Description
This homemade marinara sauce recipe is a simple and flavorful Italian classic made with fresh ingredients including garlic, plum tomatoes, and aromatic herbs. Perfect as a base for pasta dishes, pizzas, or as a dipping sauce, it is easy to prepare on the stovetop and can be customized with your favorite herbs and seasonings.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinara Sauce Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 28 oz. plum tomatoes
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3–4 tablespoons fresh parsley (roughly chopped)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Heat Olive Oil: Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat to prepare it for sautéing the garlic, which releases its aroma and flavor.
- Sauté Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the heated olive oil and cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally to prevent burning and infuse the oil with garlic flavor.
- Blend Tomatoes: While the garlic is cooking, blend the plum tomatoes until smooth using an immersion blender, regular blender, or food mill to create a fresh tomato base for the sauce.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the blended tomatoes, bay leaf, Italian seasoning, salt, and roughly chopped fresh parsley to the saucepan. Stir well to combine all flavors evenly.
- Simmer Sauce: Let the sauce simmer gently on low to medium heat for 15 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken slightly, making it ready to serve.
Notes
- You can adjust the seasoning to taste by adding more salt or herbs if desired.
- For a richer sauce, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes or a splash of red wine during simmering.
- The sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Use fresh parsley as a garnish or substitute with basil for a different herbal note.
- Make sure not to overcook the garlic during sautéing to avoid bitterness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: marinara sauce, homemade tomato sauce, Italian sauce, easy marinara, stovetop sauce, pasta sauce, garlic tomato sauce
