Quick Marinara Sauce

Who doesn’t love a great Italian sauce? I know I do! I NEVER buy jarred sauce any more. Why would I when a delicious healthy sauce is only minutes away!!! I could eat this just as it is with a glass of red wine and some great bread! This sauce is quick and versatile. You can make as is or add your favorite meats for a heartier version.

When it comes to the peeled tomatoes and sauce these are my favorite brands but you can use whatever is available or your choice based on flavor. My only strong recommendation is to go with whole peeled tomatoes straight from San Marzano, Italy. They are the most flavorful!

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Recipe

Quick Marinara Sauce

• 1 large onion, diced and chopped

• 4 Tablespoons olive oil

• 1 Tablespoon dried Italian Seasoning

• 1 teaspoon red chili flakes

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper

• 4 garlic cloves, chopped and minced

• 28 oz can San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes

• 24.5 oz jar Mutti Tomato Sauce (or 28 oz can crushed tomatoes)

  For meat version:

• 1 lb hot Italian sausage (removed from casings)

• 1 lb grass fed ground beef

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven pan over medium high heat. Next, add the chopped onions and cook until translucent (about 5-8 minutes).

2. Sprinkle in the Italian seasonings (rubbing between your hands over the onions to break up and open up the spice blend). Add the chili flakes, salt and pepper and stir cooking for another minute or two.

3. Add the chopped garlic, stir and cook for another minute.

4. If you are going to make this a meat sauce, this would be when you would add the two meats and break up and cook until golden brown (I use a potato masher to break up the sausage in the pan).

5. Next, add the whole chopped tomatoes. Use the potato masher again in the pan to break up the tomatoes (works awesome!). Next add your tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes) and stir well until it starts to bubble. Reduce heat to low and simmer for at least 10 minutes. If you are hangry or in a rush it is perfectly delicious at this point and can you enjoy right away! If you have more time, allow to simmer longer as the flavors will just blend and intensify more and get even more delicious. Pour over your favorite pasta or zucchini noodles, or in your favorite recipe, and enjoy!