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Homemade Marinara Sauce

Homemade Marinara Sauce

This easy Homemade Marinara Sauce recipe features fresh flavors and simple ingredients, delivering a rich and authentic Italian sauce in under 30 minutes. Perfect for pasta, pizza, dipping, or as a versatile base for Italian dishes, it’s made with quality canned San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and olive oil for a wholesome, nutritious, and customizable sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 can (28 oz) San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand or with a spoon
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Fresh basil leaves, torn, about 1/4 cup

Instructions

  1. Prep Your Ingredients: Finely mince the garlic cloves and rinse the fresh basil leaves. Open the canned San Marzano tomatoes and crush them by hand or use a wooden spoon to achieve a rustic texture.
  2. Heat the Olive Oil and Sauté Garlic: Warm the olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook gently until aromatic but not browned, about one minute, to prevent bitterness.
  3. Add Tomatoes and Seasonings: Pour in the crushed tomatoes along with salt, freshly ground black pepper, dried oregano, and dried basil. If desired, add crushed red pepper flakes for a gentle spicy kick. Stir well to combine.
  4. Simmer and Reduce: Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer gently for 20 to 25 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly, creating a rich and balanced taste.
  5. Finish with Fresh Basil: Just before serving, stir in the torn fresh basil leaves to add a fresh, bright herbal aroma that elevates the sauce.

Notes

  • Choose quality canned San Marzano tomatoes for naturally sweet and thick sauce.
  • Don’t overcook the garlic; sauté only until fragrant to avoid bitterness.
  • Simmer the sauce low and slow to develop richer flavors without burning.
  • Adjust salt, pepper, and herbs as the sauce cooks because flavors intensify during simmering.
  • Add fresh herbs like basil toward the end of cooking to preserve their delicate flavor and color.

Nutrition

Keywords: homemade marinara sauce, easy marinara sauce, Italian pasta sauce, marinara recipe, tomato sauce, quick red sauce, vegan sauce, gluten free sauce