San Marzano Tomato Sauce
Make authentic Italian San Marzano tomato sauce from scratch in 30 minutes. You can simmer it longer for a deeper flavor. Use fresh or canned tomatoes, fresh herbs, and garlic to create your new authentic Italian tomato sauce (or gravy). This recipe is perfect for pasta, pizza, and anywhere else you would use spaghetti sauce!
I love this San Marzano tomato sauce recipe! It is simple, easy, and rich in flavor. It is perfect for a fast spaghetti dinner (ready in 30 minutes!), or let it simmer in a crock pot to develop a deeper and more authentic flavor
The key to this authentic Italian tomato sauce comes down to the San Marzano tomatoes. They are sweet grape-sized tomatoes grown in Italy between Naples and Salerno. San Marzano tomatoes are unique in their flavor. They are sweeter and have a lower acidity than most, if not all, tomatoes.
You can make this recipe from scratch using canned tomatoes or ones you have grown in your garden. I almost always use canned tomatoes, they are so easy! As a side note, they are about half the price at my local Walmart vs. my local Kroger!
You can serve this sauce up with about everything! I love it on top of homemade pizza (check out my vegan pizza dough recipe). Tossed with spaghetti noodles or spaghetti squash (learn how to roast spaghetti squash).
San Marzano Tomato Sauce
Recipe At a Glance
EASE: Super easy!
CUISINE: Italian
TIME: 30 Minutes. Simmer longer to deepen the flavor
DIET: Vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Fast and easy!
- Six-ingredient scratch-made authentic Italian tomato sauce
- The tomatoes are naturally sweet and low in acid, creating a perfect sauce every time!
What are San Marzano tomatoes?
San Marzano tomatoes are a variety of plum tomatoes. Known for their sweet flavor and lower acidity, they are the perfect tomato to make into a sauce.
Sam 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.
Cento is the most popular brand and is easy to find. Cento does produce DOP certified San Marzano tomatoes, along with noncertified versions. Look for “Certified San Marzano Tomatoes” on the can. I can find Cento for sale at Walmart for half the price of my local Kroger.
You can also grow your own San Marzanos. In early fall, they will be perfect for homemade sauce or my favorite ciambotta (giambotta).
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.
Onion
Helps to balance the flavor. You can use white, yellow, or red onion.
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.
Creamy San Marzano tomato sauce is easy to make. Add 1/2 cup of cream or coconut cream to the sauce before serving.
Optional Ingredients
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.
Perfect Pairings
Frequently Asked Questions
If you tried this San Marzano tomato sauce recipe or any other recipe on my blog leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below.
San Marzano Tomato Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter or extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ medium red onion diced
- 5 -7 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 28 ounces San Marzano whole tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil (2 tablespoons dried basil)
Instructions
STEP ONE: SAUTE
- Heat the butter or olive oil in a Dutch pot or large saucepan over lower heat until it shimmers. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant.
- Add the tomato paste and cook until it darkens in color, about 2-3 minutes.
STEP ONE: SIMMER
- Add the canned tomatoes and half of the fresh basil to the saucepan and stir to combine.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, stirring often, and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the sauce has thickened and reduced slightly.
- You can leave the sauce chunky, break it up with your wooden spoon for a semi-chunky sauce, or use a stick blender and blend for a smooth sauce.
