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Ditch the jarred sauce and make authentic Italian marinara from scratch in just 40 minutes. Fresh garlic, quality tomatoes, and aromatic herbs create a sauce that’s worlds better than anything from the store.
Classic Marinara Sauce
Simple Italian tomato sauce with garlic, herbs, and olive oil. This versatile marinara serves as the foundation for countless dishes and tastes far better than store-bought versions.
Equipment
Large saucepan
Wooden spoon
Immersion blender (optional)
Ingredients
For the Sauce
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 piece garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes optional
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 14 oz can diced tomatoes with juice
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves torn
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes if using. Cook, stirring constantly, until garlic is fragrant and just beginning to turn golden, about 1-2 minutes. Be careful not to burn.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, and sugar. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. The sugar helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Let sauce simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes until slightly thickened and flavors have melded. The sauce should reduce by about one-quarter and coat the back of a spoon.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Remove from heat and stir in torn fresh basil leaves. For smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to puree to desired consistency. Use immediately or let cool before storing.
Notes
San Marzano tomatoes provide superior flavor and sweetness. For deeper flavor, add 1/4 cup red wine with tomatoes. Fresh basil at the end adds brightness that dried herbs can’t match. Sauce freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. Can scale recipe easily – doubles or triples well. Use for pasta, pizza, eggplant parmesan, or as a base for other sauces.
ALLERGEN INFORMATION: Naturally vegan and gluten-free. Contains no common allergens when using pure ingredients. Always check canned tomato labels for potential additives. Always check ingredient labels if you have food allergies.
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