Easy Marinara Sauce Recipe
This easy Marinara Sauce Recipe is made using simple ingredients and can be used as the based for so many recipes. Great on pizza or with pasta!
Ingredients
Marinara Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium brown onion finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves - finely minced see notes
- 2-3 tbsp tomato paste best quality you can get!
- 1 tsp Italian herb mix
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 cans crushed tomatoes (see notes)
- 1 cup (250 ml) beef, chicken or vegetable stock (good quality!)
- 1 tsp soy sauce adds flavor!
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce flavor!
- 2 tbsp basil chopped
Instructions
Marinara Sauce
- Note: this recipe is really forgiving. The soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce are optional but add a good boost of umami (savory flavor). No, you can’t taste the soy sauce, it’s only a small amount but enhances the overall tomato flavor.
- Add the olive oil in a large saucepan (you’ll need one with a lid) and add your chopped onion and garlic. Mix using a wooden spoon for 60 seconds on medium heat.
- Turn the heat to medium high and add the tomato paste, Italian herbs, salt and pepper and stir until the tomato paste starts bubbling.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, stock, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and basil and stir until mixture bubbles. Turn heat down to low, cover pot with lid and simmer for 20 minutes. The mixture should thicken slightly, reduce, and intensify in flavor. The longer you cook it, the thicker it gets, just take care not to let it burn! Thicker sauce is great for pizza!
Notes
Crushed tomatoes - yes, brand matters. More importantly than that, buying from an Italian deli is always going to be better than buying the cr--p they sell at supermarkets. Ask your friendly deli attendant which one they use at home.
Garlic - If you’re in Australia, buy from a good fruit shop, not the supermarket. And make sure you buy Aussie grown garlic, it tastes way better. Supermarkets sell really old garlic that’s mass produced and takes months to arrive here.
Serving suggestions - if using for pasta, cook your favorite pasta using package instructions, throw 2-3 tbsp of pasta water in your sauce to thin out (if thick). Thicker sauce goes well on pizza! This can be used in any way you would use store bought marinara. It tastes 100x times better though!
Storage - Marinara Sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Can be stored in a zip lock bag and frozen for months. Thaw at room temp and then reheat before using.
Nutrition - is based on per cup. This makes about 2 cups depending on how long it’s cooked.
A note on measurements - all ingredients in this recipe are offered in Australian cup measurements and weight measurements. Weight measurements are created by me, in my kitchen here in Melbourne Australia. The best way to get recipe success is to measure ingredients by weight, using kitchen scales.
Nutrition
Calories:161kcal | Carbohydrates:22g | Protein:6g | Fat:8g | Saturated Fat:1g | Polyunsaturated Fat:1g | Monounsaturated Fat:5g | Sodium:1140mg | Potassium:873mg | Fiber:5g | Sugar:12g | Vitamin A:628IU | Vitamin C:24mg | Calcium:102mg | Iron:4mg
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