Pizza and pasta are staples in my house. You can safely assume then, that I’ve purchased more than my fair share of jarred marinara sauce. Blown away by the cost of a jar of organic pasta sauce, I decided there was no reason I couldn’t make my own. So after some trial and error, I was finally able to come up with one that I really liked and it’s been a staple in my kitchen ever since.
This month’s Recipe Redux theme invited us to share our recipe for something that we once purchased, but now make from scratch. I am happy to share this marinara recipe, a healthy, low-sodium alternative to the jarred stuff. Don’t worry if you can’t eat it all at once, it freezes amazingly and also makes the perfect gift.
Simple ingredients are the key to this marinara.
Peppers, onions and garlic add the right touch of sweetness and complexity.
Bay leaf is a perfect, flavorful addition.
This marinara can be blended right in the pan, but be careful with the hot liquids!
Homemade Marinara
Description
A simple homemade tomato sauce that’s perfect for pizza or tossed with pasta.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 red (or yellow) bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Heat the oil a deep-sided sauté pan set over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onion and the peppers and cook, stirring frequently until vegetables are slightly tender, about 10-12 minutes. Add the garlic and cook one more minute. Add the tomato paste, stirring constantly, and cook for 3 more minutes. Add the diced tomatoes (entire can with juices), water and vinegar. Stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to lift off any of the brown bits stuck to the pan. Add the Italian seasoning, bay leaf and brown sugar and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
- Remove the bay leaf and add the salt. Using an immersion blender, carefully puree the mixture until smooth. Alternatively, work in batches using a blender or food processor for pureeing, exercising caution with the hot mixture (follow manufacturer’s instructions for pureeing hot or warm ingredients).
- Use immediately or allow to cool then refrigerate or freeze.
Notes
- This recipe makes about 4 1/2 to 5 cups of marinara.
Nutrition
- Calories: 402
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 1325
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 12
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 66
- Protein: 9
- Cholesterol: 0