1. Sauté the onion:
Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once hot, toss in the diced onion and cook until soft and translucent-about 5 minutes.

2. Add garlic & spice:
Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if you like a little heat!). Let it cook for about a minute, just until the garlic becomes fragrant.

3. Time for tomatoes:
Pour in the whole peeled tomatoes with their juices. Use a wooden spoon to crush them down into smaller chunks.

4. Herb it up:
Sprinkle in the dried oregano and drop in the sprig of fresh basil.

5. Simmer & develop flavors:
Let the sauce simmer uncovered for 45 minutes. It’ll thicken, reduce, and develop deep, savory flavor. Don’t rush this part-it’s where the magic happens!

6. Blend it smooth:
Fish out the basil sprig and blend the sauce using a handheld immersion blender. Add a splash of water if needed to get that perfectly smooth, creamy texture. (A regular blender works too-just be careful with hot liquids!)

7. Final taste check:
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir, taste, adjust-repeat if needed.