Description
Rustic Italian marinara sauce brings simple Mediterranean magic to kitchen tables worldwide. Rich tomato depths and aromatic herbs dance together, creating a timeless sauce you’ll crave with pasta, pizza, and countless other dishes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 28 ounces (794 grams) crushed tomatoes (no spices or salt added)
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) finely chopped yellow onion
Aromatics and Herbs:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) finely shredded fresh basil
- ¾ teaspoon (3.7 grams) dried oregano
Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons (10 grams) sugar
- ¾ teaspoon (3.7 grams) finely ground sea salt
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 grams) finely cracked black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon (1.2 grams) red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Pour extra virgin olive oil into a spacious cooking vessel, warming it over medium-high temperature until the surface develops a slight shimmer and becomes fluid.
- Introduce finely chopped yellow onions into the heated oil, gently sautéing for approximately 3 to 4 minutes until the pieces transform into a soft, translucent golden hue.
- Incorporate freshly minced garlic cloves, continuously stirring for 45 to 60 seconds to release their aromatic essence without allowing them to brown or burn.
- Pour whole crushed San Marzano tomatoes into the pan, blending them with fresh chopped basil leaves, granulated sugar, dried oregano, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Thoroughly mix all ingredients, ensuring an even distribution of herbs and spices throughout the tomato base.
- Reduce cooking temperature to a gentle medium-low setting, allowing the marinara to gently simmer and develop deep, rich flavors for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Periodically stir the sauce to prevent any potential scorching and promote consistent texture and taste.
- Remove from heat once the marinara reaches a slightly thickened consistency and the flavors have melded harmoniously.
- Serve immediately with your preferred pasta, as a pizza topping, or store in an airtight container for future culinary adventures.
Notes
- Prepare ingredients ahead of time to ensure smooth cooking process and minimize kitchen stress.
- Crush whole canned tomatoes by hand for rustic texture and more authentic sauce consistency.
- Adjust spice levels by increasing or decreasing red pepper flakes according to personal heat preference.
- Fresh herbs can elevate sauce flavor dramatically; substitute dried oregano with fresh chopped basil or parsley for brighter taste.
- Leftover sauce stores beautifully in airtight containers inside refrigerator for up to 5 days or freezes wonderfully for future meals.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 118 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 313 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg