How to Make Marinara Sauce

Among the several sauces that accompany pasta, marinara sauce is a universal favorite. The rich flavors of herbs combined with tomatoes, make for the perfect base for several types of foods, of which, Italian pasta tops the list. If you wish to know the secret to making this yummy sauce yourself, this guide will tell you how to make marinara sauce from scratch, with fresh tomatoes. Moreover, its ingredients are basic which you will definitely find in your kitchen.

Marinara Sauce made with Fresh Tomatoes

Say goodbye to canned foods! Making marinara sauce on your own gives it a flavor that you will not be able to find in the best of the fancy sauces available outside.

Ingredients

• Fresh tomatoes, 6 large
• Tomato paste, 1 can
• Tomato sauce, 1 can
• Onion, 1 medium, chopped
• Green bell pepper, 1 small, chopped
• Garlic, 5 cloves, crushed
• Fresh basil, 1 small handful
• Fresh oregano, 1 small handful
• Salt and pepper to taste

Optional Ingredients

• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Bay Leaf
• Mushroom, chopped
• Zucchini, chopped
• Parsley, chopped
• Olive oil for cooking

Procedure

1. Wash the tomatoes thoroughly. Core the tomatoes without cutting them open. Boil some water in a large pot, simultaneously, prepare a bowl with some ice in it, big enough to accommodate ice and tomatoes.
2. Put in the tomatoes and allow them to remain in the water for about a minute. Drain the water, take them out, and immediately put them in the ice. Pour cold water over the tomatoes. This blanching process will help peel the tomatoes easily.
3. Dice the tomatoes finely. You may choose to remove the seeds or let them remain in the tomatoes. Put these tomatoes in the same pot you used to boil them on a low flame.
4. In a heated medium skillet, pour some olive oil. Now add the chopped peppers and onions, and stir them occasionally, until tender.
5. Now toss in the garlic and basil, and continue stirring. The vegetables from the list of optional ingredients can also be added at this point.
6. To the diced tomatoes, add in the tomato paste and tomato sauce. Now add in the vegetable mixture.
7. Stir the entire mixture well, and cover it. Allow it to come to a boil, and then leave it to simmer for about 2 hours, until it thickens. The thicker it is, the better it will taste. Allow the steam to escape from the pot at regular intervals.
8. The sauce is now ready to eat. If you wish to make meatballs in marinara sauce, you can toss in the meatballs during the last 40 minutes while it cooks. This sauce can also be frozen for later use.

How to Enhance the Flavor of Marinara Sauce

The flavors of this basic recipe can easily be enhanced to make it more delicious. Try any of the following tips:

• You can add in sliced mushrooms, or both, green and black olives to increase the richness of its flavor.
• Similarly, adding peppers of different colors, such as red and yellow will also increase its visual appeal.
• To give it a sweet tinge add in a little sugar. Spice it up with a little cinnamon and red peppers.
• To make it a nice, meaty sauce, cook it with some ground beef or turkey, or even some Italian sausages.

How to Enjoy Marinara Sauce

This delicious sauce can be added to a variety of foods, and eaten just the way you like it.

• For your homemade lasagna, marinara sauce would make a great base. It is also one of the good homemade pizza sauce recipes.
• Pour it over cooked spaghetti, and sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on it, for a delicious dinner.
• Have it with fried chicken or eggplant.
• Some people even like to have marinara sauce in their subs.
• Dip some French bread in it and have it as a yummy snack.

So whip up your own batch, and add it to any meal of your choice to spice it up!