Description
Homemade marinara sauce brings classic Italian flavors dancing across your plate with simple, fresh ingredients. Rich tomato notes and aromatic herbs create a perfect companion for pasta, pizza, and countless Mediterranean dishes you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Tomato Base:
- 1 (28 ounces/794 grams) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional, for richness)
Herbs and Spices:
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
Aromatics and Finishing:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
Instructions
- Warm a generous drizzle of olive oil in a spacious skillet, creating a fragrant cooking environment over medium heat.
- Gently introduce finely diced onions into the pan, allowing them to soften and become translucent, transforming into a delicate golden base.
- Introduce minced garlic, stirring continuously to prevent burning and release its aromatic essence for approximately 60 seconds.
- Pour in vibrant crushed tomatoes, blending in oregano, salt, pepper, optional red pepper flakes, sugar, and tomato paste to create a rich, layered flavor profile.
- Encourage the sauce to reach a gentle, bubbling simmer, then reduce heat and let it develop complexity, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking.
- Allow the sauce to concentrate and thicken, simmering uncovered for 20-30 minutes until it reaches a luxurious, velvety consistency.
- During the final moments of cooking, fold in freshly chopped basil leaves, infusing the sauce with bright, herbaceous notes.
- Sample the marinara, fine-tuning seasonings to harmonize the flavors perfectly.
- Serve immediately while warm or carefully store in a sealed container, refrigerating for up to one week or freezing for three months to enjoy later.
Notes
- Enhance the sauce’s depth by using San Marzano tomatoes for a sweeter, less acidic flavor profile.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting red pepper flakes to suit personal spice preferences.
- Fresh herbs elevate the sauce’s taste, so use freshly chopped basil right before serving for maximum aromatic impact.
- Balance acidity with a pinch of sugar, which helps smooth out the tomato’s natural tartness without making the sauce sweet.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg