Basic Marinara

Marinara Sauce - the starting point for most tomato based pasta sauces. While it is easiest to go to the store and buy a jar and heat n' serve it may not give you that taste and flavor you are seeking! The best sauces are always made from scratch and allowed to simmer for hours to intensify the flavors. Here is a recipe for a basic marinara which can be doctored with other ingredients to make other sauces.

~ Recipe ~

Olive Oil
1/4 diced onion
3 cloves garlic minced
28 oz can Crushed Tomatoes
15 oz can Tomato Sauce
6 oz can Tomato Paste
1 to 2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp oregano
Tabasco Sauce (original) [This is not added for spice but to balance out the tomato paste with a touch of acidity]
salt to taste
* 1/8 cup shredded fresh basil

In a large pot heat olive oil on medium high heat. Add onion and saute, once it starts to turn translucent add garlic and continue to saute. Don't let the garlic burn. Add the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce plus the dried spices. Once it comes to a simmer reduce the heat and continue to simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add the tomato paste and at least 10 shakes of Tabasco (I used closer to 20). Let simmer for another 30 to 45 minutes (up to 2 hours). Add fresh basil in the last 20 minutes. 

You can use this immediately over pasta, add additional items like mushrooms, sausage, peppers ect. To make it extra spicy use red pepper flakes or siracha added with the tomato paste and Tabasco. This sauce is excellent for bakes pasta dishes like my next post.

You can also easily make a double or triple batch and freeze portions of the sauce to be used later!

Happy Cooking!