Marinara Sauce

Marinara Sauce

This homemade marinara sauce recipe is easy to make, naturally gluten-free and vegan, and slow-simmered with the BEST tomato, basil and garlicky flavors.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

    or butter

  • 1/3 cup finely-diced white onion
  • 4 cloves garlic

    pressed or finely-minced

  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 can San Marzano whole tomatoes

    28-ounce

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper
  • 3 large sprigs of fresh basil

Directions

  1. 1

    Sauté onion and garlic: Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add onion and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until combined.  Add garlic and crushed red pepper flakes and sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until combined.

  2. 2

    Add remaining ingredients.  Add the tomatoes, oregano, salt and black pepper, and stir to combine.  Use a wooden spoon or a potato masher to gently break up the tomatoes as the sauce continues to heat.  Stir in the fresh basil sprigs.

  3. 3

    Simmer.  Continue cooking the sauce until it reaches a simmer.  Then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and continue to simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  4. 4

    Season.  Remove and discard the fresh basil sprigs.  Taste and season the sauce with salt and pepper, as needed.  (If you prefer a smoother sauce, you can also purée it with an immersion blender until it reaches your desired consistency.)

  5. 5

    Serve.  Then serve the sauce warm and enjoy!

Marinara Sauce

Marinara Sauce

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About this Recipe

Craving the rich, authentic taste of Italian-restaurant marinara at home? This homemade marinara sauce recipe delivers incredible slow-simmered flavor that's naturally gluten-free and vegan, making it a perfect staple for any kitchen.

What truly sets this marinara apart is the careful combination of premium ingredients and a patient simmer. We start with San Marzano whole tomatoes, revered for their superior sweetness and low acidity, which form the heart of this deeply flavorful sauce. The interplay of fragrant fresh basil and pungent garlic, along with a hint of red pepper flakes, creates a balanced profile that tastes like it simmered for hours, yet comes together effortlessly.

When you taste this marinara, you'll experience a vibrant, robust tomato flavor, beautifully balanced by the aromatic sweetness of fresh basil and the savory warmth of garlic. The subtle kick from the crushed red pepper flakes provides a gentle depth without overwhelming the classic Italian essence. Its texture is smooth yet substantial, ideal for clinging to pasta or spreading evenly over pizza crusts. This naturally gluten-free and vegan recipe is designed to be easy to make, yielding a truly authentic sauce that will elevate any dish it graces.

Customization & Variations

While this recipe shines as written, it's also wonderfully adaptable. You can easily adjust the spice level by adding more or fewer crushed red pepper flakes to suit your preference. For a richer base, you have the option to use butter instead of olive oil to sauté the onion and garlic. If you adore garlic, feel free to add an extra clove or two to deepen its aromatic presence.

This versatile marinara sauce is ideal for coating your favorite pasta, serving as a luscious base for homemade pizza, or even as a flavorful dipping sauce for warm, crusty bread. It's the kind of sauce that makes any meal feel special.

Frequently Asked Questions