Marinara Sauce
29 min · 29 min active · makes ~880 g · Medium · Italian
Marinara Sauce
A simple Italian tomato sauce built on garlic, olive oil, and tinned plum tomatoes, sharpened with chilli flakes and oregano, then finished with fresh basil. It is rich, aromatic, and deeply savoury with a gentle heat and just enough sweetness to balance the acidity. Versatile enough to serve with pasta, spoon over pizza, or use as a base for other dishes.
TOTAL TIME
29 min
ACTIVE TIME
29 min
QUANTITY
~880 g
DIFFICULTY
Medium
CUISINE
Italian
Who’s eating
A
Ingredients0/9
Tools0/3
Ingredients0/9 gathered · 4 servings
4clove
1bunch
3tbsp
0.25tsp
800g
1tsp
0.5tsp
0.5tsp
freshly ground0.25tsp
| # | Product | Quantity | Notes | State | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4clove | — | — | ||
| 2 | 1bunch | — | — | ||
| 3 | 3tbsp | — | — | ||
| 4 | 0.25tsp | — | — | ||
| 5 | 800g | — | — | ||
| 6 | 1tsp | — | — | ||
| 7 | 0.5tsp | — | — | ||
| 8 | 0.5tsp | — | — | ||
| 9 | 0.25tsp | freshly ground | — |
Tools3 items
Procedure18 steps
1 of 18
Peel a garlic clove the 4 garlic cloves
Garlic clove · 4 clove
3 of 18
Tear the fresh basil leaves
Fresh basil leaves · 1 bunch
ResultTorn basil leavesused in step 184 of 18
Add olive oil
Olive oil · 3 tbsp
5 of 18
Heat the olive oil
medium-low heat
⏱ 1 min
ResultHeated olive oil6 of 18
Add the sliced garlic cloves to the saucepan
7 of 18
Add the dried chilli flakes to the saucepan
Dried chilli flakes · 0.25 tsp
8 of 18
Sauté the sliced garlic cloves and heated olive oil and dried chilli flakes
Look for
until garlic is softened and just turning golden at the edges — stirring frequently, about 3 minutes
medium-low heat
⏱ 3 min
ResultSoftened garlic and chilli oil9 of 18
Add the tinned whole plum tomatoes to the saucepan
Tinned whole plum tomatoes · 800 g
10 of 18
Add the dried oregano to the saucepan
Dried oregano · 1 tsp
11 of 18
Add caster sugar
Caster sugar · 0.5 tsp
12 of 18
Add salt
Salt · 0.5 tsp
13 of 18
Add black pepper
Black pepper · 0.25 tsp
14 of 18
Crush the tinned whole plum tomato mixture
roughly broken down, about 1 minute
⏱ 1 min
ResultCrushed tomato mixture15 of 18
Simmer the crushed tomato mixture
bring to a gentle simmer
medium heat
⏱ 2 min
ResultTinned whole plum tomato mixture16 of 18
Simmer the tinned whole plum tomato mixture
Look for
uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened and darkened slightly
medium heat
⏱ 20 min
ResultTinned whole plum tomato mixture17 of 18
Taste the tinned whole plum tomato mixture
adjust seasoning with more salt or sugar as needed
Total Time29 min
| # | Product | Tool | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 clove | Peel a garlic clove the 4 garlic clovesResultPeeled garlic cloves | |
| 2 | Peeled garlic clovesstep 1 | Slice the peeled garlic clovesResultSliced garlic clovesused in step 6 | |
| 3 | 1 bunch | — | Tear the fresh basil leavesResultTorn basil leavesused in step 18 |
| 4 | 3 tbsp | Add olive oilResultOlive oil | |
| 5 | — | medium-low heat | Heat the olive oil⏱ 1 minResultHeated olive oil |
| 6 | Sliced garlic clovesstep 2 | Add the sliced garlic cloves to the saucepanResultSliced garlic cloves and heated olive oil | |
| 7 | 0.25 tsp | Add the dried chilli flakes to the saucepanResultSliced garlic cloves and heated olive oil and dried chilli flakes | |
| 8 | — | medium-low heat | Sauté the sliced garlic cloves and heated olive oil and dried chilli flakesLook foruntil garlic is softened and just turning golden at the edges — stirring frequently, about 3 minutes⏱ 3 minResultSoftened garlic and chilli oil |
| 9 | 800 g | Add the tinned whole plum tomatoes to the saucepanResultTinned whole plum tomato mixture | |
| 10 | 1 tsp | Add the dried oregano to the saucepanResultTinned whole plum tomato mixture | |
| 11 | 0.5 tsp | Add caster sugarResultTinned whole plum tomato mixture | |
| 12 | 0.5 tsp | Add saltResultTinned whole plum tomato mixture | |
| 13 | 0.25 tsp | Add black pepperResultTinned whole plum tomato mixture | |
| 14 | — | Crush the tinned whole plum tomato mixture → roughly broken down, about 1 minute⏱ 1 minResultCrushed tomato mixture | |
| 15 | — | medium heat | Simmer the crushed tomato mixture → bring to a gentle simmer⏱ 2 minResultTinned whole plum tomato mixture |
| 16 | — | medium heat | Simmer the tinned whole plum tomato mixtureLook foruncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened and darkened slightly⏱ 20 minResultTinned whole plum tomato mixture |
| 17 | — | Taste the tinned whole plum tomato mixture → adjust seasoning with more salt or sugar as neededResultTinned whole plum tomato mixture | |
| 18 | Torn basil leavesstep 3 | Add the torn basil leaves to the saucepanResultMarinara Sauce | |
| Total Time | 29 min | ||
Nutritionper serving
Estimated · pre-cooking · 89% ingredients covered
| Nutrient | Per serving |
|---|---|
| 139kcal | |
| 2g | |
| 11g | |
| 2g | |
| 11g | |
| 6g | |
| 3g | |
| 1,058mg |
Ingredients0/9
Tools0/3
italian · Recipe
Marinara Sauce
A simple Italian tomato sauce built on garlic, olive oil, and tinned plum tomatoes, sharpened with chilli flakes and oregano, then finished with fresh basil. It is rich, aromatic, and deeply savoury with a gentle heat and just enough sweetness to balance the acidity. Versatile enough to serve with pasta, spoon over pizza, or use as a base for other dishes.
Serves4
Total29 min
LevelMedium
Ingredients
- Garlic clove4 clove
- Fresh basil leaves1 bunch
- Olive oil3 tbsp
- Dried chilli flakes0.25 tsp
- Tinned whole plum tomatoes800 g
- Dried oregano1 tsp
- Caster sugar0.5 tsp
- Salt0.5 tsp
- Black pepper, freshly ground0.25 tsp
Tools
SpoonChef's knifeMedium saucepan
Method
1
Peel a garlic clove the 4 garlic cloves
Chefs knifeGarlic clove · 4 clove
2
Slice the peeled garlic cloves
Result · Sliced garlic cloves · used in step 6
Chefs knifePeeled garlic cloves · step 1
3
Tear the fresh basil leaves
Result · Torn basil leaves · used in step 18
Fresh basil leaves · 1 bunch
4
Add olive oil
Medium saucepanOlive oil · 3 tbsp
5
Heat the olive oil
medium-low heat1 minMedium saucepan
6
Add the sliced garlic cloves to the saucepan
Medium saucepanSliced garlic cloves · step 2
7
Add the dried chilli flakes to the saucepan
Medium saucepanDried chilli flakes · 0.25 tsp
8
Sauté the sliced garlic cloves and heated olive oil and dried chilli flakesLook foruntil garlic is softened and just turning golden at the edges — stirring frequently, about 3 minutes
medium-low heat3 minMedium saucepan
9
Add the tinned whole plum tomatoes to the saucepan
Medium saucepanTinned whole plum tomatoes · 800 g
10
Add the dried oregano to the saucepan
Medium saucepanDried oregano · 1 tsp
11
Add caster sugar
Medium saucepanCaster sugar · 0.5 tsp
12
Add salt
Medium saucepanSalt · 0.5 tsp
13
Add black pepper
Medium saucepanBlack pepper · 0.25 tsp
14
Crush the tinned whole plum tomato mixture → roughly broken down, about 1 minute
1 minMedium saucepan
15
Simmer the crushed tomato mixture → bring to a gentle simmer
medium heat2 minMedium saucepan
16
Simmer the tinned whole plum tomato mixtureLook foruncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened and darkened slightly
medium heat20 minMedium saucepan
17
Taste the tinned whole plum tomato mixture → adjust seasoning with more salt or sugar as needed
Spoon
18
Add the torn basil leaves to the saucepan
Result · Marinara Sauce
Medium saucepanTorn basil leaves · step 3
Printed 3 September 2026