Olive Garden Marinara Sauce
User Reviews
4.6
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
30 mins
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Total Time
40 mins
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Servings
14
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Calories
23 kcal
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Course
Condiments
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Cuisine
Italian
Olive Garden Marinara Sauce
Description
This marinara sauce begins by slowly infusing olive oil with sliced garlic until translucent and fragrant, creating a mild garlic undertone. The garlic is then removed to prevent bitterness. Tomato puree and diced tomatoes provide the sauce's base, enhanced by an Italian seasoning blend and dried basil for classic herb flavors. Red chili flakes add a mild heat to offer depth without overpowering.
Simmering the sauce covered for 25 to 30 minutes thickens it slightly while melding the flavors together. Seasoning with salt and black pepper optimizes taste, while adding up to a tablespoon of sugar helps counteract tomato acidity as needed, adjusted by taste testing.
Olive Garden Marinara can complement pasta dishes, serve as a pizza base, or accompany meat and vegetable preparations. The recipe cautions against using cast iron cookware due to the acidity in tomatoes potentially causing off flavors, recommending stainless steel or Dutch oven instead.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic sliced into large slices
- 28 ounces tomato puree canned
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes canned
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning blend
- 1/2 teaspoon basil dried
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper ground
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large stainless-steel pot or Dutch oven (do not use cast iron, as the acidity of the tomatoes may make the sauce taste metallic) over medium heat.
- When the oil is hot, add the sliced garlic. Cook until the garlic becomes translucent and very fragrant. Remove the garlic from the pot.
- Add the tomato puree, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, dried basil, chili pepper flakes, salt, and ground black pepper to the pot and stir to combine. Lower the heat to a simmer and place a lid on the pot. Simmer for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Taste the sauce. If it’s too acidic, add 1/2 tablespoon of sugar, taste it, and see if you need to add the remaining sugar.
Notes
- Use stainless steel or Dutch oven cookware to avoid metallic taste from acidity; avoid cast iron when making marinara.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 14Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 23 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 0.5cup | |
| Calories | 23kcal | 1% |
| Carbohydrates | 1g | 0% |
| Protein | 0.1g | 0% |
| Fat | 2g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.3g | 2% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 333mg | 14% |
| Potassium | 9mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 0.2g | 1% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 15IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 0.3mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 6mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.2mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.6
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