Marinara sauce is one of the simplest, freshest sauces that you will ever meet. It’s also Italian, which means that it has a reputation to uphold. Luckily though, there are no pressures on this classic sauce, and you can use it for whatever you like. But what is marinara sauce used for? Continue reading for complete details.
There are many uses for marinara sauce, but the most popular is to make meatballs. Many people, especially Italian-Americans, use it as an ingredient in pasta or on pizza, along with Clams Casino, to provide a tomato sauce alternative.
Additionally, you can use it in soups, pizzas, grilled vegetables, sandwiches, and a bowl of pasta. Marinara sauce can deliver intense flavors to your dishes, so it is essential to understand the ingredients used in making the perfect marinara sauce.
Unfortunately, because the marinara sauce is so versatile, it is constantly being overused. Continue reading for step by step guide on how to use It.
What is marinara sauce?
Marinara sauce is a rich, luxurious tomato-based sauce with Italian origins. It’s so good you’ll want to put it on everything. As the name implies, it’s perfect for seafood, but you can choose to use it as a topping on salads, meats, even bread.
Also, it contains tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil and frequently has basil and oregano but lacks meat such as sausage or ground beef.
It does not contain cream or milk like many other pasta.
It can be used as a base for many pasta dishes. Before it is served, the spiciness is adjusted by adding or removing fresh or dried chilies or chili powder.
Moreso, it pairs with meatier dishes that might not otherwise have much tomato flavor.
Things to know about marinara before buying
Information is power, and here are the things to know about marinara before buying it.
- It is a vegan Italian sauce.
- It is not a soup.
- Marinara is excellent for making sandwiches, pizza, filling baked lasagna, making pad thai, eating with raw vegetables or fruit.
- Perfect for raw carrot sticks or bell peppers.
- Refrigerate after opening as it does not have a long shelf life when opened.
- It comes in a can or a jar.
- It will be available for sale at the pasta section of your local market.
What is marinara sauce made with?
Marinara sauce is made from tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, olive oil, onions, garlic, fresh basil leaves, salt, pepper, and sugar. It is best made with fresh ingredients picked at the peak of ripeness, so you get the most flavor.
It is perfect with grilled meat dishes and can also be used in lasagna recipes.
Additionally, with its sweet flavor and rich texture, this sauce goes great on everything from pasta to meatballs.
However, the first marinaras were all made one way, with mild, garden-variety tomatoes. Only years later, cooks began to use more flavorful tomatoes, such as plum or San Marzano tomatoes, which bring a sweeter flavor and richer texture to it.
What is marinara sauce good with
Having a perfect meal with marinara can only come with an ideal combo. Here are what you can cook with marinara
- It is excellent when paired with a variety of foods in addition to pasta, such as chicken and meats.
- Add in potatoes and vegetables like broccoli and carrots.
- Shrimp, swordfish, chicken, sausage, and eggplant all take to marinara sauce exceptionally well.
- Drizzle over scrambled eggs
- Go with mozzarella grilled cheese.
- It also pairs beautifully with pork chops.
- Spaghetti and meatballs
- Pizza
How to Use Marinara Sauce
Marinara sauce is one of the key ingredients in Italian cooking. It is mainly tomatoes. It is very similar to what is known as tomato sauce. However, it has more herbs and garlic, which adds flavor to any dish that it complements.
Using marinara sauce with pasta
I recommend it for all of your pasta recipes. The sweet and piquant flavor pairs well with your favorite pasta dish, helping to create an authentic Italian dish that will satisfy even the most discerning palates.
Pizza with marinara sauce
To use marinara Sauce with Pizza, you can either put it on before or after adding the cheese. Most people prefer to add garlic and onion slices to it
Using a fork, begin by poking two holes in the crust to allow steam to escape while baking. Spread it over pizza, then add toppings of your choice.
However, you can use it with pizza just like you would use tomato sauce. The main differences are that marinara sauce is less thick and has more herbs and spices.
Top homemade lasagna with Marinara Sauce
You can add a rich and tangy flavor to your favorite lasagna with a layer of marinara sauce.
The best sauce for lasagna is a nice warm, thick vegetable-filled marinara sauce.
Marinara Sauce with meatballs
While meatballs are boiling, you can chomp on Marinara Sauce with delicious bite-sized Italian snacks.
Serve it with spaghetti, cooked rice, or cream of mushrooms soup.
It is usually made with meat, but feel free to make it without meat if you are vegetarian.
Using marinara Sauce with bruschetta
Add some to the top bruschetta for a quick, easy dinner for yourself.
It combines well with any flatbread, and that’s why bruschetta is a perfect pair.
Marinara Sauce with Creamy Tomato Soup
Marinara sauce with creamy soup is a sweet and savory blend that enhances the flavors of both components while creating a new taste.
Tomato soup is always a hit with children but adding it takes it to another level with savory flavor.
Using Creamy Ratatouille
What gives ratatouille its unique presence on your plate is the way these ingredients mesh together.
To add the finishing touch to the dish, add a spoonful of marinara sauce on top of each serving.
Moreso, marinara Sauce with Creamy Ratatouille can be done within 20 minutes.
Fish Parmigiana with Marinara Sauce
Fish Parmigiana with Marinara Sauce is an easy, tasty meal that’s perfect for any night of the week.
Getting the best recipe is finding a delicate white fish that will stand up to the crispy breading and bold.
Both are simple and flavorful; the sauce takes only minutes to prepare and pairs perfectly with breaded fish.
Marinara Sauce with Mozzarella sticks
Mozzarella sticks are sure to be a hit whenever you serve them. Just pop the cheese sticks in the oven, and by the time they are warm, the marinara sauce will be hot enough to dip them in.
It is a great way to use up veggies; You can add onions, bell peppers, or even squash to the sauce.
Benefits of marinara sauce
The top 3 health benefits are antioxidant activity, immune system support, and cardiovascular benefits.
Antioxidant activity
The antioxidant activity of the ingredients in the sauce makes it a good choice for reducing cell damage in your body.
The lycopene in this sauce may also contribute to the treatment of prostate cancer in men.
It contains some higher antioxidant activity than apples, bananas, and kiwifruit.
Immune system support
All of the ingredients in the Marinara Sauce blend create a powerful ally for your immune system. Mushrooms, red chili peppers, and garlic are antioxidants that help protect the body’s cells from damage.
Onions also contain antioxidant properties, as well as anti-inflammatory benefits that can provide relief for muscle pain.
A tablespoon of marinara sauce could bolster your immune system.
It has more concentrated vitamins and nutrients than its tomato counterpart.
Cardiovascular benefit
It reduces the risk of heart disease, better cardiovascular health, and lowers blood pressure.
The high levels of antioxidants in it protect the heart.
The marinara sauce could potentially lower cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and reduce blood pressure.”
Other benefits are:
- It is rich in lycopene which has been linked to a lower risk of cancer and heart disease.
- The antioxidants found in marinara may even help reduce signs of aging.
- It improves Gut Health.
- The sauce on your pasta dish is not only palatable; it contains antioxidants, vitamin A and vitamin C.
- Improve Digestion
- It also helps prevent bone-thinning disease; osteoporosis is packed with lycopene, which is cancer-fighting and helps prevent heart disease.
What is a good substitute for marinara sauce?
There are many different marinara alternatives, but the most popular are tomato sauce, ragu, puttanesca, and arrabbiata.
The best alternative to marinara sauce is pesto, olive oil, garlic, or balsamic vinegar. The first marinara sauce recipe was an Italian creation for a meat sauce that used tomatoes, onions, garlic, and spices.
It is called tomato, pasta, and gravy. The use of a marinara sauce melds the flavors into a near-perfect blend that lifts meat or fish to another level of flavor.
What to do with marinara sauce besides pasta?
Use the marinara sauce in place of ketchup on burgers, in your sandwich spread instead of mayo, or top meats with it instead of gravy.
Additionally, Mix with olive oil and garlic to create a flavorful marinated chicken breast or shrimp appetizer. Use it for chicken or vegetables.
Mix with reduced cream and serve over potato pancakes or roasted potatoes. Add oven-dried tomatoes to create an exciting pasta dish.
Mix with mayonnaise, mustard, and honey mustard to create a tasty spread for sandwiches
Can you use marinara sauce for chicken parmesan?
Marinara could be used to top chicken parmesan. It is just another word for spaghetti sauce. The only difference is that it does not have meat in it.
The sweetness cuts the salty richness of the chicken Parmesan.
Just make sure to reach for a jar or bottle of marinara sauce and not spaghetti sauce; spaghetti sauces tend to be more watery and will make your chicken tough.
Can you use marinara sauce for spaghetti?
You can use the marinara sauce as a spaghetti sauce. Start by heating the marinara sauce in a large saucepan, then stir in your pasta and cook to your desired consistency.
Top with parmesan cheese for an authentic Italian treat.
However, most traditional recipes call for a tomato-based sauce called “tomato sauce” This is thicker than marinara and not as sweet.
Marinera sauce is very similar to pizza sauce, with a mild sweetness and tang that gets distributed into the long noodles during the cooking process.
Beans and peppers are often added to marinara, though this ingredient would make it difficult to cook with spaghetti noodles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whats the difference between pasta sauce and marinara?
The difference between pasta sauce and marinara is the cooking time and the amount of liquid added to the tomatoes. It is a quick and easy sauce and is usually served with pasta or seafood. As this one-pot meal cooks, the liquid evaporates, and the sauce becomes fairly thick.
While Pasta sauce takes longer to cook, adding liquid towards the end creates a slightly looser consistency, but both sauces are delicious when paired with spaghetti or your favorite dish. Both kinds of pasta sauces can be frozen for future use.
Can marinara sauce be used for pizza?
Marinara sauce is a classic for pizzas because of the rich, deep flavor from being cooked for so long. Though this might not be a great stand-alone, it’s a good base for a pizza sauce.
Is marinara sauce the same as Bolognese?
They’re both tomato sauces, but they don’t mean the same thing, also known as Italian or tomato sauce, is a simple sauce made from tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil. It lacks the heartiness of a proper Bolognese sauce because it doesn’t use the meat for a base.
Conclusion
What is marinara sauce used for? It is used as a base for many Italian dishes, and it’s also used as a topping for pizza. With the right combination, you are sure of getting that delicious Italian flavor you desire.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup onion finely diced
- ⅓ cup carrot shredded
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ¼ cup fresh basil chopped
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and pepper
- 28 ounces whole tomatoes canned
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes canned
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1-2 teaspoons sugar
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Add 2 Tbsp of olive oil to a medium pot and heat it up. Add half a cup of chopped onion to the hot oil and swirl often until the onion is tender and golden (about 5 min). When aromatic, add the minced garlic and stir for one minute.
- 28 oz of smashed tomatoes, 1/2 tsp of oregano, 1/2 tsp of salt, and 1/4 tsp of pepper should be added. Lightly boil, then lower heat and simmer 15 minutes with a partial lid on.
- Finally, turn off the heat and whisk in 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.