Description
This Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce is a simple and flavorful tomato-based sauce packed with aromatic vegetables and herbs. Perfect as a base for pasta dishes, pizzas, or as a dipping sauce, it requires minimal ingredients and only about 40 minutes total to prepare and cook.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup finely diced onion
- 1/2 cup shredded carrot
- 1/3 cup finely diced celery
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Tomato & Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 (28-ounce) cans tomatoes (with juice; diced, whole or combination)
- 4 tablespoons freshly chopped basil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- Sauté vegetables: Place olive oil in a large pot or sauté pan over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic, and cook until softened, about 4-6 minutes.
- Season: Stir in tomato paste, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook while stirring constantly until the mixture is fragrant, approximately 1 minute.
- Add remaining ingredients: Add canned tomatoes along with their juice, freshly chopped basil, and sugar. Bring the mixture to a simmer, breaking up any whole tomatoes with a wooden spoon.
- Cook: Simmer the sauce for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to your desired consistency. Use immediately or store for later use.
Notes
- You can use a mix of diced and whole canned tomatoes depending on your texture preference.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper at the end to suit your taste.
- The sugar helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes but can be omitted for a more natural tomato flavor.
- For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender after cooking.
- This sauce freezes well for up to 3 months.
