Marinara Sauce
A simple homemade Marinara Sauce recipe is a must-have in everyone's cookbook. Preparing Marinara Sauce from scratch is quite easy. The best part? You probably already have the ingredients to make it!
This recipe has been my go-to recipe for several years now. Sometimes I will use fresh herbs and other times I use dried herbs. It is great either way. If I am making it as a dipping sauce for something like breadsticks with cheese, I will reduce the amount of tomato sauce by 1/4 to have a chunkier sauce.
Another great thing about this recipe is that it freezes well. Whenever I am making marinara, I like to make double or even triple the recipe and freeze the rest, portioning with meals in mind. That is something I do often to make cooking easier.
- Onion- Every good tomato-based sauce should have onion. Onion adds great flavor. If you are not a fan of onion's texture, you can grate or finely mince the onion and sauté it for a few minutes.
- Olive Oil- For sautéing the onion and garlic. You can use vegetable or canola oil if you prefer.
- Garlic- Fresh garlic is a must for a good marinara.
- Tomato Sauce- The base of the marinara.
- Diced Tomatoes-To add texture to the sauce.
- Basil-Offers great flavor. You can use dried or fresh. Just be sure to add the fresh basil at the end of cooking for the best flavor.
- Oregano-Offers great flavor. You can used fresh or dried oregano. If using fresh Oregano, add it at the end of cooking for the best flavor.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Sugar- This helps cut the acidity of the tomatoes in the sauce.
Start by sautéing the onions in a medium pot over medium heat until translucent. Add in the minced garlic and sauté 30 seconds.
Next add in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and all of the seasonings. Allow the sauce to simmer, adjusting the heat if needed, for 20 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed. If using fresh herbs, add them now.
Your sauce is ready to be used. Enjoy!
TIPS
- If you like a thicker marinara for a dipping sauce, cut back on the amount of tomato sauce and adjust the seasonings.
- To add to a pasta dish, add in 1/2 cup of your pasta water to make your marinara sauce stick to the pasta better.
- For a spicy marinara add crushed red pepper flakes.
To freeze marinara sauce, transfer the cooled sauce into an airtight container, ensuring to leave approximately one inch of space from the top, then freeze. Ensure it is completely thawed before use.
A simple homemade Marinara Sauce recipe is a must-have in everyone's cookbook. Preparing Marinara Sauce from scratch is quite easy. The best part? You probably already have the ingredients to make it!
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup onion (small diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 quart tomato sauce
- 14.5 ounces petite diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 cup pasta water (if making with pasta)
Preheat a large pan over medium heat, add in the oil. Once the oil is hot add in the onions and sautée until translucent. About 6 minutes.
Next add in the garlic and sautée for 30 seconds.
Now add in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and all of the herbs and spices. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
If making this with pasta add in 1/2 cup of your pasta water, stir well and adjust the seasonings if needed. Enjoy!
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