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Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe

4.6 from 142 reviews

This classic homemade marinara sauce is a simple and flavorful tomato sauce made with crushed tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil, and olive oil. Perfect for pasta, pizza, or as a base for other Italian dishes, this sauce combines the richness of olive oil with the aromatic freshness of basil and garlic for a well-rounded, savory experience.

Ingredients

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Marinara Sauce Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 28 oz jar or can of crushed tomatoes
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil and garlic: In a saucepan, add the olive oil and minced garlic. Turn the burner to medium heat carefully, which helps prevent the garlic from burning.
  2. Sauté garlic until fragrant: Cook the garlic for about 1 minute until it becomes fragrant and starts to turn a golden color, being careful not to burn it.
  3. Add crushed tomatoes and salt: Pour in the crushed tomatoes and stir well to combine with the garlic and olive oil. Add kosher salt to taste.
  4. Simmer with basil: Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a low boil or gentle simmer. Stir in fresh basil for flavor infusion.
  5. Cook the sauce: Allow the sauce to simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning by tasting and adding more salt if necessary.

Notes

  • Use fresh basil for best flavor, but dried basil can be substituted at 1 teaspoon.
  • Do not burn the garlic as it will make the sauce bitter.
  • This sauce can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
  • For a smoother sauce, blend before serving.

Keywords: marinara sauce, tomato sauce, Italian sauce, homemade marinara, simple tomato sauce, basil sauce