suemunzlinger's Recipe

Basic Marinara Sauce

Category: Side dish

3 to 4 Tbsp. olive oil
16 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1/4 tsp. oregano
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. dried basil
0 salt/pepper to taste


Variation 2:
1 small onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
28 oz. can plum tomatoes, crushed
0 salt/pepper to taste
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
1 Tbsp. fresh basil, chopped
1/4 tsp. fennel seed (may be powdered in blender) or buy powdered fennel seed


Lightly saute garlic in olive oil. Remove pan from heat. Add crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt and pepper, return to medium heat. Simmer for 30 minutes, adding a little water as needed, so as not to stick. Sauce for 1 lb. pasta.

Variation 1: Replace basil and oregano with 3-4 Tbsp. chopped parsley. Add hot pepper flakes along with salt and pepper to crushed tomatoes, then simmer.

Variation 2: Follow instructions for Basic Marinara Sauce, saute onion and garlic together in olive oil, add wine to tomatoes along with spices.

I always like to add a touch of sugar to tomatoes.