px;text-align:center}.tasty-recipes-convert-container button.tasty-recipes-convert-button-active{background-color:#000;border-color:#000;color:#fff}.tasty-recipes-convert-container button:focus{outline:none}.tasty-recipes-scale-container{display:flex;padding:0 0 1em}.tasty-recipes-scale-container .tasty-recipes-scale-label{align-self:center;color:#979599;font-size:.6rem;text-transform:uppercase}.tasty-recipes-scale-container button{background:transparent;border:1px solid #353547;border-radius:2px;color:#353547;letter-spacing:0;margin-left:5px;min-width:34px;padding:2px 4px}.tasty-recipes-scale-container button.tasty-recipes-scale-button-active{background-color:#000;border-color:#000;color:#fff}.tasty-recipes-scale-container button:focus{outline:none}.tasty-recipes-ingredients-header{margin:1em 0}@media only screen and (min-width:520px){.tasty-recipes-ingredients-header{align-items:center;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:space-between}}.tasty-recipes-ingredients-header .tasty-recipes-ingredients-clipboard-container{align-items:baseline;display:inline-flex}.tasty-recipes-ingredients-header h3{margin:0 10px 10px 0}.tasty-recipes-ingredients-clipboard-container .tasty-recipes-copy-button{background:transparent;border:none;color:#353547;height:24px;padding:0;position:relative;width:24px}.tasty-recipes-ingredients-clipboard-container .tasty-recipes-copy-button:hover{opacity:.5}.tasty-recipes-instructions-header{align-items:baseline;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:space-between;margin:1em 0}.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions h3{margin:0 0 1rem}@media only screen and (min-width:520px){.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions h3{margin:0}}button[name=tasty-recipes-video-toggle]{background:#979599;border:#979599;border-radius:2px;display:inline-block;font-size:14px;height:30px;line-height:20px;margin:0;padding:0;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;width:86px}button[name=tasty-recipes-video-toggle] span{padding:0 4px;pointer-events:none}button[name=tasty-recipes-video-toggle][aria-checked=false] :last-child,button[name=tasty-recipes-video-toggle][aria-checked=true] :first-child{background:#fff;border-radius:2px;color:#979599;padding:2px 4px}button[name=tasty-recipes-video-toggle][aria-checked=false] :first-child,button[name=tasty-recipes-video-toggle][aria-checked=true] :last-child{color:#fff}label[for=tasty-recipes-video-toggle]{color:#979599;font-size:.6rem;line-height:30px;padding-right:8px;text-transform:uppercase;user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;-o-user-select:none;vertical-align:middle}.tasty-recipe-responsive-iframe-container{margin:10px 0}.tasty-recipes-equipment{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:space-evenly}.tasty-recipes-equipment>h3{flex:0 0 100%}.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card{flex:0 0 50%;padding:1.5rem 1rem;text-align:center}@media screen and (min-width:500px){.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card{flex:0 0 33%}}.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card p{font-size:1em;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:0}.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card p a{color:initial}.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card span{font-size:.9em}.tasty-recipes .tasty-recipes-nutrition ul{list-style-type:none;margin:0;padding:0}.tasty-recipes .tasty-recipes-nutrition ul:after{clear:both;content:” “;display:block}.tasty-recipes .tasty-recipes-nutrition li{float:left;list-style-type:none;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0;margin-right:16px}.tasty-recipes-plug{align-items:center;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:1em;text-align:center}.tasty-recipes-plug a{box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none}.tasty-recipes-plug a img{display:inline-block;height:auto;margin:5px 0 0 8px;width:150px}.tasty-recipes-footer-content{padding:1.5em;text-align:center}.tasty-recipes-footer-content .tasty-recipes-footer-copy{margin-left:0}.tasty-recipes-footer-content img,.tasty-recipes-footer-content svg{width:60px}.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-entry-footer h3{font-size:1.25em;margin:0 0 .25em;padding:0}.tasty-recipes-entry-footer p{font-size:.75em;margin:0}.tasty-recipes-entry-footer p a{border-bottom:none;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:underline}.tasty-recipes-flash-message{background-color:#fff;border-radius:4px;box-shadow:0 .3px .4px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.024),0 .9px 1.5px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.05),0 3.5px 6px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.1);color:#313135;display:inline-block;font-size:13px;letter-spacing:0;line-height:1.2em;margin-left:10px;padding:4px 10px}@media screen and (min-width:500px){.tasty-recipes-flash-message{padding:4px 10px}}.tasty-recipes-flash-message p{margin:0;padding:0;text-transform:none}@media screen and (min-width:500px){.tasty-recipes-footer-content{align-items:center;display:flex;justify-content:center;padding:1.5em 0;text-align:left}.tasty-recipes-footer-content .tasty-recipes-footer-copy{margin-left:.8em}}@media print{.tasty-recipes-no-print,.tasty-recipes-no-print *{display:none!important}}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox]{cursor:pointer;list-style-position:outside;list-style-type:none!important;margin-left:0!important}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox] .tr-ingredient-checkbox-container{position:relative}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox] .tr-ingredient-checkbox-container input[type=checkbox]+label{display:inline-block;position:relative;vertical-align:middle}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox] .tr-ingredient-checkbox-container input[type=checkbox]{clip:rect(1px 1px 1px 1px);clip:rect(1px,1px,1px,1px);height:1px;overflow:hidden;position:absolute!important;width:1px}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox] .tr-ingredient-checkbox-container input[type=checkbox]+label:before{border:1px solid;border-radius:2px;content:””;display:inline-block;height:20px;margin-right:10px;position:relative;width:20px}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox] .tr-ingredient-checkbox-container input[type=checkbox]:checked+label:after{border-bottom:2px solid;border-left:2px solid;content:””;display:inline-block;height:6px;left:4px;position:absolute;top:4px;transform:rotate(-45deg);width:12px}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox] .tr-ingredient-checkbox-container input[type=checkbox]:focus+label:before{box-shadow:0 0 8px #5e9ed6;outline:1px solid #5d9dd5}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox=checked]{opacity:.8;text-decoration:line-through}/* Tasty Recipes Elegant recipe card styles */ .tasty-recipes-display{border:0.15em solid;border-color:#fff;padding:1.5em;outline:.5em solid #f9f9f9;background:#f9f9f9;margin-bottom:1em}.tasty-recipes-plug{margin-bottom:1em}.tasty-recipes-display h2{font-weight:400;text-transform:uppercase;margin-top:0;padding-top:0}.tasty-recipes-rating .rating-label{font-size:0.8em;font-style:italic}.tasty-recipes-rating p{margin-bottom:1rem;margin-right:0.8rem;display:inline-block}.tasty-recipes-details{font-size:0.8em}.tasty-recipes-details ul li{list-style-type:none;display:inline-block;width:30%}.tasty-recipes-description p{font-size:.8em;font-style:italic}.tasty-recipe-ingredients h3,.tasty-recipes-ingredients h3,.tasty-recipe-instructions h3,.tasty-recipes-instructions h3,.tasty-recipes-equipment h3,.tasty-recipes-notes h3{font-weight:normal;margin-top:0.6em;margin-bottom:1.2em;text-transform:uppercase}.tasty-recipe-video-embed~.tasty-recipes-equipment{padding-top:1em}.tasty-recipes-notes{margin-bottom:1rem}.tasty-recipes-notes h3{font-size:1.2em}.tasty-recipes-notes p,.tasty-recipes-notes ul{font-size:0.8em}.tasty-recipes-nutrition h3{font-size:1em;text-align:center;margin-top:1em}.tasty-recipes-nutrition{padding:0.5em;border-top:.15em solid #fff}.tasty-recipes-nutrition ul li{list-style-type:none;font-size:0.8em;margin-left:0}@media only screen and (min-width:520px){.tasty-recipes-nutrition ul li{width:30%}}.tasty-recipes-keywords p{font-size:.8em;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em}.tasty-recipes-entry-footer{text-align:center;padding-top:1rem}.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-details ul{padding-left:0}/*Print view styles*/ .tasty-recipes-print-view{font-size:11px;line-height:1.5em}.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-description p,.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-details,.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-notes p,.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-notes ul,.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-nutrition ul li{font-size:1em}.tasty-recipes-print-view h3{letter-spacing:0.1em;text-transform:uppercase}.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-nutrition{padding:0}.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-nutrition h3{text-align:left;font-size:1.2em;font-weight:normal}

Classic Tomato Sugo

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Tomato sugo is a traditional Italian sauce made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, and various herbs and spices. It is a staple in Italian cuisine, and is often used as a base for pasta dishes, as well as a topping for meats and vegetables.

Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Italian Pasta Dish, Sauce, Side
Cuisine: American-Italian, Italian

Ingredients

Scale

3 tbsp of the best olive oil you can afford
1 onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely sliced
2 cans top notch crushed tomatoes
1 fistful torn fresh basil
salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over low-medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add the crushed tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
Stir in the fresh basil leaves and season with salt and black pepper.