Homemade Marinara Sauce
Lightly toast the slider buns if desired. Place one meatball slider on the bottom half of each bun. Spoon a little marinara sauce over the top. Garnish with Parmesan cheese, basil, or red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately.
Homemade Marinara Sauce
A great marinara sauce starts with just a handful of quality ingredients. Since tomatoes are the star of the show, choosing a good canned tomato makes all the difference. San Marzano-style tomatoes are naturally sweet and rich, creating a sauce with deep flavor and balanced acidity. In this recipe, students will practice sautéing aromatics, seasoning to taste, and transforming simple pantry ingredients into a versatile sauce that can be paired with pasta, meatballs, sliders, pizza, and more.
Directions
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Sauté the Aromatics
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Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 3–4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and oregano and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Reduce the heat if necessary to prevent the garlic from browning.
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Build the Sauce
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Add the tomatoes and their juices to the skillet. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for about 3 minutes, allowing the tomatoes to soften. Season with salt and black pepper to taste
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Crush and Reduce
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As the tomatoes cook down, use the back of a wooden spoon or spatula to gently crush the tomatoes.
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Continue simmering for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes break down and the liquid begins to reduce.
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Finish the Marinara
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Stir in the water and sugar. Cook for about 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to reduce slightly. Lower the heat to medium-low and add the vegetable broth. Simmer uncovered until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
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Season
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Stir in the chopped basil. Taste and adjust with additional salt, pepper, or sugar as needed.
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Serve
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Add cooked meatballs directly to the sauce and simmer until heated through. Spoon over your favorite pasta or use as a topping for Mozzarella-Stuffed Meatball Sliders. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and additional basil if desired.
From Shawnie's class “Mozzarella Stuffed Meatball Sliders with Homemade Marinara Sauce”
