Awesome-sauce! Making marinara has never been easier
Knowing how to make a good tomato sauce is rewarding, given all the ways you can use it. Pizza, pasta, sauce for grilled or roasted vegetables. All you need is a few essential pantry ingredients: oil, garlic, onion, tomatoes and salt. It's the kind of recipe that can get you out of the "I don't know what to make" jam. If you get a marinara sauce just right, it's impressive, simple and inexpensive to make, better than anything you can buy from the grocery store.
I like a marinara sauce that is well salted and uses a decent amount of olive oil. The salt balances the acidity, and the oil makes the sauce stick to your lips. I use whole tomatoes out of a can, and they are crushed before being added to the pan. As the sauce simmers, the pieces of tomato break down giving the sauce a thick consistency.
The method for making marinara sauce is simple. Saute onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat (any hotter and you'll burn the garlic), then add the crushed whole tomatoes and salt; don't be shy with the salt. Cook, stirring often until the sauce is reduced and starts to stick to the bottom of the pan. If it's tart to the taste, add the tiniest pinch of sugar.
Marinara Sauce
Makes 2 1/2 cups
1/4 cup olive oil
3/4 cup finely diced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
Pinch of red chili flakes (optional)
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