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    Home >> Italian

    Quick and Easy Marinara Sauce

    Modified: Jul 27, 2022 · Published: Mar 28, 2022 by Analida · • Word count:1198 words. • About 6 minutes to read this article. • This post may contain affiliate links ·

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    A really quick and easy marinara sauce recipe. | ethnicspoon.com

    A steaming bowl of pasta tossed with a quick and easy homemade marinara sauce hits the spot every time in our house. These days you can get some really high quality canned tomatoes that will turn out a superb marinara in less that one hour. All you need is a few basic ingredients. I guarantee you that this quick and easy marinara sauce recipe will be a GAZILLION times better than even a high end jar brand. Trust me the taste is so fresh, that you will NEVER want to buy jar sauce again! Ever!

    Marinara sauce is so versatile and useful for different meals. Basic marinara sauces include garlic, salt, and tomatoes, but you can get more creative than that. Some people add capers and olives to their marinara for a salty and funky kick. One of the best ingredients for marinara sauce is time. While my recipe is quick and easy, the longer you let your sauce simmer, the richer in flavor it will be. Italian nonna's often left their sauces sit for 45 minutes up to two hours so their sauce is chock full of flavor. If you have the time, try simmering your sauce for 2 hours. 

    a white bowl of marinara sauce next to a silver ladle on a cutting board

    Jump to:
    • Sugar free sauce
    • Tomato Paste
    • Tomato history 
    • Step by step photos
    • Frequently Asked Questions:
    • Marinana Sauce Recipe

    By the way, did you ever wonder where the name marinara comes from? Well, it's Italian of course. It literally means "of the sailor". Legend has it that it was born in Italy, Naples to be precise. When fishermen returned home, their wives would cook marinara sauce. The sauce was served with the fish.

    ravioli with marinara sauce on a white plate with a bowl of marinara sauce and a spoon in the back

    Sugar free sauce

    Now, most recipes I have seen for marinara sauce use sugar to cut down on the acidity of the tomatoes. Please DON'T do this! Mine is sugar free marinara sauce. Use a touch of red balsamic vinegar instead. Why? simple, You will achieve the desired hint of sweetness and also gain an added depth of flavor. An Italian chef I once knew gave me this little secret!

    Of course, if you don’t like balsamic vinegar or have any on hand, you can add some sugar, but don’t overdo it. Store-bought sauces are full of added sugars, and we don’t want ours to taste like that. Simply add ¼ teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired tomato sauce taste.

    You can eat homemade marinara sauce with everything. My quick and easy marinara sauce is super versatile. It goes well with most types of pasta, chicken Parmesan, or even as pizza sauce. It's also great with a seafood pasta, shrimp is my favorite.To give this marinara a bit of heat, add a dash of red pepper flakes. A spicy marinara sauce is called Arrabiata.

    Tomato Paste

    Not everyone has tomato paste laying around in the pantry, but you should. My marinara sauce game really stepped up when I started adding tomato paste. It’s basically just caramelized and reduced concentrated tomato in a tube or a small can. It amps up the tomato flavor in whatever you add it to. It gives you that day-long-simmered sauce taste, without having to spend all day cooking your sauce. Be aware that it is more bitter than tomatoes. So you’ll have to adjust to that by appropriately salting your sauce and adding a vinegar or a sweetness to counterbalance the bitterness. Tomato paste is especially helpful when we’re no longer in tomato season. Farm-fresh summer tomatoes taste very different from out-of-season tomatoes, so the paste will intensify the fresh tomato taste, making you feel like it’s just another summer day. 

    Tomato history 

    The tomato is believed to be indigenous to the Americas. The Spanish explorers transported it to Europe. In Europe it soon became known as "poison apple". The reason? Well, aristocrats who were eating tomatoes ate out of pewter plates. The reaction between the pewter which, has a high lead content, and the acid in tomatoes was needless to say, bad chemistry! No one made this connection until much later. This is why tomatoes had a bad rap in Europe for a couple of centuries.

    a closeup of a white bowl of marinara sauce with basil leaves and a silver ladle on a cutting board

    Step by step photos

    A collage of photos showing the steps to make quick and easy marinara sauce on the stove in a sauce pan.
    1. Gather all your ingredients and have them chopped, measured and ready to go.
    2. Heat a sauce pan on medium and add the olive oil. Once the oil is hot add the onions, garlic and salt. Sauté until the onions are soft and translucent.
    3. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste and water.
    4. Add the whole basil leaves and bay leaves. Stir in to combine.
    5. Simmer for 30 minutes then remove the basil and bay leaves.
    6. Remove from the heat and stir in the red balsamic vinegar and nutmeg.

    Tomatoes are a great source of nutrients and anti oxidants. Studies have confirmed that diets that include tomatoes are helpful in reducing the risk of certain cancers. Also, studies from Ohio State University have concluded that when tomatoes are consumed with healthy fats such as avocados or olive oil, the body's ability to absorb the cancer fighting nutrients in tomatoes increases dramatically.

    If you want to explore more Italian recipe here are a few. This marinara sauce pairs nicely with Sicilian arancini (rice balls filled with mushrooms and cheese then breaded and fried) on the side or slathered over them. You can also serve with another Sicilian favorite, panelle which is a a fritter made with chickpea flour. I also have recipe for homemade ricotta gnocchi which goes with any type of sauce.

    Frequently Asked Questions:

    How long can I store the marinara in the refrigerator?

    Allow the sauce to cool completely before refrigerating and then it will store nicely in a sealed container for 7-10 days.

    Can I freeze the marinara sauce?

    Yes, you can freeze the sauce for 4 to 6 months in a sealed container or heavy duty freezer bags.

    Can I use marinara sauce for pizza?

    Sure, just spread it around on your pizza shell or dough, add other toppings and bake.

    How long can I leave marinara sauce out?

    The sauce should not be used if left out for more than 4 hours at room temperature.

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    A very easy and fast marinara recipe. | ethnicspoon.com

    Marinana Sauce Recipe

    My idea of comfort food is steaming bowl of pasta tossed with a quick and easy marinara sauce hits the proverbial spot. Most stores carry some really high quality canned tomatoes that will turn out a superb marinara in less that one hour. 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main dish
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: pasta dish, red sauce
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 74kcal
    Author: Analida Braeger

    Ingredients

    • 28 oz crushed tomatoes
    • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 onion small, diced
    • 4 garlic cloves minced
    • ½ tsp salt
    • 1 Tbsp tomato paste
    • ½ cup water
    • 10 basil fresh leaves
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 1 Tbsp red balsamic vinegar
    • 1 dash nutmeg

    Instructions

    • In a medium saucepan heat olive oil. Add onions, garlic, salt and saute until onions are translucent. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, and water.
    • Add basil and bay leaves. Stir well and allow sauce to simmer for about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and add red balsamic. Add nutmeg.
    • Allow to rest for about 20 minutes covered. Remove basil and bay leaves.
    • Serve immediately over pasta. This marinara will keep in the fridge for about 7-10 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Sodium: 294mg | Potassium: 337mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 270IU | Vitamin C: 11.1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1.4mg

    Originally published September 2015 and updated March 2022.

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    217 shares
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Laura @MotherWouldKnow

      September 29, 2015 at 2:21 pm

      I love this type of quick sauce that stays true to the Italian minimalist tradition. I began with Marcella Hazan's quick sauce and have learned that an onion and a few basil leaves really do perform magic when it comes to imparting taste to tomato sauce. Of course a garlic clove or two never hurt:)

      Reply
      • Analida

        September 29, 2015 at 3:52 pm

        🙂 Thanks Laura! I also love the simplicity. My Italian friend who lives in Rome told me that her marinara is very simple: tomatoes, onions, garlic and basil. Sometimes she uses sage instead of basil.

        Reply
    2. Lou Lou Girls

      October 04, 2015 at 2:16 pm

      I'm licking my lips right now! Looks so good! Pinned and tweeted. We truly appreciate you taking the time to be a part of our party. Please stop by and party with us again. The party starts Monday at 7 pm and ends on Friday at 7 pm. Happy Sunday! Lou Lou Girls

      Reply
      • Analida

        October 04, 2015 at 7:18 pm

        Thanks Lou Lou Girls!! 🙂 you guys rock!
        I just made a batch of this marinara this weekend. I made a big batch of manicotti. See you at the next party.

        Reply
    3. April J Harris

      January 30, 2017 at 4:23 pm

      5 stars
      I was so interested to read this post, Analida. There's nothing like a good marinara sauce! My late Mom used to use grated carrot instead of sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes but I love your idea of using the balsamic vinegar! Thank you for sharing with us at Hearth and Soul. Featuring your post at this week's party!

      Reply
      • Analida

        January 30, 2017 at 5:39 pm

        Hi April!! Carrots? that sounds so interesting; I might have to give it a try next time. I always love sharing with yoo guys.

        Reply

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    Analida profile pictureI have been researching and creating ethnic recipes for over 20 years. I love to share "mostly healthy" easy and affordable ethnic recipes using fresh ingredients, with a bit of culture and food history sprinkled in.... Read more-->

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