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Marilyns Treats

June 6, 2020 · 10 Comments

Basic Marinara Sauce

Recipe Archive· Sauces

A marinara sauce passed down from generation to generation of my family. The best any grandma can make! Homemade is always better.
A marinara sauce passed down from generation to generation of my family. The best any grandma can make! Homemade is always better.

Basic Marinara Sauce

If you want the best authentic Marinara Sauce for your pasta then this is the recipe for you.

Brought to America three generations ago, this is the only Marinara Sauce my family has made. None of that canned or jar sauce from the grocery store for them.

You just can’t fail when made with tomatoes grown in your own garden and a blend of spices from the best Italian cooks straight from Italy.

The aroma of the sauce simmering all day in your kitchen just makes your desire for dinner even stronger.

These are the INGREDIENTS You will need

  • 2 onion peeled and diced (about 2 cups diced)
  • 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
  • 5-6 Cloves cloves of garlic, minced (about 2 Tbsp)
  • 2 tbs dried herbs (basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, etc)* mixed, total
  • 1/2 Cup Red wine alcohol bakes off
  • 12 cups peeled and seeded fresh ripe tomatoes
  • Salt and pepper to taste

These are the INSTRUCTIONS For preparation:

  • In a large soup pot, heat up the olive oil. Add the onions and cook slowly, on medium heat until they start to caramelize. They should be evenly brown and soft. Cooking them this way brings out the natural sweetness in the onions. Add the garlic and dried herbs and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Deglaze the pan with the 1/2 cup of red wine and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the tomatoes and their juice and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook on low, stirring occasionally for at least 2 hours, or longer depending on the water content of the tomatoes. The sauce should be thick with much of the water evaporated to concentrate the flavor (sometimes I let it cook 4-5 hours over a very low flame). Add salt and pepper to taste.

NOTES

Dried herbs hold their flavor much longer than fresh herbs.

When slow cooking you want to use fresh herbs, add them at then end of the cooking process, just before serving.

Use which ever of those herbs you prefer for a total of 2 Tablespoons.

This is really a base pasta sauce recipe, meant to adapt to whatever you want it to be.

Like meat in your sauce? Add a tough cut and let it cook down to make a Bolognese.

Want to keep it vegetarian? Enjoy the recipe as it is or add some diced up vegetables.

Like Pasta alla Norma? Add red chili flakes and diced eggplant to the sauce. Mushrooms or meatballs, it’s all up to you.

This Marinara Sauce does freeze well, so you can enjoy the taste of freshly made sauce a few months from now, once the weather turns cold.

When I have the extra time, I make this marinara in a batches. There are only a few ingredients. I always have them stocked in the pantry.

Lately though I have taken to just using jar sauce and adding all my own spices. It is quicker than simmering on the stove all day.

But I can really tell the difference. There is something about letting all the flavors simmer and breakdown in to the tomato base.

That is why they say “pasta is always better the second day.” It is true.

Do you have a family recipe for pasta you would like to share? Please let me in the comments. Pasta is one thing I keep experimenting with but have never been able to master. Mangia!

A marinara sauce passed down from generation to generation of my family. The best any grandma can make! Homemade is always better.

Basic Marinara Sauce

A marinara sauce passed down from generation to generation of my family. The best Marinara any grandma can make! Homemade is always better.
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: authentic, comfort, marinara
Method: Stove Top
Skill Level: Basic
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 7 hours
Adjust Servings: 2 Quarts
Calories: 80kcal
Author: Marilyn

Ingredients

  • 2 onion peeled and diced (about 2 cups diced)
  • 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
  • 5-6 Cloves cloves of garlic, minced (about 2 Tbsp)
  • 2 tbs dried herbs (basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, etc)* mixed, total
  • 1/2 Cup Red wine alcohol bakes off
  • 12 cups peeled and seeded fresh ripe tomatoes
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • In a large soup pot, heat up the olive oil.
  • Add the onions and cook slowly, on medium heat until they start to caramelize. They should be evenly brown and soft. Cooking them this way brings out the natural sweetness in the onions. Add the garlic and dried herbs and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Deglaze the pan with the 1/2 cup of red wine and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the tomatoes and their juice and stir to combine.
  • Bring to a simmer and cook on low, stirring occasionally for at least 2 hours, or longer depending on the water content of the tomatoes.
  • The sauce should be thick with much of the water evaporated to concentrate the flavor (sometimes I let it cook 4-5 hours over a very low flame). Add salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

This is really a base pasta sauce recipe, meant to adapt to whatever you want it to be.
Like meat in your sauce? Add a tough cut and let it cook down to make a Bolognese.
Want to keep it vegetarian? Enjoy the recipe as it is or add some diced up vegetables.
Like Pasta alla Norma? Add red chili flakes and diced eggplant to the sauce. Mushrooms or meatballs, it’s all up to you.
This Marinara Sauce does freeze well, so you can enjoy the taste of freshly made sauce a few months from now, once the weather turns cold.
©MARILYN’S TREATS. All images are copyright protected.

Nutrition

Calories: 80kcal (4%) | Carbohydrates: 4g (1%) | Protein: 1g (2%) | Fat: 6g (9%) | Saturated Fat: 1g (5%) | Sodium: 340mg (14%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 3g (3%)
Tried this recipe?Mention @marilyn_lesniak or tag #marilynstreats!

Nutrition Information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.

Conversion Information We get a lot of requests to help with conversions especially between various countries like Canada, the U.K. and Australia. These tables should help you make those conversions. For your convenience we have included a Conversion Chart.

Disclaimer Unless indicated recipes influenced by cookbooks, magazines or family traditions.

Fun Facts:

A bit of background on Marinara Sauce. Even more interesting from a historical perspective.

“Marinara sauce originated with sailors in Naples in the 16th century, after the Spaniards introduced the tomato to their neighboring countries. The word marinara is derived from marinaro, which is Italian for “of the sea.” Because of this, many people mistakenly believe marinara sauce includes some type of fish or seafood.
However, marinara sauce loosely translates as “the sauce of the sailors,” because it was a meatless sauce extensively used on sailing ships before modern refrigeration techniques were invented. The lack of meat and the sheer simplicity of making tasty marinara sauce were particularly appealing to the cooks on board sailing ships, because the high acid content of the tomatoes and the absence of any type of meat fat resulted in a sauce which would not easily spoil.”

Three types of pasta layered in different cheeses and sauces were the main ingredients for this Pandemic Pasta. Ricotta and Parmesan Cheese were topped with pesto and marina. The pasta used was lasagna, penne and fettuccini. Not bad for cleaning out the pantry!
Pandemic Pasta Trio Casserole
Three types of pasta layered in different cheeses and sauces were the main ingredients for this Pandemic Pasta. Ricotta and Parmesan Cheese were topped with pesto and marina. The pasta used was lasagna, penne and fettuccini. Not bad for cleaning out the pantry!
Check out this recipe
The King of Penne Pasta. Mozzarella and ricotta bubble on top of the chunky veggie sauce. Take a forkful and expose the penne cooked al dente! Delicious.
Easy Double Cheese Baked Penne
Mozzarella and ricotta bubble on top of the chunky veggie sauce. Take a forkful and expose the penne cooked al dente!
Check out this recipe
4 Cheese Stuffed Shells. How do you spell comfort? Have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes! Relax and enjoy your evening. You deserve it! Stuffed Shells. How do you spell comfort? Have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes! Relax and enjoy your evening. You deserve it!
4 Cheese Stuffed Shells
4 Cheese Stuffed Shells. How do you spell comfort? Have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes! Relax and enjoy your evening. You deserve it!
Check out this recipe

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blankI am Marilyn Lesniak. Writer, Photographer and Chief Bottle Washer behind the scenes at Marilyn's Treats. Don’t burn down the kitchen!! Let me help with my Kitchen Tips, Hacks and Recipes for all levels of Chefs. Read More…

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. blankMiz Helen says

    June 23, 2020 at 8:58 PM

    Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday,489. Hope you have a great week and come back to see us real soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      June 23, 2020 at 9:13 PM

      Anytime Miz Helen. Have a great week!

      Reply
  2. blankChas Greener says

    June 19, 2020 at 11:54 AM

    We love making homemade sauce and ours is very similar. We’ll have to do the taste test challenge 🙂 Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      June 19, 2020 at 12:03 PM

      This one is a little sweeter than others I have tried. Before I was home all the time I never could spend this much time watching a pan. Have a great week.

      Reply
  3. blankanneinthekitchen says

    June 18, 2020 at 3:18 PM

    I love the flexibility built into this recipe. The encouragement to choose the herbs and their amounts encourage cooks to make it their own. Plus, any marinara with red wine scores great with me. 😉 Thanks for sharing just in time for my tomatoes to come in!

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      June 18, 2020 at 6:51 PM

      Thank you Annie! I am glad you like the marinara. It is very flexible. My sister and I each make it to suit our families tastes. Not everyone likes the same spices. Or you may be out of one you need. This recipe has an answer for both. Experiment! Thanks for commenting and enjoy your week.

      Reply
  4. blankClearissa Coward says

    June 15, 2020 at 10:41 PM

    It’s nice to know all of the ingredients in your food and this is perfect. Thanks for sharing. Your post will be socialized when buttons are provided. Have a good week.

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      June 16, 2020 at 9:00 AM

      I do like that I can control the ingredients. That is meaning more and more to me lately. And they taste better too! Enjoy your day!

      Reply
  5. blankJoanne T Ferguson says

    June 12, 2020 at 5:39 AM

    On the list for Frank and I to try Marilyn! Thank you for sharing your family marinara sauce… YUMMY!!!

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      June 12, 2020 at 8:42 AM

      You are welcome Joanne. I hope you like it!

      Reply

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