Classic Marinara Sauce

January 12, 2016 by carey 30 Comments

For some reason at the beginning of every year, I feel like getting back to the basics. Do you have a Classic Marinara Sauce that is your go-to? That fresh, bright red, garlicky, basil yumminess of a sauce? Something you can always have on hand for a quick dinner, or a great base for a meat or seafood sauce, or even enjoyed as a fresh pizza sauce? Well, you need one! So I thought we’d start off the year together with this simple and fabulous recipe, and see where that takes us – are you in?! Prego!

…introducing Classic Marinara Sauce

When you see “Marinara” in a recipe description, the name leaves a lot open to interpretation. The common ingredients are usually tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and herbs. Some recipes call for onion (which I prefer), and some even add other vegetables such as carrots and celery. But when I think of a classic – the simpler, the better.

Legend has it that Marinara sauce, also referred to as “Sailor’s” sauce, originated when sailors’ wives saw their husbands’ boats off on the horizon coming home after months of being away. The ladies rushed home quickly to put together a homemade meal…the first one many sailors would have had in months! I love that story because it evokes happy thoughts of cooking for our loved ones, although it’s likely a myth. We all usually have these simple ingredients in our pantry and that is why it should become your new go-to….

Now, I believe strongly in starting with the best quality tomatoes possible. This means San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes, imported from Italy. They are the least processed of all the canned tomato varieties, and have the depth of flavor and bright color that will make your Classic Marinara Sauce pop. You’ll notice in the “collage” below where I picture my hand blender next to the can of tomatoes. I literally open the can and pulse blend the tomatoes right there (in the kitchen sink of course)! Do not puree the tomatoes until they are smooth, but leave a little texture. Note: I buy my tomatoes at Costco, but you can find Italian whole peeled tomatoes in most grocery stores. They cost a bit more but are worth it!

Also, be careful to saute your onions over a low, or med-low heat, until they are translucent and soft. This takes about 12-15 minutes. You do not want them to brown all at…just soften them so they add their sweet flavor to the sauce, but no crunch. I add the minced garlic and dried herbs in the last 2 minutes of sauteing the onions. This gives the herbs a change to “come to” and maximize their flavor impact. You’ll notice too that I use dried basil and also fresh basil…you can never have too much basil!

The rest of the recipe is really straightforward. I LOVE this sauce and here served it with our Tri-Color Angel Hair Pasta Nests. Of course, any pasta shape can be used. Other classics worth noting are our Everyday Basil Parsley Pesto and Classic Tomato Basil Pasta.

And because it is early in the year, and most of us are trying to squeeze in some more vegetables, I also served the Classic Marinara Sauce over roasted Spaghetti Squash. Wow! The texture and light flavor of the squash is very reminiscent of pasta…and even the boys loved it. 🙂

The key to beautiful squash strands is to use a fork to scrape out the squash halves. Roasting only takes about 30 minutes and you can certainly do this ahead and serve later! The colors look bright here – but they actually are that bright! Very colorful and healthy…I’m feeling so good right now!

Classic Marinara Sauce can be made and frozen so you always have it on hand. Think about freezing it in 1-2 cup portions. There are many uses for this classic red sauce and I look forward to adding some meat, sausage, etc. and sharing my results!

A good classic never goes out of style. So I hope you enjoy this recipe over and over again. I’d love to hear how you incorporate Classic Marinara Sauce into your dinner lineup…so please share and let me know!