Marinara Sauce
This easy marinara sauce recipe is simple to make and packed with rich flavors, perfect for pasta, pizza, or as a dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Main 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 Adjust based on spice preference
- 1 28-ounce can San Marzano whole tomatoes (with juices) Use high-quality tomatoes for best flavor.
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt Adjust to taste.
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper Adjust to taste.
- 3 large sprigs fresh basil Can substitute with dried basil if fresh is unavailable.
Instructions
Preparation
- Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Add diced onion and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft.
- Add garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Sauté for 1-2 minutes while stirring frequently.
- Pour in the whole tomatoes, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Use a wooden spoon or potato masher to gently break up the tomatoes as the sauce heats.
Cooking
- Stir in the fresh basil sprigs.
- Continue cooking the sauce until it reaches a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove and discard the fresh basil sprigs.
- Taste the sauce and season with more salt and pepper if needed.
- For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to purée it to your desired consistency.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
Let the sauce cool completely before storing leftovers in an airtight container. It can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for about 3 months. Marinara sauce is versatile; enjoy with pasta, as a pizza base, or with breadsticks.