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4.29 from 42 votes

Roasted Marinara Sauce

This Roasted Marinara Sauce is a simple way to preserve ripe tomatoes at their peak and bring out their natural flavor. We slow cook them with just a few basic ingredients, like onions, garlic and basil, to make the most delicious homemade marinara sauce.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time1 hour 35 minutes
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 8 Cups
Calories: 65kcal
Author: The Carefree Kitchen

Ingredients

  • 8-12 Large Roma Tomatoes stems removed and cut into quarters (enough to cover a baking sheet)
  • 3 Tablespoons Olive oil
  • ½ Tablespoon Pepper
  • ½ Tablespoon Salt
  • 1 large Onion diced
  • 4 Cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 Tablespoon Sugar
  • ¼ Cup Fresh Basil chopped
  • 2 large Bay Leaves
  • 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder
  • Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 2 Teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Lay the quartered tomatoes on a large baking sheet.  Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Roast the tomatoes in the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the tomatoes are golden on top.
  • While the tomatoes are roasting, heat a large sauce pot over medium high heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.  Once heated, add the onions and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions have turned translucent and begun to caramelize.  Reduce the heat to low and continue cooking and stirring occasionally until they turn a deep, rich, golden hue, or about 20 minutes total.
  • Once the onions are caramelized, add the garlic and saute until the garlic is soft, about 2-3 more minutes, then remove from heat until the tomatoes are finished roasting.   
  • Once the tomatoes have roasted, remove from the oven and transfer them to the pot with the onions, discarding any watery tomato juice.  Mix with a spatula, then use an immersion blender (or carefully transfer to a blender or food processor in batches) and blend until there are no large chunks.
  • Add the sugar, basil, bay leaves, onion powder, salt, baking soda and balsamic vinegar and stir to combine, then return to heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes to reduce slightly and to combine the flavors. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if desired.
  • Use immediately, or cool completely and transfer to an airtight container to store in the fridge or freezer.

Video

Notes

Tips for Making the Most Amazing Homemade Marinara Sauce:

  • Be sure to take the time to caramelize the onions before you add the other ingredients. They should reach a golden brown, transparent, VERY soft consistency. This is the secret to this simple marinara sauce recipe!
  • After you add the garlic, make sure it's golden too. Then you can add all your other ingredients.
  • This sauce freezes very well!  

Nutrition

Calories: 65kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 309mg | Potassium: 315mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1037IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg