Simple Marinara Sauce

5 from 2 votes

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I just got back from Italy and one of my favorite things to do there is EAT!  The food of Italy is based on simple, fresh flavors and this Simple Marinara Sauce reminds me of being in Italy and letting those classic ingredients shine!

Typically when I cook I want strong, bold flavors.  This sauce is a little different for me because it is a simple sauce that lets the flavor of the tomato shine.

The sauce definitely tastes better the longer you let it cook, so I try to let it cook for at least an hour.  This is also one of my “you can freeze it!” recipes. I will make a large batch on the weekends, portion it into mason jars, and freeze the sauce.  It lets me have an amazing dinner just minutes away on those nights when letting a sauce simmer will just not cut it!

Simple flavors shine in this easy Simple Marinara Sauce! 15 minutes to simmer gives you a versatile sauce that is kid friendly while full of veggies. Vegetarian and vegan.

I like to freeze a lot of things, and it has gotten to the point where I am “known” for it.  I get teased a little for my “you can freeze it!” slogan but I DON’T CARE because it is TRUE! 🙂

Simple flavors shine in this easy Simple Marinara Sauce! 15 minutes to simmer gives you a versatile sauce that is kid friendly while full of veggies. Vegetarian and vegan.

This Simple Marinara Sauce is also a great kid-friendly sauce because you can hide all of the vegetables!  Just throw the finished sauce into a blender, or use an immersion blender, and puree until the vegetable chunks are gone.  Sneaky, sneaky 😉

I love adding in some fresh basil near the end for a little brightness, but if I do not have any laying around I just skip it.  The sauce is still amazing without it!  Find the recipe for how to make this AMAZING Zucchini Parmesan here!

Simple flavors shine in this easy Simple Marinara Sauce! 15 minutes to simmer gives you a versatile sauce that is kid friendly while full of veggies. Vegetarian and vegan.

Slightly adapted from this recipe.

Simple Marinara Sauce

5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Condiment, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: 30 Min or Less, Pasta, Vegan, Vegetarian
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 2 cups
Calories: 291kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a medium sauce pan, heat the oil over medium heat.
  • Add the onion and saute until translucent, approximately 3-5 minutes.
  • Add the garlic, celery, and carrots. Also add the bay leaves, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook until fragrant, approximately 1 minute.
  • Add in the tomatoes and water. Bring to a simmer and then reduce heat to low.
  • Simmer for at least 15 minutes, ideally one hour for the flavors to develop. For a smooth sauce (or to hide the veggies), puree in a blender.

Notes

If your tomatoes taste a little tart or sour, add a pinch of sugar.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 291kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 857mg | Potassium: 1403mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 6065IU | Vitamin C: 43mg | Calcium: 189mg | Iron: 6mg
By on August 9th, 2016

About Kim

Kim has grown up with a passion for cooking good food! You can find her in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes, making dog treats, and eating Italian food!

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9 thoughts on “Simple Marinara Sauce”

  1. I love how Italians cook opposite of us Americans. We want each bite to be profound and almost in your face, and they seem to like the subtly of it all. Really makes you appreciate the details in a dish and this sauce seems like it’s full of that <3

    Reply
  2. This looks like a go-to recipe! I’m all about freezing in batches too! Since my daughter left for college and it’s just the two of us, it just makes sense to freeze things like sauces, soups and stews into 2-person portions!

    Reply
    • Hi Ann Marie!

      There are a few ways you can defrost them. Ideally you would want to pull out the mason jar and defrost it in the refrigerator, but that requires advanced planning! You can set it out on the counter for faster defrosting, just watch it so that it does not get too warm. What they do in restaurants is run cold water continuously over the frozen product.

      I have been successful microwaving it in the past (with the lid removed because it is metal) for a minute at a time, and then stirring before heating again, however the change in temperature sometimes causes it to break. This has only happened to me once, but it is a possibility.

      So lots of options depending on what works best for you!

      Reply

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