(An Italian tomato sauce recipe)

Why use store-bought sauces, which are loaded with preservatives, when you can easily make them at home? This is one of the simplest Italian sauces that can be used in a variety of dishes. You can add it to your pasta, spread it on your pizza, use it as a dip or utilise it to make lovely appetisers!

Why is it called MARINARA SAUCE?

‘Marinara’ has its roots in the word ‘Mariner’ - something related to marine life. In earlier days, this sauce was extensively used by Italy’s merchants on long sea expeditions. Thus, this sauce came to be known as the Marinara sauce.

RECIPE VIDEO

Ingredients

• 1kg fresh red tomatoes, ripe but firm (ताज़े लाल टमाटर)

• 1 large onion (प्याज )

• 6-7 garlic cloves (लहसुन की कालिया )

• 1/4 tbsp black pepper powder (काली मिर्च पाउडर)

• 1 tbsp oregano powder (ऑरेगानो पाउडर)

• 1 tbsp sugar (चीनी )

• 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil (एक्स्ट्रा-वर्जिन ओलिव ऑइल )

• salt as per taste (नमक )

Method

• Wash the tomatoes thoroughly and chop them roughly.

• Peel and cut the onion into two halves. Finely chop the garlic cloves.

• Heat 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil in a pan and add chopped garlic. Sauté on low flame for a minute.

• Add the chopped tomatoes, onion, oregano powder, sugar and salt to the mixture. Mix well.

• Cover the pan, and cook the tomatoes for 5-7 minutes on low flame.

• Remove the lid and stir everything well. The tomatoes will release a lot of water. So, the mixture will now have a thin consistency.

• Use a potato masher to crush the tomatoes and garlic. Leave the onion untouched. Do not mash it.

• Simmer on low flame for 20-25 minutes till the tomatoes are well cooked. Keep stirring occasionally. If the mixture starts drying up add a little water to it.

• Once the tomatoes are cooked properly, turn off the heat.

• Remove the onion pieces from the mixture.

• Add 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil and black pepper powder to the sauce. Mix well.

• If you prefer a smoother consistency for this sauce, blend it using a hand/jar blender after cooling it.

MARINARA SAUCE IS READY TO BE SERVED !!

Notes -

• Always use fresh, ripe red tomatoes for this sauce.

• We add whole pieces of onion to this recipe. After removing them from the sauce, you can eat them - they taste yummy!!

• Blend the sauce only after completely cooling it. If you are using a hand/immersion blender, be a little careful. The sauce tends to splatter.

• You can add fresh basil leaves to this sauce while blending it. Basil leaves enhance the flavour of this sauce.

• You can make this sauce ahead of time. Store it in the refrigerator for 2-3 days in a glass container.

Did you make this recipe?
Kindly let me know in the comments section below and tag @bitesandbokeh on INSTAGRAM.