There's a better tomato sauce—and it's been hiding in plain sight. Passata, Italy's go-to smooth tomato purée, has slowly but steadily made its way into mainstream American grocery stores over the past several years, no longer the exclusive domain of Italian delis and specialty importers. This shift is largely due to increased distribution from major brands like Mutti and Cento.

That said, it's still often lamentably relegated to the bottom shelf of the canned vegetable aisle, hidden beneath jars of premade pasta sauces—overlooked, underused, and misunderstood. But passata deserves top billing, and it's time to make the most of it.