Nona’s Homemade Italian Marinara Gravy (Sauce)
After five years of trying to track down my grandmother’s secret family recipe for Italian marinara sauce, I finally found myself face to face with a 26 ingredients long list, and a 6 hour prep time (!!!)
While there’s something undeniably special about my grandmother’s authentic tomato sauce simmering on the stovetop for hours, soaking up all of the delicious flavors and aromas of the fresh herbs and spices, who has the time anymore?
I couldn’t divulge the real secret recipe, so here is my version—made simple, but equally delicious.
Now all of you can enjoy the unique taste of Italy with my Nona’s Homemade Italian Marinara Gravy (Sauce). Buon appetito! 
Nona’s Homemade Italian Marinara Gravy (Sauce)
Ingredients
-Canned tomato sauce (or fresh tomatoes)
-Canned diced tomatoes
-Garlic (i like to add a lot, but you can put as much or as little as you’d like)
-Seasonings (the key ingredients!): onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, fresh thyme, basil, oregano, salt+pepper
Directions
Step 1: In sauce pan, add garlic and allow to brown for 2-3 minutes
Step 2: Add rest of ingredients. Bring to a boil and reduce sauce to a simmer
Step 3: Cover pot with lid, leaving it slightly open (this allows some steam to be released so your sauce doesn’t get too liquidy)
Sauce can sit anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour (or 6!) depending on how much time you have
**For you spicy lovers out there: Feel free to add red pepper flakes to create an “Arrabiata Marinara” (in Italian, arrabiata means “angry”—I love the name for this sauce, very fitting don’t you think?!)
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Being Italian, I’m very picky about my marinara—it has to be extremely seasoned, flavorful, and I love the added chunks of diced tomatoes that really contributes to the volume and thickness of this dish.
Being able to choose how much seasoning I use guarantees that my “gravy” will come out true authentic Italian style. It allows everyone to tailor spices to their own taste preferences and contributes to the versatility of this dish…
So how do I enjoy eating my Nona’s sauce? Let me count the ways…
1. on thin crust pizza covered in veggies and mozzarella!
2. Over fresh, steamed vegetables sprinkled with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
3. Atop whole wheat pasta with lean ground chicken/turkey/veggie meat
4. Layered between roasted eggplant, ricotta cheese, melted mozzarella and slices of tomato….
….But wait where’s the picture??
…You’ll have to stay tuned for my next post showing you how to make a low fat, lower carb Italian favorite…Easy Eggplant Lasagna (oooh the suspense…) 
Question for you:
What’s your favorite way to eat marinara sauce?
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This seems so easy! I must make this. I’d probably go for the ‘angry’ sauce
I’ve never tried eggplant either, I’m interested to see this recipe!
My favorite was to enjoy marinara sauce is definitely on pasta, but I also dip my pizza in a side of marinara sauce as well. Num num!
I never think of cook with eggplant but everytime I do, I love it! hope you enjoy this recipe
DEFINITELY the best way to enjoy marinara sauce is on a pizza
That sauce looks delicious!
i agree, you can never go wrong with pizza
My favorite way to eat marinara is on whole wheat pasta. I like to buy little shaped pastas so I can feel like a kid eating spaghetti-o’s.
Your version looks great. I need to try to make it at home!
haha thats such a cute idea, i’ll have to try that
My fav way to eat marinera is with pasta, it can do no wrong
Thanks for the recipe
Oh can’t wait for the lasagna recipe! I would have to say my favorite way to eat a marinara sauce is mixed with ground turkey…meat sauce and spaghetti! Yum
Have a great day!
On a crispy, margherita pizza or made into a ratatouille – nothing fancy, just simply done.
I’m really digging how you incorporate your profession (to be) w/ great looking food. Keep up the great work!
thanks sean! i dont think i’ve actually ever had ratatouille so i may have to try making it soon!
Kristen this sounds so good! I’ve never made my own marinara sauce, so this is a must-try for me. My favorite way to eat the sauce is on pizza, no doubt.
oh wow — that sauce looks like it’s made with a lot of loving
!
Hi Kristen,
My favorite way has to be on pasta (any kind) with lotsa parmesan cheese. I also like to scoop of the remains of the sauce in my bowl with a nice piece of chewy bread. I believe that’s called ’scarpetta’?
Your marinara sauce sounds delicious! Can’t wait to see the recipe for the eggplant lasagna
Hey,u forgot to put oil for the ingredients,if you saute onion they will burn without it!