San Marzano Tomato Sauce Recipe with Cento Tomatoes

This San Marzano tomato sauce recipe is made with canned whole peeled tomatoes, garlic, onion, tomato paste, and torn fresh basil leaves. I prefer to use Cento San Marzano tomatoes, which are easy to find and simmer into a rich homemade pasta sauce in 30 minutes. You can leave the sauce slightly chunky or blend it into a smooth sauce for pasta, lasagna, eggplant Parmesan, or other Italian-style dishes.

San Marzano Tomatoes Are The Key To Sweet Sauce

---

If you’re like me, you grew up on jarred spaghetti sauce. My mom always bought Ragu, and I seemed so highbrow when I preferred Prego. As an adult, I learned to make my own sauce and could not believe how easy it was! I was literally scratching my head, wondering why we ever bought it out of a jar!

After many years of making sauce, I finally stumbled upon San Marzano tomatoes. They were a total game-changer! The sauce is sweeter, and it does not need sugar or baking soda to offset any bitterness. I tend to use Cento because they are easy to find (this is not a sponsored post.)

Once the sauce is ready, you can toss it with pasta, add it to your skillet eggplant Parmesan, or use it as a pizza sauce.

Eat sinfully, live kindly ❤️
Ruth

Your San Marzano Tomato Questions Answered

What Are San Marzano Tomatoes (and Why They Matter)

San Marzano tomatoes are a variety of plum tomatoes. Known for having a sweet flavor and lower acidity. This combination makes them an ideal choice when making tomato sauce.

San Marzano tomatoes are from the Agro Sarnese-Nocerino region of Italy. Which is between Naples and Salerno. True San Marzano tomatoes will have a DOP (Denominazione di Origine Protetta) certification.

Which Brand Should I Use?

Cento is the brand I use. It is easy to find at most US grocery stores. Cento labels these tomatoes “Certified San Marzano.” I can find Cento for sale at Walmart for half the price of my local Kroger.

There are other brands on the market, and if you’re looking for one slightly less expensive, I recommend Heinz San Marzano whole tomatoes. They are my second choice.

Can I Make This Using Fresh San Marzano Tomatoes?

This recipe was developed and tested with canned whole San Marzano tomatoes. Fresh tomatoes have more water and will require additional cooking time. If you want to make marinara sauce using fresh tomatoes, I recommend this recipe from Happy Veggie Kitchen.

Authentic San Marzano Tomato Sauce Ingredients

Fresh Herbs

For the best flavor, I recommend using fresh basil. If you want additional flavor, try adding a combination of fresh basil and oregano.

San Marzano Whole Tomatoes

They are the star ingredient! You will want to crush the tomatoes. You can use a food processor to do this or with a wooden spoon. I prefer the wooden spoon, making this a one-pot sauce!

Tomato Paste

Helps thicken the sauce. I prefer to use Cento tomato paste in the tube. It is thicker (more concentrated) than tomato paste in the can. It is also convenient and easy to find at my local store. If you can find it, sun-dried tomato paste is the perfect substitution!

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Tips for the Best Sam Marzano Tomato Sauce

• Use whole peeled tomatoes. This will give you control over the texture and let you choose your texture. You can use a wooden spoon to break up the tomatoes and make a rustic sauce, or an immersion blender for a smooth sauce.
• Bloom the tomato paste before adding the tomatoes to create a deeper flavor.
• Keep an eye on the garlic as it can go from fragrant to burned in a short time.

Variations

• Red Wine Add 1/4 cup of red wine to the sauce for depth and flavor complexity. You can also use red wine to deglaze the pan after sautéing the garlic. This will create an ever richer flavor!
• Red Pepper Flakes Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce for a bit of spice, or add more after cooking to taste.