The Perfect Rustic Marinara Recipes

Steps:

• Combine 3 tablespoons olive oil, 6 thinly sliced garlic cloves and a pinch of red pepper flakes in a large skillet and cook over medium-low heat until the garlic is golden, about 6 minutes. Crush a 28-ounce can of San Marzano plum tomatoes into the skillet with your hands; rinse the can with about 1 cup water and add to the sauce. Add a handful of torn basil leaves and season with salt. Increase the heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, until thick, 20 to 25 minutes. Toss with 1 pound cooked pasta (makes 4 cups sauce).

Steps:

• Pour tomatoes into a large bowl and crush with your hands. Pour 1 cup water into can and slosh it around to get tomato juices. Reserve.
• In a large skillet (do not use a deep pot) over medium heat, heat the oil. When it is hot, add garlic.
• As soon as garlic is sizzling (do not let it brown), add the tomatoes, then the reserved tomato water. Add whole chile or red pepper flakes, oregano (if using) and salt. Stir.
• Place basil sprig, including stem, on the surface (like a flower). Let it wilt, then submerge in sauce. Simmer sauce until thickened and oil on surface is a deep orange, about 15 minutes. (If using oregano, taste sauce after 10 minutes of simmering, adding more salt and oregano as needed.) Discard basil and chile (if using).

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. Add the onions and garlic and saute until the onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and bay leaves, and simmer uncovered over low heat until the sauce thickens, about 1 hour. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Season the sauce with more salt and pepper, to taste.
• (The sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, then cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat before using.)

Steps:

• In a food processor place Italian tomatoes, tomato paste, chopped parsley, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.
• In a large skillet over medium heat saute the finely chopped onion in olive oil for 2 minutes. Add the blended tomato sauce and white wine.
• Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Steps:

• 1. In a heavy 3 qt. saucepan, over medium heat, pre-warm the pan and the olive oil, while you're opening the tomato cans.
• 2. Pour the tomato puree into the hot olive oil, and let it "fry" for a minute, stirring occasionally. You'll be surprised how much richness this little extra step adds to your sauce.
• 3. Blend in the beef or chicken base now. (This is optional for vegetarian)
• 4. Add the onion, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper. The amounts given are approximate; use more or less to your taste. Allow the puree and seasoning to bubble together for a minute. Then stir in the stewed tomatoes* and the wine. (You can leave out the wine, but don't!) Swish the water around in the cans to get all the tomato-goodness, and add the water to the pot.
• 5. If you like to add mushrooms and/or other vegetables to your sauce, add them here. We're Italian purists ;) so we don't add anything to our sauce.
• 6. Bring sauce to a soft boil, then cover, and reduce the heat to medium low or low. Allow the sauce to simmer a minimum of 30 minutes. (I prefer an hour).
• 7. *NOTES: The diced stewed tomatoes are much nicer, but if what I have on hand is the thick-sliced style I prefer to break them up in hand as they go into the pot, so we don't end up with huge chunks of tomato.
• 8. This recipe makes a double batch, enough for two casseroles (like my meatball sandwich casserole), or to serve a crowd. I like to work smart, so I make enough that I can put half in the frig or freezer for a quick-fix meal later.

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat; cook and stir onions for 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes more.
• Mix petite diced tomatoes, diced tomatoes, white wine, tomato paste, oregano, salt, sugar, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and bay leaves into onion mixture; reduce heat to low, cover Dutch oven, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors blend, about 1 hour.
• Remove Dutch oven from heat. Add 1/2 cup Pecorino-Romano cheese, basil, and parsley into into sauce; stir until cheese melts, about 5 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Sprinkle remaining cheese over sauce when serving.

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large (12-inch) skillet. Add the onion and saute over medium heat until translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the wine and cook on high heat, scraping up all the brown bits in the pan, until almost all the liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper. Cover, and simmer on the lowest heat for 15 minutes.

Steps:

• Place the tomatoes in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Transfer to a medium saucepan along with olive oil, garlic, and oregano; season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and cook at a rapid simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, about 20 minutes. Serve with cooked pasta, garnished with cheese and a drizzle of olive oil, if desired.