Searching for the holy grail tomato pasta sauce recipe

[sambababy]

Does anyone here have a recipe for tomato pasta sauce that is simple and amazing? I've tried several and they're always a bit meh, then if I go to a restaurant and have some amazing pasta I always wonder what the secret is!

I blended in a cooked sweet potato the other day which added just enough sweetness.

Is it just my skim reading or has no one mentioned WINE?! Good glass of red added with the tomatoes and left to simmer down. Much better than a glass of water IMO

I mentioned wine [grumpy]

San Marzano tomatoes, butter not olive oil.

Long slow simmer until the fat from butter and acid from tomatoes emulsify. This has happened when the sauce has an iridescent shimmer right through it.

Flavors can be:
Onion cut in half
Garlic, chilli, parsley
Red wine and anchovies
Or nothing (as long as butter is salted). It’s the emulsification that’s the thing.

There there @MrsTerryPratchett

I use passata as it gives a nice round flavour without having to simmer for hours.

Chopped onion and garlic gently sweated in plenty of olive oil with some fennel seeds. When nice and soft, add a glug of red wine. When that has almost simmered to nothing, add the passata. Stir, cover, and simmer slowly. After about 15 mins it should already be pretty good. (Though obviously better the longer you leave it - even with the heat off). Season at the end. Torn basil leaves when you serve.