Marinara sauce

Marinara sauce is commonly used on pasta, as dipping sauce for bread, and as flavoring for a variety of lovely dishes. However, anyone who has had it made fresh can attest that it's vastly superior than store bought marinara sauce. Here are a few tips on how to make this simple, satisfying sauce.

Marinara sauce has the power to transform a variety of basic meals into instant comfort food. A combination of tomato paste, diced tomatoes, onions, and herbs such as fresh basil, oregano, or garlic. This simple recipe is perfect for creating in a hurry, as there is no need to let it simmer for hours in order for it to taste spectacular. What makes marinara sauce so potent and unforgettable isn't its main ingredients, but the spices that go into it.

Some common spices used in marinara sauce include chili peppers, Tabasco sauce, ground black pepper, sugar, and crushed fennel seeds among others. As you can see, this sauce tends to be a bit hotter than most pasta sauces. Some who prefer to give their sauce a bit more heat may include cayenne peppers, paprika, or jalapeños.

The type of spices you add to the marinara is up to debate. Some chefs are fine with using powdered spices or flakes, while others insist that fresh basil, cracked pepper, oregano, and garlic cloves are the only way to go. Feel free to experiment with both types and see which suits you the best. While the latter may taste much better, you might note that indulging in fresher spices and herbs is a lot more expensive.

Once your marinara sauce is complete, you're ready to combine it with a wealth of different foods. Noodles such as linguini or corkscrew pasta tend to be rather popular with this type of sauce. It's also commonly used for dipping appetizers such as fried mozzarella sticks, battered mushrooms, breadsticks, fried zucchini or mini calzones. Finally, it's also great on individual dishes. This includes chicken, ravioli, chicken, chicken cordon bleu, pork, and even fried eggplant. Many chefs serve it with freshly grated Parmesan cheese as a topper.

These are only a few things to consider when making marinara sauce. Regardless of what you end up using it for, it's perfect for spicing up a variety of meals. Whether you're cooking a quick lunch or preparing a lavish Italian dinner for your family, this simple, affordable sauce is a must for the food lover on a tight budget. Learn more about different marinara recipes today!