- ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
- 1 small onion yellow or sweet
- 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 56 ounces whole peeled tomatoes from (2) 28-ounce cans
- 1 tablespoon Italian herb blend often labeled Italian seasoning
- pinch red pepper flake optional
- 1 sprig fresh basil
- kosher salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Finely dice your onion and finely chop your garlic.
Crush the whole peeled tomatoes by hand over a large bowl and set aside.
Heat olive oil in a saucepot over medium-low heat until shimmering. Sweat the onions until they are translucent, 5 to 10 minutes.
Add the garlic and red pepper flake (if using) and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Add the hand-crushed tomatoes to the pot, along with the Italian herb blend, fresh basil, salt and pepper. Stir well to combine.
Bring the sauce up to a boil and then down to a simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the sprig of basil. Taste for seasoning and serve.
General
- When crushing the tomatoes, remove any pieces of skin you find in the cans.
- If you're looking for an even thicker sauce consistency, add in a tablespoon or two of tomato paste while you are sweating your onions. Cook it down a bit and then add the remaining ingredients.
- If you find that the sauce is too thick and/or you don't like the larger pieces of tomato, use a hand blender to smooth out the sauce.
Storage and Reheating
- Fridge Store leftover marinara in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- Freezer After your sauce has cooled completely, transfer to a freezer-safe airtight container like a gallon plastic bag. Lay flat while freezing to conserve space in your freezer. The sauce will taste best if eaten within 6 months.
- Reheating: Fridge Add your sauce to a pot over medium heat. Bring up to a boil and down to a simmer before serving.
- Reheating: Freezer You can either defrost the sauce in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat as above, or you can add frozen sauce directly to a pot over medium heat until it melts and heats through. Bring up to a boil and down to a simmer before serving.
Calories: 134kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 380mg | Potassium: 534mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 342IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 3mg