Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce

Name: Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: Vegetarian
Ingredients: 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 1 medium-sized onion, chopped; 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or pressed; 10 roma tomatoes, chopped (approximately 4 cups); 1 large red pepper, seeded and chopped (approximately 2 cups); 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped; 1 cup fresh basil, packed and stems removed; 1/2 cup fresh oregano, packed and stems removed; 10 sprigs of thyme; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1 can (156ml) tomato paste

September 10, 2018 By Leanne 24 Comments

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Homemade Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce is hearty, flavourful and loaded with fresh, seasonal ingredients like roma tomatoes, basil, oregano and thyme. It makes the perfect topping for pizza, meatballs or pasta dishes, and it comes together quickly. Just chop, simmer and blend!

Hello there! Happy Monday and Happy September! I was MIA here last week as it was a hectic week at my day job. But I’m back this week feeling all the fall vibes and armed with some cozy recipes that are fitting for the season!

Is it feeling like fall where you are? While the temperatures were warm in St. John’s this past weekend, fall is definitely creeping in. The sun is setting a little earlier every day, and there is a slight chill in the air.

Break out the sweaters, fall is officially on the way!

And with the cooler temperatures, my mind is turning to warm and comforting bowls of soup and chili, and pasta dishes loaded with veggies, sauce and cheese (in moderation, of course)!

To ease the transition into all the hearty meals that fall has to offer, I’m sharing this Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce recipe today. It’s packed with lots of seasonal ingredients, including fresh, local herbs, and lots of onion, garlic and jalapeño. It’s the perfect sauce to have on hand to help with busy weeknight dinners.

I’ve been recipe testing this one for a few weeks now, and it has been a welcomed addition to our lunches and dinners!

Tips and suggestions for this Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce:

You can use different types of tomatoes for this recipe, such as cherry or vine tomatoes, but I prefer roma (or plum) tomatoes. They are a little less seedy, and their texture and flavour are perfect for sauces.

This sauce is made in my trusty cast iron pot. I tried it a few times in my Instant Pot but I could never get the marinara as thick as I wanted. If you have luck with this recipe in the Instant Pot, be sure to let me know.

I used my handheld blender to blend up the ingredients as it gives me more control over blending, and therefore, the texture of the sauce. But if you don’t have one, you could transfer the marinara mixture to a blender. Just be sure to let the mixture cool slightly before doing so, as not all blenders will be able to withstand the heat.

If you want to thin out the marinara sauce a little bit, just add a splash or two of wine or veggie stock at the end.

As mentioned, this marinara sauce works beautifully with meatballs, pasta or pizza. It’s also great with zucchini noodles, as well as with stuffed peppers.

If you’re looking for more tomato recipes, you might also enjoy:

Tomato, Arugula and Mozzarella Quiche is cheesy and flavourful, and tastes more like a pizza than a quiche. Perfect for brunch or breakfast for dinner.
Spicy Tomato Chickpea Soup is a quick and easy Instant Pot recipe, packed with protein and fibre from chickpeas and kidney beans.
Three Cheese Tomato Galette is a rustic and savoury tart with ricotta, bocconcini and romano, baby tomatoes and fresh basil, all baked into an almond flour crust.

If you make this homemade marinara sauce, I would love to hear what you think in the comments below!

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