Straight from Alanno-scalo Italy- I present to you: my grandmother’s quick and easy chunky tomato sauce (I call her G-ma, you can too).

As pictured to the left- my super Italian grandparents in Italy. Yes, G-pa looks like he’s in the mob. He’s probably not. I assure you.

About this sauce. It’s great to make as a quick and hearty dinner-right before your grandfather decides everybody’s going to the Carnivale, where you will go on questionably safe carnival rides with  no seat belts until 5 am. It’s ALSO great for those busy days when you don’t have time to spend 3 hours making a pot of homemade sauce, but you really don’t want to eat store-bought sauce.

If you’re on a  clean eating, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, or paleo diet- you need this sauce. You may also want to learn how to make Spaghetti Squash. G-ma approved.

What you need:

1 white onion chopped

2 cloves of garlic diced

1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt (or sea salt)

3-4 tbsp olive oil (and a splash extra when you’re done)

1 yellow pepper diced

3-4 vine tomatoes diced

2 Roma/plum tomatoes diced

1 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp black pepper

What to do:

1. Place bell pepper, onion, and a few tablespoons of olive oil  in a large frying pan or cast iron skillet, and cook for 7-8 minutes on med heat until onion is translucent. Add garlic, stir, and cook for one more minute.

2. Add tomatoes and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook until it looks similar to the picture below.

3. Add another splash of olive oil and some salt and pepper to taste. Put on top of spaghetti squash, pasta, or pizza and mangia! (I put mine on spaghetti squash; see how to cook it here)