This marinara sauce recipe is very easy and simple to make, just with a few handfuls of ingredients like ripe tomatoes, garlic, onions, and fresh herbs. This marinara sauce is so delicious and tasty that you can pair it and enjoy it with many dishes like pasta, pizza, and as a dip for crusty bread. Marinara sauce gives each meal a hint of a Mediterranean touch with its strong flavor and fragrant aroma. You can alter this basic marinara sauce to your taste using additional items like shredded cheese, fresh herbs, or even a little red wine for a deeper flavor. Have fun!
What Is Marinara Sauce?
Ripe tomatoes are the key ingredient in marinara sauce. The key ingredient in marinara sauce is ripe tomatoes. Italian cooking is renowned for being straightforward and adaptable. The Italian word “marinaro,” which means “sailor,” is where the name “marinara” originates. Common uses for marinara sauce include pizza sauce, a base for pasta meals like spaghetti marinara, a dipping sauce for breadsticks or mozzarella sticks, and a tasty topping for meats. Italian-American cooks appreciate marinara sauce for its robust tomato flavor and simple preparation.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Tomatoes: These are the main item in marinara sauce. I would recommend that you use fresh, ripe tomatoes for this recipe. The taste of fresh tomatoes will make the sauce very delicious. They will require more time to break down, so use an immersion blender to combine them more smoothly. You can also use canned, crushed tomatoes to make a quick dressing.
- Olive Oil: Oil is required for sautéing the onion, garlic, and fresh. You can also use other vegetable or cooking oils. But I like to use olive oil for a healthy choice, and it adds richness to the sauce.
- The onion adds sweetness to the sauce. Saute the onion and garlic in cooking oil before adding the other ingredients.
- Garlic is a crucial fragrant component that brings out the sauce’s savory taste. It adds a delicious flavor to the sauce.
- Seasoning: There are two basic items for seasoning: salt and freshly ground black pepper. Salt enhances the flavor of other ingredients, while black pepper adds heat to the sauce.
- Fresh herbs: Marinara sauce frequently includes fresh basil, parsley, and dried oregano. These herbs give the sauce a fragrant and fresh quality. Fresh herbs offer the greatest flavor, while dried herbs can still be used.
- Red pepper flakes (optional): If you are a spicy lover, you can use red pepper flakes in your sauce, which will make your sauce much more spicy and delicious.
- Sugar (optional): I occasionally use a small amount of sugar in my marinara sauce. May I suggest that if you are using canned crushed tomatoes, you use a small amount of sugar in it as it will reduce the acidity of your tomatoes?
How To Make Marinara Sauce
This marinara sauce recipe is so easy to follow that you can make a very delicious sauce at home. The specialty of this dish is that it is prepared in a short time with very few ingredients, which makes your dishes very tasty and delicious. Here, I am going to give you a very simple and easy marinara sauce recipe that you can whip up very quickly. Let’s start the recipe.
- First of all, heat the oil in a saucepan, then add the onion and garlic to the preheated saucepan and sauté them for about 2 minutes until they soften and become fragrant.
- After that, add the fresh diced or canned crushed tomatoes, the rest of the seasoning, and the fresh herbs to the saucepan. Cook for a few minutes after bringing to a gentle boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 15 minutes with a half lid on.
- When the sauce thickens, remove it from the heat and sprinkle with more fresh herbs, if desired.
What To Serve With Marinara Sauce
- Meatballs, whether homemade or purchased from a store, go well with marinara sauce. Pour marinara sauce over the top of the meatballs and serve them in a bowl.
- Roasted or grilled vegetables go well with marinara sauce. To serve, just toss the vegetables with marinara sauce.
- My preferred method of serving marinara sauce with sautéed eggplant is to simply layer the sauce over fried eggplant pieces.
- Many delectable meals pair well with marinara sauce. Enjoy it with crispy fried green tomatoes for a wonderful contrast, juicy pork tenderloin for a flavorful burst, or roasted Brussels sprouts for a tangy twist. It also goes well with roasted asparagus, mushrooms, and potato wedges with Parmesan cheese for a hearty, cozy supper. Marinara sauce enhances the flavor of any dish, whether it is spooned, drizzled, or dipped into your favorite foods!
FAQs
How should marinara sauce be kept fresh?
Refrigerate homemade marinara sauce in an airtight container for up to a week. As an alternative, you might freeze it to keep it longer. Let the sauce cool thoroughly before putting it in a zip-top bag or freezer-safe container. You can store it in the freezer for up to three months.
Is it possible to modify marinara sauce?
Yes, you can customize marinara sauce a lot. To suit your liking, you can add sweet veggies like bell peppers or carrots, or you can go ahead and add protein like ground beef or Italian sausage.
Is it possible to make vegan marinara sauce?
Traditional marinara sauce contains plant-based components such as tomatoes, garlic, onions, and herbs, making it typically suitable for vegans. But make sure to read the ingredients carefully, especially if you’re using store-bought marinara sauce—some brands can have cheese or other non-vegan components added.
Marinara Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- 1 saucepan for making the sauce
- cutting board and knife
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin or any other cooking oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt taste and adjust if desired
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 pounds fresh tomatoes or 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 onion medium-sized chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil finely chopped
- Pinch of red pepper flakes add more if you like spicy
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
Instructions
- In a saucepan, warm the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the onion and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until softened. After that, add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant.
- Add the diced tomatoes, along with any liquids and sugar (if using).
- Add the fresh basil, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) and stir.
- Bring the sauce to a boil, then turn down the heat.
- To get the appropriate consistency, let the sauce boil, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring now and again. Check for seasoning and adjust with a taste.
- When the sauce thickens, remove it from the heat and sprinkle with more fresh herbs, if desired.
