Basic Marinara

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cups chopped yellow onion (about 3 medium)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 3 tablespoons minced garlic (about 6 cloves)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 3 (28-ounce) cans no-salt-added crushed tomatoes

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion to pan; cook 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Add sugar and next 7 ingredients (through fennel seeds); cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in vinegar; cook 30 seconds. Add broth and tomatoes; bring to a simmer. Cook over low heat for 55 minutes or until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.
2. To store in the freezer: Ladle room-temperature or chilled sauce into plastic containers or zip-top plastic bags. Seal and freeze for up to four months. Consider freezing the sauce in one-cup increments (two servings' worth). That way, you can pull out exactly as much as you want for future meals.
3. To thaw sauce: Try one of three methods.
4. 1. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
5. 2. Place frozen blocks in a saucepan. Cover and bring to a low simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
6. 3. Place frozen blocks in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave at HIGH one minute at a time, stirring after each increment until thawed.
7. To boost taste: Long stints in the freezer can dull the taste of tomatoes. To perk up thawed sauce, add one-half teaspoon finely grated lemon rind or one teaspoon balsamic vinegar while reheating.