A Sicillian marinara sauce recipe is the epitome of the saying that less is more. Crushed tomatoes, garlic and basil combine for a sauce that is delicious on spaghetti or in lasagna.
This week’s Sunday Supper is all about sauce! I have been on a hunt for a good homemade marinara sauce for what seems like forever. I’m pretty sure I’ve tried almost every recipe variation you can find on the internet and nothing turned out the way I wanted it to. And then one day it occurred to me to ask an Italian mama to help me learn how to make “sauce” and she did! It tuns out that I was probably overdoing it and adding too much to what should be a very simple recipe.
This is a Sicillian marinara sauce because recipe it basically only uses tomatoes, garlic and basil. Sicillians only add oregano if you want to turn the sauce in to pizza sauce. I generally start the sauce in the morning and let it simmer until lunch. This is definitely one dish that gets better with time so make it a day ahead or even freeze it for later.
Serve the sauce with a side of garlic pull apart bread and a tossed salad with Italian dressing for a family meal. This marinara sauce recipe freezes well so make a big pot and save some for later.
Sicillian Marinara Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large cans crushed tomatoes
- 2 cans tomato paste
- 1 head of garlic, finely diced
- Olive oil
- Pinch of hot pepper flakes
- 1-2 Tablespoons sugar
- Dried or fresh basil
Instructions
- Cover the bottom of a very large pot with a thin layer of olive oil. Heat over medium heat.
- Open all the cans of tomatoes.
- When oil is warmed, add garlic and saute for just a few minutes. Be careful NOT to burn it!
- Add all tomatoes. Fill each empty can of tomatoes with water and add to the pot. You will add 4 total - 2 from the crushed tomatoes and 2 from the paste.
- Raise heat to high.
- Add in hot pepper flakes, sugar and dried basil to taste. If using fresh, add at the very end of the cooking time.
- Bring sauce to a boil and then turn down heat. Simmer uncovered for at least 4 hours. Add water if the sauce gets too thick while simmering.