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    The Life Jolie » Condiments » Marinara Sauce

    Marinara Sauce

    Published: Apr 1, 2019 · Modified: Aug 31, 2022 by Jessy Freimann · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    This zesty marinara sauce may be simple to make, but it is legendary in our family. With a secret ingredient the way from my Grandma, this sauce is perfect on pasta or anything else you have cookin’.

    This zesty marinara sauce may be simple to make, but it is legendary in our family. With a secret ingredient the way from my Grandma, this sauce is perfect on pasta or anything else you have cookin’.

    easy marinara sauce

    Marinara Sauce

    This post contains Affiliate Links. Please see the disclaimer here.

    In my family, homemade marinara sauce is the stuff of legends. All the ladies in our family have their own version of easy marinara sauce recipes, but they generally all turn out pretty delicious. You know you grew up in an Italian family because you can eat pasta and “gravy” every day of the week!

    This really is a simple marinara sauce to make. I’ve included a few very simple tricks to remove the tart and acidic flavors from the sauce without ruining it with sugar (and a top secret ingredient that works wonders!). Trust me when I say, you’ll never buy jarred sauce again!

    homemade marinara sauce

    Tips for making marinara sauce recipe

    • This sauce can be simply made in under an hour and it’s even better if you give it enough time for the flavor to develop.
    • This recipe freezes beautifully. Save some for future dishes on the go.
    • Avoid using sugar to cut the acid of the tomatoes. I know this sounds strange, but the baking soda takes care of this. Trust me, Grandma’s never wrong!
    • Once you have the sauce ready there are so many different things you can make with it - don’t limit yourself to pasta.

    how to make marinara sauce

    Frequently asked questions about how to make marinara sauce

    • Can you make this with canned tomatoes? Yes, you can make this with fresh tomatoes or canned. Obviously, canned is easier. But one cannot beat the flavor of fresh tomatoes.
    • Can you freeze this recipe? This recipe makes a big old batch of sauce! It freezes beautifully and once you have the sauce ready there are so many different things you can make with it.
    • Can this be used as pizza sauce? Absolutely! This tasty sauce is versatile enough to be used on so much more than just pasta: pizza, sub sandwiches, and stuffed peppers, just to name a few!
    • How do you reheat marinara sauce? I do it in a small sauce pan on the stove, but in a pinch, the microwave works great (just be sure to cover it to avoid splatter).

    marinara sauce recipe

    Make it a meal!

    A few great recipes make with your sauce or serve alongside:

    • Baked Chicken Parmesan
    • Marinated Vegetable Salad
    • Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
    • Neapolitan Cookies

    Helpful Tools

    1. Dutch oven
    2. Wooden spoon
    3. Chef’s knife
    4. Cutting board
    5. Measuring cups
    6. Measuring spoons
    This zesty marinara sauce may be simple to make, but it is legendary in our family. With a secret ingredient the way from my Grandma, this sauce is perfect on pasta or anything else you have cookin’.

    Marinara Sauce

    Jessy Freimann
    This zesty marinara sauce may be simple to make, but it is legendary in our family. With a secret ingredient the way from my Grandma, this sauce is perfect on pasta or anything else you have cookin’.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 10 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 Tablespoons olive oil (I usually don’t measure this but I’d say it ends up being around 3 or 4 Tablespoons)
    • 6 cloves garlic, peeled and poked all over with the tip of your knife (to help release the juices)
    • 3 28 ounce cans tomato puree (or 10 ½ cups pureed fresh tomatoes, seeds and skin removed- this is a topic of some debate- some people make one or two of those cans “sauce” instead of “puree.” I prefer all puree but my mom tells me grandma would sub out a can of “sauce” so do what you like)
    • 14 ounces water (fill half can)
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda (maybe more)
    • 1 large onion, peeled and poked all over with the tip of your knife.
    • 1-2 teaspoons dried basil optional- if I’m using the marinara for something other than eating over pasta, I leave this out
    • ¼ cup Romano cheese optional- if I’m using the marinara for something other than eating over pasta, I leave this out

    Instructions
     

    • Heat oil over medium heat and saute half of the garlic until it's a nice golden brown on all sides (make sure it doesn’t burn- if it burns, you’ll need to wash the pan and start over again because burnt garlic destroys the flavor of anything it’s in).
    • Once browned, remove the garlic and add tomato puree. If you’re using cans, Mix a  ½ can water between the cans to get excess puree out and to thin the sauce a bit (you can also add more or less brings it to the texture of your liking- maybe start with half and go from there).
    • Bring sauce to a boil and once boiling, stir in some baking soda- start with a ¼ teaspoon and add more if needed. The baking soda is going to make the acid bubble up to the top. 
    • Skim off the foam from the acid and dispose of it (you’ll notice it’s a slightly different shade of red than your sauce). If you need more baking soda you can always add it and repeat the process, but use it sparingly because too much will add an oddly bitter flavor.
    • Once all the acid bubbles are removed, add onion and remaining garlic (if you want a really strong garlic flavor, you can always use a garlic press). 
    • Reduce heat to low and simmer for at least an hour but preferably longer (I like to go 3 hours- if you’re worried about splatter you can always partially cover the pan).
    • Once the time is up, remove the onion and garlic and and add the basil (I rub this between my hands to break it up even more and release more flavor) and Romano cheese to taste. Serve immediately or later- or freeze it!
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    If you tried this recipe please comment and rate it I love hearing your feedback and answering your questions! And if you make this please tag me on Instagram with @thelifejolie so I can share it <3

    Some of my favorite recipes that use marinara sauce include:

    • Spanish Rice
    • Cabbage and Beans
    • Baked Eggplant Parmesan
    • Eggplant Rollatini
    • Skillet Lasagna

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    Comments

    1. Nina McClain says

      February 08, 2016 at 9:24 am

      I LOVE homemade sauces. I make spaghetti sauce like crazy in the fall. I never seem to make enough though!
      Reply
      • Jessy says

        February 08, 2016 at 10:32 am

        Me and you both! I cannot get enough :)
        Reply
    2. Leslie says

      February 08, 2016 at 9:28 am

      This looks yummy! I am always looking for a easy marinara sauce for busy nights where I want pasta. This looks like a winner!
      Reply
      • Jessy says

        February 08, 2016 at 10:31 am

        Thank you- I'm all about making a huge batch and then freezing it in smaller portions for those busy nights :)
        Reply
    3. Katie says

      February 08, 2016 at 9:48 am

      Yum! Thank you SOOO much for sharing this recipe. I have been scouring the Internet for a good marinara sauce recipe. This looks absolutely delicious. Following you:-) Katie
      Reply
      • Jessy says

        February 08, 2016 at 10:30 am

        Thank you- I hope you enjoy it. I think you'll find it gets better each time you make it!
        Reply
    4. OneDizzyBee says

      February 09, 2016 at 12:07 pm

      Oh, it's been ages since I've heard it referred to as simply "sauce". Brings me back a few years to my Sicilian aunt's kitchen. Also love the style of your recipe; it too brings back memories... "about this much of this" .... "some of that"... I used to ask my mom and aunts to get more specific with their measurements, and I'd get frowns and wooden spoons shaken at me with the admonishment of, "Just TASTE it, for god's sake! Taste it!" Thanks for a great recipe and a little reminiscing.
      Reply
      • Jessy says

        February 09, 2016 at 3:18 pm

        I'm glad to bring back so many memories! That's how it's always been in our family and I love it :)
        Reply
    5. Chellie says

      February 09, 2016 at 8:18 pm

      Love this! Healthy and more yummy alternative to getting store bought. Thanks so much for sharing :)
      Reply
      • Jessy says

        February 10, 2016 at 10:59 am

        Thank you! Yes, I love not having to do store bought!
        Reply
    6. CJ Huang | Morsels of Life says

      February 11, 2016 at 2:33 pm

      We're def fans of homemade sauce around here, and yours sounds wonderful! I haven't seen the baking soda hack before, but it makes perfect sense that it would neutralize some of the acidity. No sugar in sauce! :)
      Reply
      • Jessy says

        February 13, 2016 at 3:47 pm

        There really is nothing like homemade sauce!
        Reply
    7. Jennifer says

      February 11, 2016 at 6:57 pm

      This is such a great idea. I always add sugar. Now I know how not to! Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. Your post has been pinned! Cheers, Jennifer http://awellstyledlife.com
      Reply
      • Jessy says

        February 13, 2016 at 3:46 pm

        Thank you- some people love sugar, but having grown up without it, it sticks out like a sore thumb to me. Just make sure you use a light hand with the baking soda at first :)
        Reply
    8. Carla says

      February 16, 2016 at 2:19 pm

      Love everything about this post! I agree so much that adding too much messes up a sauce...ahhh such a simple easy amazing recipe that so many people just mess up by adding and adding. I haven't added cheese to mine, but may need to try that.
      Reply
      • Jessy says

        February 16, 2016 at 9:41 pm

        Yes! I think I just really love Romano cheese. It just makes everything better (and yes, I'm the girl that keeps a baggie of cheese in my work refrigerator and I am not sorry!).
        Reply
    9. Nina says

      October 01, 2020 at 6:37 pm

      Awesome ! It turned out amazing!
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        October 27, 2020 at 10:56 pm

        Thanks Nina <3
        Reply

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