Sauté onion and garlic in hot oil until onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir in tomatoes, water, tomato paste, basil, baking soda, sugar, salt, and pepper; bring to a simmer. Cook at a simmer until sauce is thickened, about 2 hours.
Tomato sauce is similar to pizza sauce, but they are not the same. The main difference between tomato sauce for pasta and pizza sauce is that pasta sauce is cooked in the preparation of the sauce and pizza sauce is an uncooked tomato sauce that cooks along with the pizza.
Ragu`: Without a doubt, one of the most common and beloved Italian red sauces is a Ragu`. Ragu` is what we typically think of when we picture Mamma or Nonna in the kitchen, slow cooking a sauce for hours on end.