4.6 from 66 votes
Easy Marinara Sauce
This Easy Marinara Sauce blends sautéed aromatic vegetables and garlic with crushed tomatoes and fresh herbs for a balanced and richly textured tomato sauce. Infused with fennel seed, crushed red pepper, and bay leaf, it develops layers of flavor during a gentle simmer. The addition of fresh basil and dried oregano rounds out the herbal profile. It can be used as a versatile sauce for pasta, pizza, or as a base for other dishes.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings:
4
Calories:
150 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 1 carrot diced
- 1 celery diced, stalk
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- Pinch fennel seed
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 (28 oz) crushed tomato canned
- 1/3 cup basil freshly chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano dried
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar optional
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over a medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery, and sauté until the onions are translucent and the vegetables are tender, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add in the fennel seed, crushed red pepper, and bay leaf.
- Stir in the tomatoes. Add the basil, oregano, salt, pepper, and sugar, If using. Simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Taste the sauce and season with more salt and pepper, if necessary.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- This recipe yields about 4 cups of marinara sauce.
- You can double the recipe to make larger batches for freezing or canning.
- Freezing or canning the sauce preserves it well for later use.
Nutrition Information
Calories
150kcal
(8%)
Carbohydrates
20g
(7%)
Protein
4g
(8%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Sodium
276mg
(12%)
Potassium
682mg
(15%)
Fiber
5g
(20%)
Sugar
11g
(22%)
Vitamin A
2993IU
(60%)
Vitamin C
22mg
(24%)
Calcium
84mg
(8%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 150
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 150kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 20g | 7% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 276mg | 12% |
| Potassium | 682mg | 15% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 11g | 22% |
| Vitamin A | 2993IU | 60% |
| Vitamin C | 22mg | 24% |
| Calcium | 84mg | 8% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.