Homemade Marinara

Pasta’s perfect partner doesn’t get better than this family recipe.


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Straight from the kitchen of one of our staffer’s Italian father, this is a Sunday sauce. Make a huge batch during the weekend, then enjoy the perfect quick weeknight meal throughout the week. If you have time, cook up your favorite lasagna and douse it in this savory sauce.

Serves 6

What You Need:

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, minced
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried fennel seed
  • 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 2 15-ounce cans tomato sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped 
  • 1/2 cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped

What You Do:

  1. In a large sauce pan over high heat, add olive oil. Sauté onion and garlic until onions are translucent. Add fennel seed, Italian seasoning, and stir for one minute.
  2. Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, and wine. Reduce heat to low and stir in basil and parsley. Let simmer, stirring occasionally, for about an hour. Serve over your favorite pasta, with garlic bread.