1 Video | Photo: My Mother's Marinara Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 large yellow onions, peeled, halved and diced
- 10 cloves garlic, peeled, halved and cut into thin slices
- 2 to 3 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- Kosher salt
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and grated
- Two 28-ounce cans whole peeled tomatoes
- 4 cups water, divided, plus more as needed
- 1 cup basil leaves, washed
- Freshly grated Parmesan
Directions
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, the garlic, red pepper flakes, and sugar and season with salt, to taste. Stir in the carrots and reseason with salt. Cook for about 2 minutes, and then add canned tomatoes. Use a wooden spoon to break up some of the whole tomatoes and cook over medium heat, stirring from time to time, about 20 minutes. If at any point the veggies or the sauce is getting dry, add some water. Continue cooking another 10 minutes, and then taste for seasoning. The tomatoes should be fairly broken down and the flavors coming together. Cook an additional 10 minutes. The sauce cooks about as long as it takes to make the meatballs from start to finish, about 45 minutes. Stir in the basil leaves and season with Parmesan.
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By yariburke
on September 22, 2012
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This was my first time attempt to making a pasta/ marinara sauce. My daughter was adaqment about having this for dinner. I was pleasantly surprised to find Alex's receipe to be simple to follow and extremely flavorful. My husband's as well as daughter's recommendation is to go easy on the peppers. Although his Godmother (R.I.P. would have loved it as she was Italian and loved the spicyness of it, my family would recommend 1 tsp. MAX of the pepper. Enjoy! This is certainly a first timer's successful recipe. Thank you Alex!!!!
By eveloftus1102
austin, 83
on July 01, 2012
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i followed this recipe to the letter..and it came out wonderful..i leave mine chunky but thats me..lol. i love it..thank you..now i dont have to buy sauce to put on my pasta
By david.mcbry_123...
Seattle, 87
on February 12, 2012
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I followed the recipe as presented and I ended up with an orange Marinara Sauce with a dominate onion and carrot flavor. I was making it to build a lasagna with and surprisingly it did better than I thought it would, but it was too bland to hold up to the rest of the recipe.
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