Yields Makes about 12 cups
Notes: Use sauce with any cooked pasta (allow about 1 cup sauce for each 1 1/2 cups pasta). Or layer sauce into lasagna. For variety, simmer individual batches of the sauce briefly with Italian sausages, crumbled and browned ground meats, roasted vegetables, or additional herbs, such as basil or oregano.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

In a small bowl, combine mushrooms and 2/3 cup boiling water. Let stand until soft, about 20 minutes. Rub mushrooms gently to release grit, then lift from water, squeeze dry, and finely chop. Reserve liquid.

Step 2
2

Meanwhile, combine garlic, onions, and oil in an 8- to 10-quart pan over medium-high heat. Stir often until onions are lightly browned and taste sweet, about 10 minutes.

Step 3
3

To pan, add mushrooms and most of the soaking liquid, discarding the gritty remainder. Also add tomatoes, parsley, wine, thyme, sugar, and chili flakes. Bring to a boil and simmer rapidly until reduced to 3 quarts, about 1 1/4 hours; stir often. Add salt to taste.

Step 4
4

Use hot, or let sauce cool, then cover and chill up to 5 days. To store longer, freeze in easy-to-use portions.

Step 5
5

Nutritional analysis per cup.

Ingredients

 1 ounce (about 1 cup) dried porcini mushrooms
 6 cloves garlic, minced
 2 onions (1 lb. total), finely chopped
 2 tablespoons olive oil
 10 pound ripe tomatoes, rinsed (or peeled, if desired), cored, and chopped
 1 cup minced parsley
 1/2 cup dry red wine
 2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme leaves or 2 teaspoons crumbled dried thyme
 1 tablespoon sugar
 1 to 2 teaspoons hot chili flakes
  Salt

Directions

Step 1
1

In a small bowl, combine mushrooms and 2/3 cup boiling water. Let stand until soft, about 20 minutes. Rub mushrooms gently to release grit, then lift from water, squeeze dry, and finely chop. Reserve liquid.

Step 2
2

Meanwhile, combine garlic, onions, and oil in an 8- to 10-quart pan over medium-high heat. Stir often until onions are lightly browned and taste sweet, about 10 minutes.

Step 3
3

To pan, add mushrooms and most of the soaking liquid, discarding the gritty remainder. Also add tomatoes, parsley, wine, thyme, sugar, and chili flakes. Bring to a boil and simmer rapidly until reduced to 3 quarts, about 1 1/4 hours; stir often. Add salt to taste.

Step 4
4

Use hot, or let sauce cool, then cover and chill up to 5 days. To store longer, freeze in easy-to-use portions.

Step 5
5

Nutritional analysis per cup.

Spaghetti Sauce

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