Marinara Sauce from Scratch

If you have not tried making your own spaghetti sauce yet, what are you waiting for?? This homemade marinara sauce is so tasty and is great on a variety of pasta. We like to make a huge pot and freeze in smaller containers to use whenever we feel like having pasta. And the great part about this marinara sauce from scratch is that the flavors only get better over time!

What is marinara sauce?

Marinara sauce is a type of tomato-based spaghetti sauce that typically includes tomatoes (both fresh and canned), spices, and herbs. And you know we make ours with wine! Just trying to stay on brand over here! Marinara's are not made with meat, so this is one of those recipes that are safe for those living that vegan lifestyle!

Generally, marinara sauces in Italy are served with some type of seafood, but marinara in the United States has morphed into a sauce that is served with a variety of different dishes in addition to seafood dishes.

Is marinara the same as pizza sauce?

Short answer: No. Marinaras typically have a lot more spices and herbs making them a bit stronger in flavor. Additionally, marinara sauces are often "saucier" meaning that they are thinner than pizza sauces. You want your pizza sauce to have less liquid so that it doesn't make the dough soggy.

If you are looking for a pizza sauce instead, check out our Homemade Italian Pizza Sauce recipe. That being said, our homemade marinara sauce makes a great garlic bread or pizza crust (aka pizza bones) dipping sauce, so we recommend having both these sauces in your freezer and ready to go at any time!

What type of pasta is good with marina?

Literally ANYTHING! Dry, fresh, spaghetti, ravioli, gnocchi... the options are endless! We are all about the homemade fresh pasta life, but if you haven't taken that plunge yet, this marinara sauce will make your dry store-bought pasta taste like a vacation to the Italian countryside! Also, cooking this at home makes your house smell like a Tuscan villa. If only they made a candle that smells like this marinara sauce!

Are you ready to make your own pasta?

We highly recommend that you try homemade pasta! It is much easier than it seems and once you go homemade, you won't go back!

Check out some of our homemade pasta recipes HERE. And once you get your feet wet, you can try some of the following recipes and sauces:

• Creamy Cacio e Pepe Pasta
• Seared Scallop Pasta with Vanilla Grapefruit Cream Sauce
• Tagliatelle with Sausage Mushroom Cream Sauce
• Vegetable Lasagna with White Sauce

If you like our Marinara Sauce from Scratch, please leave a comment to let us know, and tag us on Instagram @cooking_with_wine.

Marinara Sauce from Scratch

Recipe by Angela and Mark Course: Main, SidesCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy

Makes

4

cups

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

2

hours 

Total time

2

hours 

15

minutes

If you have not tried making your own spaghetti sauce yet, what are you waiting for?? This marinara sauce from scratch great on a variety of pasta dishes!

Ingredients

• Fresh Tomato

• 1 pint 1 cherry tomatoes

• 8 roma tomatoes - split in half

• ½ cup water

• 1 tablespoon 1 kosher salt

• 1 cup 1 basil leaves - whole

• Canned Tomato

• 29 oz 29 (2 cans) diced tomatoes with juice

• 56 oz 56 (2 cans) whole peeled tomatoes with juice

• 1-2 cups water

• 6 oz 6 tomato paste

• 8 oz 8 tomato sauce

• Spice and Herb

• 3 tbs 3 dried oregano

• 2 tbs 2 dried onion flakes

• 2 tbs 2 dried parsley

• 1 tablespoon 1 garlic powder

• 1 tablespoon 1 dried fennel seed

• 1 tablespoon 1 dried thyme leaves

• 1 tablespoon 1 crushed red pepper

• 1 tablespoon 1 sugar

• ¼ cup dry red wine

• Finishing

• ½ cup chopped fresh basil leaves

• ¼ cup chopped fresh oregano

Directions

• STEW FRESH TOMATOES
• Add first section of ingredients to a large dutch oven or pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 60-75 minutes until tomatoes have broken down completely. At this time, or sooner, you should be able to pull the skins of the roma tomatoes out with kitchen tongs quite easily and discard. Alternatively, you may peel the tomatoes beforehand, but this method works well as long as you don't forget about them.
• INCORPORATE CANNED TOMATOES AND BLEND
• Add the second section of ingredients and blend with an immersion blender to smooth out the sauce.
• SEASON THE SAUCE
• Add the third section of ingredients and stir. Simmer for 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• FINISH THE SAUCE
• Add the fresh basil and oregano, take off heat and serve. This sauce can easily be portioned and frozen for future use.

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