Marinara sauce is a popular Italian sauce that goes well with Italian dishes like pasta, especially ziti and linguini. The basic ingredient is tomato, however, this sauce is a lot spicier than other standard tomato sauces. This is because large amounts of various spices such as oregano, garlic, basil, pepper and chili pepper. Although marinara sauce is mostly used to spice up Italian pasta, it can also be used as a dipping sauce for various finger foods. It can even be used to add a little zest to a variety of meat dishes, such as chicken, grilled seafood, pork, and steak. Basic Marinara Sauce Ingredients

• 1 cup onion, diced
• 1 can tomato paste
• 2 cans stewed tomatoes
• 5 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ cup white wine
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon oregano, dried
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ground
• 4 tablespoons parsley, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions Blend together tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper, in a food processor, to form a smooth paste. In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onions in olive oil for about 2 to 3 minutes. Now, add the blended mixture of tomatoes to it and mix well. Add the white wine and let it simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Recipe using Fresh Tomatoes Ingredients

• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1 small onion, diced
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
• Oregano, dried
• Salt
• Pepper

Directions In a medium-sized saucepan, heat about 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil. Sauté the diced onions in it for about 2 to 3 minutes, until they turn translucent and soft. Now, add the crushed tomatoes along with the juice and stir well. Add basil leaves, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer over medium heat for half an hour or so, until the sauce thickens and reaches the right consistency. Recipe using Tomato Sauce Ingredients

• 2 cans Italian tomato puree
• 2 cans tomato sauce
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons parsley flakes
• 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add onions and garlic to it. Sauté the onions till they become soft and translucent. Now, add the tomato sauce and puree and stir well. Add all the spices and the grated cheese. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 30 minutes. Marinara sauces with slight modifications, using different spices are available in the market. However, it is very simple to make this spicy sauce from scratch at home. Homemade sauce can be made by using the desired spices. The sauce is good for health as it is free from the various food additives and preservatives.