Garlic Marinara Sauce

A glass jar filled with classic marinara sits on a wooden table beside its lid, showcasing the rich texture of this homemade Italian marinara sauce recipe.

5 from 53 votes

Garlic Marinara Sauce

You just can’t compare homemade Italian garlic marinara sauce with any store-bought sauce or tomato-based mixture that comes in a jar or a can. Expect the absolute best flavour when you make your spaghetti sauce using fresh simple ingredients.

Prep Time5

Cook Time25

Total Time30

Course: Meals

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Sauce

Servings:

Author: Bella Bucchiotti

Equipment

Ingredients

28 Ounces crushed tomatoes San Marzano tomatoes
1 Tablespoon tomato paste
1 Tablespoon olive oil
½ white onion diced
3 Cloves garlic minced
½ Teaspoon salt
½ Teaspoon dried parsley
½ Teaspoon fennel seeds
½ Teaspoon black pepper
Pinch red pepper flakes
3 bay leaves

Instructions

Add olive oil to a saucepan over medium heat and swirl to coat.
Next, add diced onions and minced garlic to the pan. Sauté for 3 minutes, stirring often.
Add the tomato paste to the pan and stir until combined. Cook to lightly brown the tomato paste, about 2 minutes.
Next, add crushed tomatoes, salt, parsley, fennel, black pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes to the saucepan and stir until thoroughly combined.
Lower the heat to a simmer and place the bay leaves so they rest on top of the sauce.
Let sauce simmer for 20 minutes. Be sure to lightly stir 2 to 3 times as it cooks.
Discard bay leaves.

Notes

Make it smooth: If you are making this garlic marinara as a dipping sauce, use an immersion blender to get a smooth sauce which is easier to scoop up with chips.
Use high-quality tomatoes: San Marzano tomatoes really elevate the flavor.
Don’t rush the simmer: Letting it slowly cook melds all the flavors beautifully.
Stir gently: Stir just a few times to avoid breaking the tomatoes down too much.

Nutrition

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