Easy Marinara Sauce
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
5 mins
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Cook Time
20 mins
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Total Time
25 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
498 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Italian
Easy Marinara Sauce
Description
This Easy Marinara Sauce starts with olive oil gently heating sliced garlic until just golden to avoid bitterness. Tomato paste is then cooked several minutes to deepen the flavor, possibly with crushed red pepper flakes for slight heat. Crushed plum tomatoes are added with a bit of water to loosen and simmer until well blended.
Meanwhile, pasta is boiled salted water to just under al dente, then added to the sauce to finish cooking, allowing the sauce to better cling to the noodles. Fresh basil, torn by hand, is stirred in right before serving to maintain aromatic freshness. Additional grated cheese and crusty bread complement the meal.
Be cautious not to burn the garlic, and crush or pulse the tomatoes lightly rather than blend to keep color vibrant. Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency as needed.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce can plum tomatoes hand crushed or blender pulsed
- 3 ounces (85g) tomato paste
- 6 cloves garlic sliced
- 1/4 cup basil about 10 leaves, hand torn, fresh
- 1/4 cup (60g) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound (454g) pasta of your choice
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, crushed, hot
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste, Diamond Crystal brand
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
- Heat a large pan to medium heat with the olive oil and garlic. Once the garlic turns lightly golden (about 2 minutes), add the tomato paste and cook for ~5 minutes, stirring frequently. If using, add a 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes towards the end of cooking the paste.
- Add a touch of water (about 2 ounces) to loosen the paste and give it a stir. Add the plum tomatoes.
- Cook for 5-10 minutes, simmering. At this time, cook the pasta to 1 minute less than al dente.
- Taste teste and adjust salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper levels before tossing with the pasta.
- Remove half the sauce and add the pasta to the pan, cooking for 1 minute on medium- low heat or until al dente. If necessary, add a bit more sauce to get the sauce level just right. Add a couple ounces of pasta water to loosen if required.
- Hand tear basil leaves and add to the pasta right before serving. Serve with grated cheese and crusty Italian bread. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use hand-crushed or lightly pulsed tomatoes to maintain a bright red color; blending can cause the sauce to turn orange.
- Cook garlic on low to medium-low heat to prevent burning and ensure it turns lightly golden.
- Cook pasta just under al dente and keep some pasta water to loosen sauce if it becomes too thick when tossing together.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 498 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 498kcal | 25% |
| Carbohydrates | 76.2g | 25% |
| Protein | 16.1g | 32% |
| Fat | 15.7g | 24% |
| Saturated Fat | 2.3g | 12% |
| Cholesterol | 83mg | 28% |
| Sodium | 367mg | 15% |
| Potassium | 823mg | 18% |
| Fiber | 3.1g | 12% |
| Sugar | 10.5g | 21% |
| Calcium | 51mg | 5% |
| Iron | 5mg | 28% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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