This easy homemade marinara sauce is easy to make and one of the essential recipes to have in everyone’s culinary repertoire. It is made with just a handful of ingredients and it’s healthy, and tastier than anything you’ll find in a jar!
This homemade marinara sauce is made ultra-simply from scratch with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and herbs. No cans here, just delicious, fresh from the garden tomato sauce!
WHAT IS MARINARA SAUCE?
Marinara sauce is a tomato sauce usually made with tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and onions. It can include the addition of capers, olives, spices, and a dash of wine as possible ingredients in its many variations.
INGREDIENTS FOR MAKING MARINARA SAUCE:
The ingredients are pantry staples that we always keep on hand so it’s easy to whip up. To make this homemade marinara sauce recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- Olive oil : Use a good quality olive oil for best flavor.
- Tomatoes: I have used blanched and pureed tomatoes and also roughly diced fresh tomatoes for best texture.
- Onion: White or yellow onion will do. I like to finely-diced my onion for this sauce!
- Garlic: I have used fresh garlic for best flavor. You can use powder too.
- Red Chilli flakes: Feel free to double the amount of crushed red pepper flakes if you would like a spicier sauce.
- Dried oregano: A generous pinch of oregano is a must for me with marinara sauce.
- Fresh basil and parsley : I like to just simmer a few sprigs of chopped fresh basil in my marinara. You can use dried ones too!
- Sugar: A pinch of sugar to balance the taste.
- Salt and freshly-cracked black pepper: For seasoning!
HOW TO MAKE MARINARA SAUCE:
To make this simple homemade marinara sauce,
Heat the olive oil in a sauce pan and saute the minced garlic.
Then add the onion, saute until they turns translucent and softened.
Add the diced tomatoes and give a quick stir.
Add the tomato puree and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes.
Next, add in the seasonings and herbs and stir to combine.
Simmer the sauce covered for about 20-30 minutes to help deepen all of those delicious flavors.
Season the marinara with extra salt and pepper if needed.
Enjoy with your favorite recipe!
TIPS FOR THE BEST MARINARA SAUCE:
Few suggestions,
- Use a good quality olive oil for this recipe
- Use only fresh garlic, not bottled, for best flavor.
- When using the fresh tomatoes, make sure to blanch and then make the puree.
- You can also use canned Roma tomatoes that works too.
- Fresh basil is highly recommended here. Dried basil has quite a different flavor and it won’t be as good.
- Add red pepper flakes if you like a little heat.
- If you like a smooth sauce, puree with an immersion blender after simmering.
HOW TO USE MARINARA SAUCE:
There are sooo many delicious ways that you can put this marinara recipe to use!
Suggestions: Serve It With
- Pasta! (Any kind)
- Cheese tortellini
- Lasagna
- Meatballs
- Shakshuka
- Chicken parmesan
- Subs
- Use it as a dip (for pizza, bread, breadsticks, garlic knots etc).
HOW TO STORE THIS HOMEMADE MARINARA SAUCE?
To store this marinara sauce, let it cool until it reaches room temperature. Then store it in a sealed jar or food storage container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Some of the other sauce you might like,
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Homemade Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 medium sized onion finely chopped
- 6-8 tomatoes blanched and pureed
- 1 large tomato diced
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/8 tsp fresh black pepper
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh basil chopped
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a sauce pan and saute the minced garlic. Then add the onion, saute until they turns translucent and softened.
- Add the diced tomatoes and give a quick stir. Then add the tomato puree and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes.
- Next, add in the seasonings and herbs and stir to combine.
- Simmer the sauce covered for about 20-30 minutes to help deepen all of those delicious flavors. Season the marinara with extra salt and pepper if needed.
- Enjoy with your favorite recipe!
Notes
- Use a good quality olive oil for this recipe
- Use only fresh garlic, not bottled, for best flavor.
- When using the fresh tomatoes, make sure to blanch and then make the puree.
- You can also use canned Roma tomatoes that works too.
- Fresh basil is highly recommended here. Dried basil has quite a different flavor and it won’t be as good.
- Add red pepper flakes if you like a little heat.
- If you like a smooth sauce, puree with an immersion blender after simmering.
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