Three Ingredient Tomato Sauce? A marinara sauce with only three ingredients, cooks in 45 minutes, AND that actually tastes good? I was a skeptic myself, but now I am a big believer. Everyone has a go-to sauce recipe that they faithfully follow or a jar sauce that they love on a busy weeknight. This can be yours!
Don’t get me wrong, traditional homemade marinara has a place in every Italian kitchen. For those lazy Sunday afternoons when you have extra time, you want to fill the house with the aromatic scent of roasted garlic and herbs combined with juicy tomatoes, my recipe for homemade marinara is perfect. However, this recipe is super easy and absolutely no fuss. I don’t know how it works, but it works. Guess that’s why as she is in the world of Italian cooking. Full disclosure: this is not a MVF original recipe, this recipe was made popular by Marcella Hazan. It is now a regular in the MVF kitchen, and I just had to share it. This is too good of a vegetarian cooking secret to keep to myself! Here you go!
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Tara’s Tips for making PERFECT Three Ingredient Tomato Sauce
Tomatoes
- You will need one 28 oz of San Marzano tomatoes. These are the only tomatoes that will work in this recipe! Crushed or whole are both fine.
Butter
- 4 tablespoons of butter. Don’t mess with it because it works! I use Miyoko’s vegan butter but you can use any dairy or vegan butter you prefer.
Onion
- One onion peeled and cut in half. White or yellow, not red.
- After your sauce simmers for 45 minutes, you have the option of removing the onion and discarding or chopping it up and eating it as part of your sauce. We opt to keep the onion as it gives a nice texture and flavor. Alternatively, you could blitz the sauce with an immersion blender a few times to break up the onion.
Done in under one hour
- The entire process will take you less than one hour from start to finish! I know! Amazing!
What to Eat with 4-Ingredient Spicy Marinara Sauce
Meatless Eggplant Meatballs (Vegan + Gluten Free!)
Meatless Baked Pasta Casserole
How to Make Perfect Zucchini Noodles
Cauliflower Gnocchi Garlic Knots
Eggless Cauliflower Pizza Crust (egg-free + dairy-free!)
Three Ingredient Tomato Sauce
Tomatoes + butter + one onion + 45 minutes = three ingredient tomato sauce! Super easy + one pot + vegetarian + gluten free!
Ingredients
- 28 ounce can of San Marzano tomatoes (crushed or whole)
- One onion, peeled and cut in half
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp salt
Directions
- Step 1 In a medium saucepan, combine the tomatoes with their juices, butter, salt, and the onion halves.
- Step 2 Heat the mixture to a low simmer and cook on a low simmer for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally. At the half way point of cooking, give everything a good stir, mash the large pieces of tomato with a spoon.
- Step 3 After 45 minutes of cooking, you have the option of discarding the onion (or you can cut it up and include it in your sauce if you so desire), taste and adjust the salt to your liking.
- Step 4 Serve over 2 -3 bowls of pasta, pizza, or use as a dip. Double the recipe if you want to, double all of the ingredients.
- Step 5 Store any leftovers in a glass, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
❤Did you make this 3-Ingredient Tomato Sauce? Love it? Leave a rating + a comment below!
📸I love to see your creations! Follow me on Instagram @myvegetarianfamily and hashtag it #myvegetarianfamily
💌Be sure to subscribe here to my weekly emails for tips and recipes so that you never miss a veggie thing!
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