• Home
    • Blog
  • About
    • Contact
    • Welcome
    • Favorites
    • Ebooks
    • Low Carb
    • Dear Diane,
  • Recipes

Homemade Tomato Sauce

March 2, 2017

  • 38

Today let’s talk SAUCE…   

 

tomato sauce, marinara, Italian gravy recipe

Knowing how to make a great sauce is key to so many recipes.

I’m not Italian, I don’t call it gravy…. but I am really particular about marinara sauce (tomato sauce).

I LOVE Italian food, and at the heart of so much of it, is a great sauce.

No matter what you call it, sauce, marinara, gravy, the red stuff… just make a batch and you’re ready to go!

If you prefer to just buy a jar of sauce, that’s fine too. I give you some tips on what to add to it to make it taste even better along with my favorite jarred sauces I use in a pinch.

Over the years I have purchased many brands of tomatoes and I really prefer Cento brand and Tuttorosso brand.

If you want to purchase pasta sauce that tastes great, try Barilla’s Marinara, Tomato Basil or Traditional Sauce or Victoria White Linen Marinara Sauce.

Often store-bought tomato sauces are too sweet for me. They remind me of frozen pizza, like food you’d feed kids when you don’t want to cook, but you’d want it sweet enough that kids would eat it. Canned ravioli comes to mind. Let’s just say I’m NOT a fan of sweet tomato sauce.

Now if you like your sauce sweeter, adding a carrot diced tiny will help sweeten it without added sugar.

Sauteed red and yellow peppers are a nice addition for added sweetness.

Now if you want it tangy, add some lemon juice, olives or capers.

I do like celery salt in my sauce sometimes.

I don’t always add things into my basic sauce, but those are my additives of choice.

 Adding in a pound of browned ground beef or beef and pork is always

delicious too.

My favorite GO-TO meal is pasta with meat sauce. It’s easy and delicious and everyone in my family loves it.

Does the brand of canned tomatoes matter?

Yes, I find a huge difference in flavor from brand to brand. I prefer Cento Brand their tomatoes taste great, they are from Italy, they are known for their “San Marzano” tomatoes. I buy peeled or crushed tomatoes typically. you can certainly try other brands, but you’ll absolutely taste the difference, and you can really smell the difference in a good canned tomato as soon as you open the can.

Cento also makes a canned “pizza sauce” that is now my go-to sauce ready from the can anytime I want pizza. Get my recipe for pizza dough here.

*It only takes a few minutes to whip up a great tomato sauce, but if you’re in a pinch and want to just buy pre-made tomato sauce, I’d suggest, La Victoria White Linen (available at Costco and grocery stores) or Barilla Marinara Sauce. 

Marinara Sauce
 
Print
Ingredients
  • 1 28 oz can crushed or peeled tomatoes*
  • 3 garlic cloves minced ( or 1 tablespoon garlic paste, like Gourmet Gardens)
  • 1 small onion (or 1/2 a large onion)
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • fresh basil
  • wine ( white Chardonnay is my favorite)
Instructions
  1. Saute garlic and onion in oil over medium heat.
  2. Add in tomatoes and cook until it begins to come to a boil.
  3. Turn on medium-low and add in oregano and salt (and crushed red pepper if you like it a little spicy) Add in 1/2 cup wine if you prefer.
  4. I love adding wine and crushed red pepper, this sauce
  5. Cook sauce for 10 minutes.
  6. Use an immersion blender to puree the sauce smooth if needed.
  7. Add in some fresh diced basil and serve.
Notes
* crushed or peeled tomatoes, crushed tomatoes have texture, peeled tomatoes when pureed are often smoother so depending on what you will be doing with the sauce choose which type of tomato to use.
You can also blanch fresh tomatoes and peel them, then dice and cook them. The better-tasting tomatoes will result in a delicious sauce.
3.5.3226

 

Now I’ve told you I LOVE pasta and I created an ebook with so many favorite recipes in it if you like pasta you’ll want this ebook NOODLES dressed in delicious sauces and such! 

  • Italian Zucchini Bake Ziti
  • Meatball Sub
  • Sausage Peppers and Onion baked Ziti
  • Spaghetti and Meatball Pizza
  • Taco Baked Ziti
  • Penne with Spicy Vodka Sauce
  • Chicken Mozzarella
  • Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

 

 

 
  • 38

23 Comments Filed Under: Pasta, Sauces, Savory Tagged With: dinner, how to, pasta, Pizza, sauce, tomato

« Chocolate Peanut Butter Cracker Toffee
Mint Chocolate Recipes »

sweet and savory recipes createdbydiane.comIf you like this or any other recipe at Created by Diane be sure to sign up for email updates and GET all my delicious recipes delivered right to you! Plus get my free e-cookbook too.

Thanks ~Diane

Be sure to check out more of my recipes here…

Most Popular

How and Why I cook chicken for the week all at once @createdbydiane.jpg
Creamy Lemon Pasta Salad createdbydiane.com
low carb pizza crust www.createdbydiane.com

Subscribe to Created by Diane

don't miss one yummy recipe

by signing up you agree to the Privacy Policy

Comments

  1. ColleenB.~Texas says

    March 2, 2017 at 4:36 pm

    great recipe
    was wondering about how many cups does the recipe make; enough for a quart?

    Reply
    • Diane says

      March 2, 2017 at 5:28 pm

      a quart is 32 oz, this recipe calls for a 28 oz can of tomatoes which will give you approximately 28 oz of sauce, 4 oz less than a quart.

  2. Margaret says

    March 3, 2017 at 12:44 pm

    You said You can also blanch fresh tomatoes and peel them, then dice and cook them. So if cutting up fresh tomatoes how much would you need since recipe calls for 28 oz can what would that be if you use fresh cup wise?

    Reply
    • Diane says

      March 3, 2017 at 4:45 pm

      two pounds will give you 32 oz, so I would go with 2 lbs tomatoes.

  3. Jai Want says

    March 5, 2017 at 11:18 pm

    I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. This is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable.

    Reply
  4. ROBERT PECK says

    March 7, 2017 at 5:22 am

    Hi Diane ,
    You are the greatest !!! I am 82 and cooking is one of my hobbies .I have a lot to learn , but you make your recipes so enticing ..that cooking becomes second nature when supper is around the corner .I have only my Golden Retriever and myself to cook for . I really appreciate your Homemade tomato sauce receipe ., but I have to add my venison sausage with it.Thank you again. Bob Peck

    Reply
    • Diane says

      March 7, 2017 at 12:02 pm

      so happy to hear from you and I bet the venison sausage will be delicious in the sauce.

  5. Sagarika says

    April 7, 2017 at 12:47 am

    Tomato sauce has always been a classic and goes well with most of other main-course dishes. Thank you for sharing such a lovely recipe for making tasty and healthy homemade tomato sauce.

    Reply
  6. mamta balani says

    April 15, 2017 at 9:46 am

    I know how to make tomato sauce but MARINARA SAUCE additional is new to me. Thanks will give up a try..

    Reply
  7. pawan kumar says

    September 6, 2017 at 6:36 am

    LOOKS DELICIOUS SOON GOING TO TRY IT THANKS FOR SHARING THIS RECIPE ABOUT TOMATO SAUCE

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Baked Ziti Recipe | Created by Diane says:
    February 14, 2019 at 2:04 pm

    […] Here is my recipe for Homemade Tomato Sauce […]

    Reply
  2. Italian Meatball Recipe | Created by Diane says:
    May 26, 2019 at 12:44 pm

    […] are great served over spaghetti with sauce. Find my recipe for tomato sauce […]

    Reply
  3. make your favorite take out | Created by Diane says:
    June 28, 2019 at 10:45 pm

    […] Tomato Sauce – an easy recipe to make all your Italian recipes great […]

    Reply
  4. cold and flu Foods picky eater | Created by Diane says:
    March 9, 2020 at 3:48 pm

    […] Tomato Sauce- jar or homemade Tomato Sauce Recipe […]

    Reply
  5. Lazy Stuffed Cabbage | Created by Diane says:
    November 16, 2020 at 10:31 am

    […] like homemade sauce. It can be made ahead and stored in your fridge. The recipe for it can be found here – it’s really simple and […]

    Reply
  6. chicken mozzarella | Created by Diane says:
    December 28, 2020 at 8:19 pm

    […] I don’t have homemade sauce, I use sauce with no sugar […]

    Reply
  7. Pizza Dip | Created by Diane says:
    February 5, 2021 at 9:16 am

    […] with my homemade tomato sauce, the flavors of basil really come through in a delightful way, adding a sweet spice to the dip that […]

    Reply
  8. Polynesian meatballs | Created by Diane says:
    February 23, 2021 at 9:25 pm

    […]    I often make 2 lbs of meatballs and then plate the extra servings with egg noodles and marinara sauce for a nice variety for my husband to take to work, this also works great if you have a picky eater […]

    Reply
  9. homemade pasta | Created by Diane says:
    March 8, 2021 at 1:13 pm

    […] Homemade Tomato Sauce […]

    Reply
  10. Lemon Buttermilk Pasta Sauce | Created by Diane says:
    September 19, 2021 at 7:00 am

    […] a boring dish into something elegant and delicious. This sauce is so versatile, you can add in some marinara sauce if you’re looking for a creamy tomato-based sauce. If you want to take this sauce up a notch […]

    Reply
  11. Penne with Spicy Vodka Sauce | Created by Diane says:
    February 8, 2022 at 6:57 pm

    […] depending on which type of tomato sauce you’re using and how flavorful it is) Here is my homemade tomato sauce recipe.   If you like LEMON, give this fun Lemon Vodka Sauce recipe a try.   You can substitute half and […]

    Reply
  12. Skillet Chicken Lasagna | Created by Diane says:
    October 2, 2022 at 7:01 am

    […] Select your favorite sauce, if you’re looking to purchase a jar try Victoria-White Linen Marinara, Barilla-Marinara, or Tomato Basil, or make homemade sauce. […]

    Reply
  13. Pasta with Meat Sauce | Created by Diane says:
    October 16, 2022 at 6:08 am

    […] let’s talk sauce. You can either make a sauce using my Tomato Sauce Recipe or buy a jar of sauce, but be sure to buy a great tasting sauce I suggest La Victoria White Linen […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

By posting a comment you agree to the Privacy Policy
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search My Recipes

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright Created by Diane © 2023 · Grits Design · Privacy Policy