Depends. My mother (full-blooded Italian) and two aunts on my mothers side always called it sauce. Spaghetti sauce to be exact. I know it's always referred to as gravy back in The Boot.
Ah, the wonderful memories of when my mother would make a huge pot of sauce which we would enjoy with different pastas (Ziti, Rigatoni [my favorite], Linguine, Vermicelli, Rotini, etc.) for days and days. Delicious!
The recipe...
Ingredients:
1/2 cup olive oil (pure)
3 or 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or garlic pressed
12 Sausages (6 hot, 6 sweet)
4 large cans whole tomatoes
3 small cans tomato paste
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tbs Italian seasoning
1 tbs Oregano
1 tbs Parsley
1 tbs Honey
3 Bay leaves
One thick slice of onion, cubed
Mushrooms
1 cup red cooking wine
1 cup water
*1-1/2 lbs ground beef and pork (1/2 and 1/2)
*2 Eggs
*1 ladle of sauce
*1/3 cup grated cheese
*1 tsp. minced garlic
*1 tsp. minced onion
*1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
SAUCE:
Pour oil into pan with sausages and garlic and simmer until sausages are slightly browned. In a large mixing bowl, combine and mix tomatoes and paste by hand and pour into pan. Bring to a low boil, stirring frequently. Sprinkle oregano, parsley, crushed red pepper and Italian seasoning over sauce and add the honey and bay leaves. Add onions and mushrooms. Pour wine and water into sauce.
MEATBALLS:
Mix all meatball ingredients* thoroughly and place into sauce, stirring carefully.
Simmer for at least 6 hours.