Quick and Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe : From Scratch
I wanted to share a quick and easy Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe From Scratch. The flavor of a homemade Marinara Sauce, it is like a big hug! I make it a little different, so don’t share with your die-hard Italian friends, but this sauce is perfect for any pasta night!
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Why You Want To Try This Homemade Marinara Sauce From Scratch
I love to make this sauce with fresh tomatoes, but in a pinch I can use canned tomatoes. Really, I just like to use anything I have on hand. I don’t love the preservatives in store-bought marinara sauce, so I figure, Why not try making my own homemade marinara sauce instead? In ding this I realized just how easy it really is to make. But, more importantly, it’s also healthier and more delicious than the pre-made jar versions.
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What Tomatoes Are The Best To Use For Marinara Sauce
There are many different preferences in Marinara sauce, it can be controversial. So, I can answer for us. The best tomatoes are the tomatoes I have on hand. Typically, you want a tomato that has a more flesh and less seeds. My preference is Roma, plum, or cherry tomato varieties.
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San Marzano Tomatoes
When I can’t find good tomatoes, I will grab a can of San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes. This variety of tomato has more of the “meat,” and less seeds. Also, it has a bit of a lower acidity.
Also, if you prefer a chunkier sauce just don’t chunk them up as much. But, if you want a perfectly smooth sauce you could use an emersion blender to make the sauce smooth.
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This Manicotti from scratch recipe pairs so perfectly with this Marinara sauce! HERE is the recipe for the Manicotti
Ingredients To Make Homemade Marinara Sauce
- 1 Large can (28 oz) whole peeled tomatoes (could use fresh)
- 1 Medium onion, diced
- 1/2 cup broth (veggie, garlic, or chicken)
- 2 large cloves of chopped garlic
- 2 TBSP extra-virgin Olive Oil
- Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes, to taste
- salt, to taste
- pinch of baking soda
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- pinch of sugar
- 1 TBSP butter, to Finish (last)
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Instructions To Make This Recipe
- Firstly, begin by heating the olive oil in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Now, add chopped garlic, and onions, then sauté for about a minute or until fragrant.
- Pour the canned tomatoes with their juices into the pan, also crushing the tomatoes with a wooden spoon or a potato masher.
- Pour in broth, and then stir.
- Then, add the salt, olive oil, red pepper, baking soda, lemon juice, and sugar to the pan and stir to combine.
- Bring sauce to a simmer at medium high, then lower the heat to medium low, and cook for about 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally. (So, you can cook it longer, it only get better as it cooks)
- Remove the sauce from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes before serving over your favorite pasta.
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So, I hope you enjoy this simple recipe for homemade marinara sauce. Because it is made from scratch, you can control what you put in it. So, use this recipe as a base to elevate your pasta night. Also, the best part is that you can customize it to your taste!
Checkout Some Of My Other Recipes
Manicotti Dinner Night Using This Marinara Sauce – Video
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Simple Homemade Marinara Sauce From Scratch
Ingredients
- 1 Large can 28 oz whole peeled tomatoes (could use fresh)
- 1 Medium onion diced
- 1/2 cup broth veggie, garlic, or chicken
- 2 large cloves of chopped garlic
- 2 TBSP extra-virgin Olive Oil
- Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes to taste
- 1 tsp salt to taste
- pinch of baking soda
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- pinch of sugar
- 1 TBSP butter to Finish (last)
Instructions
- Begin by heating the olive oil in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Now, add chopped garlic, and onions, then sauté for about a minute or until fragrant.
- Pour the canned tomatoes and their juices into the pan, crushing the tomatoes with a wooden spoon or a potato masher.
- Pour in broth, stir.
- Add the salt, olive oil, red pepper, baking soda, lemon juice, and sugar to the pan and stir to combine.
- Bring sauce to a simmer at medium high, then lower the heat to medium low, and cook for about 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally. (You can cook it longer, it only get better as it cooks)
- Remove the sauce from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes before serving over your favorite pasta.
Video
*This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. But, I will only suggest items I actually Love and Have Used!
My jar of sauce was moldy in the fridge, which temporarily ruined my manicotti dinner plans until I found this recipe! I definitely will use this again and will experiment with consistency with my hand blender, maybe as a smooth sauce next time. Amazing flavor! Thanks for saving my sanity!!! :0)
Oh no! So glad to hear that you were able to save your manicotti! Thanks so much! 🙂
We love this quick sauce for cannelloni. It’s easy to change up with herbs, mushrooms etc. And so lovely just as it is. Thanks for another great one!
Cheers,
Anna
Awesome! I am so happy to hear that! I love it’s versatility too! Ohhh mushrooms sounds like a great addition! Thanks! 🙂