Each region of Italy and each family within that region have their own versions of marinara sauce. Some sauces are left with the tomatoes chunky. I prefer my Marinara Sauce to be blender smooth. However you like it, that’s how you should eat it. Most italians believe food is not just something you eat to survive, it is a sign of love given to you by the person who cooked for you.
You can find the marinara sauce I grew up with here.
Recently, my mom found a copy of my Nonna’s marinara sauce {my dads mom}. Because the paper is very old and it is written in italian, I guess you can call this marinara sauce my interpretation of my Nonna’s sauce.
- 4 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 3 Garlic Cloves, sliced
- 3 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
- 2 28-Ounce Can San Marzano Tomatoes
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Tablespoon Red Pepper Flakes, more if you like a kick
- 2 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 2 Tablespoon Dried Basil
- 2 Teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 1 Tablespoon Sugar
- 2 Dried Bay Leaves
- In a large heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add sliced garlic cloves, stir until they are lightly golden.
- Add Tomato paste to garlic and cook for 3 minutes. Stirring constantly.
- Add salt, pepper, oregano, basil, thyme, sugar, and bay leaves and cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Add San Marzano tomatoes, and cook at a slow boil for 30 to 40 minutes.
- Remove and discard the bay leaves.
- Using an immersion blender or standard blender puree sauce until smooth.
- Cook for an addition 30 minutes.
- Toss over your favorite pasta.
This Marinara lasts in the refrigerator, in a air tight container for up to 3 days. You can also freeze this Marinara Sauce in a ziplock bag for up to 3 months. I like to place the ziplock bag on a cookie sheet to freeze so, it freezes perfectly flat, once frozen I can stand it upright to take up less room {I also do that with soups} in the freezer.
Enjoy!