🍅 San Marzano Tomato Sauce
A luscious, slow-simmered tomato sauce made with the iconic San Marzano tomatoes—sweet, velvety, and beautifully simple.
✨ Description:
This classic tomato sauce is the heart of Italian comfort cooking. Using San Marzano tomatoes, which are prized for their natural sweetness and low acidity, this sauce is simmered to perfection with garlic, olive oil, and basil. Perfect for pasta, pizza, lasagna, or just dipping warm bread. It’s simple, clean, and so satisfying that even a halved batch will leave you wishing you’d made more!
“I halved the recipe for just me and the hubby. Now I wish I went with the full pan because they were SO GOOD. This is going to be a staple in our house 🙂”
🛒 Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced or thinly sliced
- 1 (28-ounce) can San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon salt (to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, only if needed)
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
- A few sprigs of fresh basil, torn or whole
- Optional: 1 tablespoon butter for extra richness
🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
🔥 Cook Time: 30–40 minutes
🍽️ Servings: About 4 cups of sauce (serves 4–6 over pasta)
👨🍳 Instructions:
- Sauté Garlic:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat.
- Add garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant (don’t brown it).
- Add Tomatoes:
- Add the can of San Marzano tomatoes with juices.
- Use a spoon or potato masher to break them up gently.
- Season & Simmer:
- Stir in salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Add basil sprigs and reduce heat to low.
- Simmer uncovered for 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
- Finish:
- Taste and adjust seasoning; add sugar if sauce is too acidic.
- Stir in butter at the end for a silky finish (optional).
- Serve or Store:
- Serve over pasta, use as a pizza base, or spoon onto roasted veggies. Refrigerates up to 5 days or freezes up to 3 months.
📝 Notes & Tips:
- Whole vs. Crushed Tomatoes: Whole tomatoes offer better texture and flavor control.
- Blending? For a smooth sauce, use an immersion blender or food processor.
- Add-ins: A splash of red wine, oregano, or a touch of balsamic vinegar can deepen the flavor.
- Extra batch tip: Double the recipe and freeze half for a no-stress dinner later!
🔍 Nutritional Info (Per ½ cup serving):
- Calories: ~90 kcal
- Fat: 6g
- Carbs: 7g
- Sugar: 5g (from tomatoes)
- Protein: 1g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sodium: ~150mg (varies with brand and salt)
Naturally vegan, gluten-free, low-carb
💪 Benefits:
- 🍅 San Marzano tomatoes are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant linked to heart health.
- 🧄 Garlic supports immunity and has anti-inflammatory properties.
- 🌿 Basil is high in vitamin K and natural oils that help digestion.
- 🫒 Olive oil is a healthy fat that enhances absorption of nutrients.
❓ Q&A Section:
Q: Can I use another type of tomato?
A: You can, but the flavor won’t be quite the same. San Marzanos are less acidic and more naturally sweet than regular plum tomatoes.
Q: Is this freezer-friendly?
A: Absolutely! Cool it completely, then freeze in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
Q: How can I make it creamy?
A: Stir in a few tablespoons of heavy cream or cashew cream at the end.
Q: Can I add meat?
A: Yes! Brown ground beef or Italian sausage with the garlic in step 1 for a meat sauce version.
Q: What pasta pairs best with this?
A: Spaghetti, rigatoni, or gnocchi! Also great over zoodles or grilled eggplant for a low-carb twist.