This is my favorite marinara sauce. We make it all of the time! It goes great with pasta, lasagna, polenta, and any other Italian dish you can think of!
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 10mins
Cook Time 40mins
Total Time 50mins
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4
Ingredients
2tablespoonsolive oil
1onion,diced
4clovesgarlic,minced
1carrot,diced
1celery stalk,diced
Pinchof fennel seed
1/8teaspooncrushed red pepper
1bay leaf
2(28 oz)cans crushed tomatoes
1/2teaspoonsugar,optional
Salt and black pepperto taste
1/4teaspoondried oregano
1/3cupfreshly chopped basil
Instructions
In a large pot, heat the olive oil over a medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic and saute until the onions are translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add the carrots and celery. Saute until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add in the fennel seed, crushed red pepper, and bay leaf.
Stir in the tomatoes. Add the sugar, salt and pepper, and basil. Simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Taste the sauce and season with more salt and pepper, if necessary.
Note-I like to make big batches of this sauce and freeze it. You can also can this sauce. Serve with pasta, lasagna, polenta, chicken or eggplant parmesan, etc.