Ingredients

• 6 piece large tomatoes
• 3 piece red bell peppers
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 1 piece onion
• 4 clove garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Prepare vegetables

   Roughly chop tomatoes and bell peppers into 2cm chunks, removing stems and seeds from peppers. Dice onion finely and mince garlic cloves. Keep vegetables separate as they cook at different rates. Do not worry about perfect uniformity as the rustic texture is part of the charm.

2. Sauté aromatics

   Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until shimmering. Add diced onion and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant. Do not let garlic burn or it will become bitter.

3. Cook peppers

   Add chopped bell peppers to the pan and cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until peppers begin to soften and edges start to caramelize slightly. The peppers should still hold their shape but yield when pressed with a spoon. Do not rush this step as it develops the sauce's depth.

4. Add tomatoes

   Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes until darkened and fragrant. Add chopped tomatoes, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and sugar. Cook over medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until tomatoes break down and release their juices. Do not cover the pan as you want moisture to evaporate.

5. Simmer to thickness

   Reduce heat to low and continue cooking for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reaches a thick, chunky consistency that coats the back of a spoon. The vegetables should be soft but still have some texture. Do not let it stick to the bottom of the pan or it will develop a burnt taste.

6. Final seasoning

   Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes as needed. The sauce should have a balanced sweet-savory flavor with a gentle heat. Remove from heat and let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Do not serve immediately as the flavors need time to settle.

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