Homemade marinara sauce
If you are looking for a substitute for marinara sauce, you’ve come to the right place. Here's a basic recipe for homemade marinara sauce. This classic tomato sauce is versatile and can be used in various pasta dishes, as a pizza sauce, or as a dipping sauce for breadsticks. You can customize it with additional herbs and spices to suit your taste.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small Vidalia onion finely chopped
- 3 small cloves of garlic minced
- 1 can crushed tomatoes 28 ounces
- 1 can diced tomatoes 14 ounces, optional for texture
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
Optional
- salt and pepper to taste
- brown sugar to taste aprox. 1 tsp
- balsamic vinegar to taste aprox. 2 tsp
Instructions
- Heat the Olive Oil: In a large saucepan or skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: Add the finely chopped onion to the pan and sauté for about 3-4 minutes until it becomes translucent. Add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to let it the garlic burn.
- Add Tomatoes: Pour in the crushed tomatoes (and diced tomatoes if using) and stir well to combine with the onions and garlic.
- Season: Add the dried basil, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, and pepper to the sauce. Stir to incorporate the seasonings evenly.
- Simmer: Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered for about 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the sauce to thicken. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can add a little water to reach your desired consistency.
- Adjust Seasonings: Add sugar and balsamic vinegar to balance the flavors, taste and adjust as needed.
- Finish and Serve: If you have fresh basil leaves, tear or chop them and stir them into the sauce just before serving. This adds a burst of fresh flavor. Remove the saucepan from the heat.
Notes
Use the marinara sauce immediately in your favorite pasta dishes, as a pizza sauce, or for dipping.
If you're not using it right away, let it cool and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze it for longer storage.
Feel free to customize this basic marinara sauce recipe by adding other herbs like fresh parsley, or even a pinch of dried fennel seeds for a unique twist. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to your preferred level of spiciness.
Nutrition
Calories: 575kcalCarbohydrates: 76gProtein: 14gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 21gSodium: 1160mgPotassium: 2450mgFiber: 16gSugar: 45gVitamin A: 1412IUVitamin C: 95mgCalcium: 398mgIron: 12mg
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