Description
This classic marinara sauce recipe delivers a rich, flavorful tomato base enhanced with fresh basil and aromatic garlic and onions. Simmered to perfection, it’s versatile for pasta, pizzas, or dipping, offering a homemade Italian taste that’s simple to prepare on the stovetop.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinara Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (or butter)
- 1/3 cup finely-diced white onion
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed or finely-minced
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 (28-ounce) can San Marzano whole tomatoes (with juices)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper
- 3 large sprigs of fresh basil
Instructions
- Sauté onion and garlic: Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the finely diced onion and sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until it softens and becomes translucent. Then add the minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, sautéing for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently to combine the flavors.
- Add remaining ingredients: Pour in the can of whole San Marzano tomatoes with their juices. Add dried oregano, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Use a wooden spoon or a potato masher to gently break up the tomatoes while combining all ingredients in the saucepan. Stir in the fresh basil sprigs to infuse the sauce with their aroma.
- Simmer: Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the saucepan, and let it simmer gently for 20 to 30 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and to allow flavors to meld beautifully.
- Season: Remove and discard the fresh basil sprigs. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired. For a smoother texture, optionally purée the sauce with an immersion blender until it reaches your preferred consistency.
- Serve: Serve the warm marinara sauce over pasta, as a dipping sauce, or use it in your favorite recipes. Enjoy the fresh, homemade flavor that enhances any dish.
Notes
- Use whole San Marzano tomatoes for the best authentic flavor and quality.
- Adjust the crushed red pepper flakes to control spiciness to your taste.
- The sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- If you prefer a chunkier sauce, avoid puréeing; leave the tomato pieces as they are.
- Butter can be used instead of olive oil for a richer flavor.
- Fresh basil adds authentic aroma but can be substituted with dried basil if fresh is unavailable.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: marinara sauce, tomato sauce, Italian sauce, homemade marinara, easy tomato sauce, pasta sauce, simmered sauce
