Chunky Pizza Sauce

I like a thick, chunky pizza sauce with more flavors than just tomato. I couldn't find a recipe like this, so I combined bits from two or three others and made my own.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 4 cups

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  medium onion, finely chopped
• 1  small red bell peppers or 1  small green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 5  cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1⁄3 cup dry red wine
• 1  tablespoon  dried Italian herb seasoning (I like McCormick’s Italian Seasoning blend, but you can use any combination of dried herbs like marj)
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 1⁄4 teaspoon fennel seed, crushed
• 2  bay leaves
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
•  black pepper
• 2  teaspoons brown sugar

Directions

1. Heat oil in a dutch oven.
2. Saute onions, peppers and garlic, stirring often, until soft.
3. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat and simmer gently, uncovered, for 20 minutes, stirring often.
5. Makes about 4 cups (enough for two 15" pizzas).
6. I usually make one pizza and freeze the other half for next time.