Austin City Limits and Sunday Sauce
ACL recap and a QUICK Sunday Sauce when you don't have 8 hours to leave it on the burner...
This past weekend, I found myself on the Bonus Tracks Stage at Austin City Limits, surrounded by a thrumming crowd, the air alive with SO much music and the undeniable aroma of good food. Alongside my dear friend, Ricky Staffieri, we embarked on a cooking demo and lively conversation about a subject close to our hearts: food and family. As we dished out our beloved Sunday Sauce, I realized that more than a perfect recipe, it was the collective experience—the smells, the vibes, and the warm sense of community—that truly captivated those gathered around us.
The questions poured in, curious people wanting to know about this dish we so affectionately call Sunday Sauce. Growing up in Chicago, steeped in the culinary traditions of my family and the homes of my dearest friends, I was astonished to discover that many in the crowd had never heard of it. Why were we serving it with bread? Some, in confusion, even thought it was soup, proclaiming it to be the best soup they had ever tasted, a compliment that warmed my heart.
Sunday Sauce embodies much more than mere ingredients in a pot; it carries a profound significance in my life. It’s that one reliable recipe that lifts my spirits, especially on those quiet, melancholic days we all face. The process of letting a rich sauce simmer slowly throughout the day is a gentle reminder to slow down, to embrace the art of pazienza. Each stir feels like a comforting embrace, a way to reconnect with myself or gather others around the table.
Over the years, I've experimented with countless variations—sometimes with meat, at times entirely plant-based, sometimes using the last tomatoes of summer. Oh, the rewarding extra work of fresh, ripe tomatoes! There’s no right or wrong way, though many cherished nonnas may share their own unique twists. Some might call it gravy or pomodoro or simply red sauce; what remains essential is the feeling it evokes—the warmth, nostalgia, and connection to our roots.
Below is the actual recipe I made in Austin. I love sharing the hybrid recipes that cheat just a little to bring delicious food to your home and save a few steps. I make the garlic butter separately and add to the sauce to spruce it up. This recipe serves 4 so I you can always make extra and store some for later.
INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
***SUGAR is optional and I actually did not use it in this recipe with this brand of tomato sauce but it may be necessary if the jarred sauce alternative you are using is acidic - it will help balance it out.
Heat olive oil + butter + onion + a nice pinch of salt over medium low heat - 4 minutes
For one bunch of the basil - keep it on its stem and add to your garlic butter. Set aside the other bunch of basil.
Add garlic and stir with wooden spoon to incorporate - keep on low hear 20 minutes.
Add crushed red chili and stir allowing to cook another 2 minutes.
Heat jar of marinara sauce in a medium sauce pan (we used this one in Austin and loved it). Fill jar halfway with water and add to sauce. Add a pinch of sugar and bring to a boil and reduce. Allow to keep cooking on medium heat 20 minutes
Using a ladel - ladel the garlic butter mixture into your sauce one ladel at a time. Leave the garlic / basil / onion remnaants out as you ladel to keep your sunday sauce nice and smooth. Turn heat down to low and cook for at least 45 minutes, stirring consistently to keep from burning.
Chop your parsley and pick the remaining basil from the stem and chop fine. Add to the sunday sauce to finish.
Add salt to taste and adjust if needed.
Reflecting on our time at ACL, we aimed to feed as many hungry concert-goers as we could. Accomplishing that goal meant strategizing, working smarter, not harder. I couldn’t have asked for a better support team than CJ, Ricky, Josh and the amazing folks at C3, particularly Courtney, Katie, Mandy, Lele, and company, who embodied true Southern hospitality and made everything run seamlessly.
In our search for the perfect bread to accompany our sauce, we stumbled upon the delightful Easy Tiger in Austin. Their freshly baked breads were an absolute dream, and their pretzels? Divine. If ever in the area, I highly recommend indulging in their offerings; they provided a delicious complement to our Sunday Sauce, transforming a simple meal into a celebration.
As we served and shared, it became clear that Sunday Sauce was weaving connections, creating a community of shared stories, laughter, and the universal language of good food. In that bustling space, amid the swirl of garlic butter and music, I was reminded once more of the power of food — how it nourishes not just the body, but the soul.
Try it at home - any day of the week- and enjoy.
Oh!
And I am really working on my TikTok skills! Follow along if you can! Gives you a little bit more visuals for while you are cooking. I know it’s fast on this video but take your time!
Lots of Love,
Coco
I love the Excel spreadsheet ingredients section - makes it so easy to get all the right stuff!
I've been trying to perfect my tomato sauce recently and then this drops in my inbox. Amazing, thank you Courtney.