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Italian Marinara Sauce Recipe (Salsa alla Marinara)
Italian marinara sauce (salsa alla marinara) is a simple, flavorful tomato sauce made with just four main ingredients: tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and oregano. It's quick to prepare, inexpensive, and full of the Mediterranean flavors that characterize Southern Italian cooking.
500gcanned peeled tomatoes- 1.1 lb preferably San Marzano, or homemade peeled tomatoes
4tablespoonsextra virgin olive oil
2clovesgarlic
1teaspoondried oregano
fine salt- to taste
1tablespoonfresh chopped parsley- optional
Instructions
Finely chop or crush the garlic cloves. Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over low heat, add the garlic, and sauté gently for about 1 to 2 minutes, just until fragrant.Be careful not to brown or burn the garlic, as this can give the sauce a bitter taste. In traditional marinara sauce, the garlic is finely chopped and left in the sauce rather than removed.
Place the peeled tomatoes in a bowl and crush them coarsely with a fork. This will give the marinara sauce its characteristic rustic, full-bodied texture.If you prefer a smoother sauce, you can use tomato passata instead.
Add the tomatoes to the garlic and oil. Stir well and simmer over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt to taste.
Add the dried oregano and, if you like, the chopped parsley. Stir well, cook for another minute, then turn off the heat. The marinara sauce is ready to use with pasta, pizza, or other traditional Italian dishes.