Today’s recommendation for restocking your freezer is incredibly versatile marinara sauce.

The first recipe I ever learned to make as an adult, marinara sauce is much easier to make than expected! It’s isn’t a nuanced Bolognese or an Italian gravy with a laundry list of ingredients that cooks all day. Instead, it’s a simple marinara sauce that simmers for just an hour, resulting in a homemade – yet still easy to make – tomato sauce for pasta, pizza, and even dip for mozzarella sticks.

TIP: This recipe takes advantage of the ease of canned tomatoes. If you find these make your sauce too acidic for your taste, stir in a couple teaspoons of sugar to balance the flavor.

TIP: For a meat sauce, stir in 1/2 lb ground turkey, chicken, or beef, browned and drained.

TIP: For a flavorful pizza sauce, blend this sauce in a blender until smooth.

Marinara Sauce
(Recipe credit: Amanda Brooks)

14-1/2 oz tomato sauce
14-1/2 oz diced tomatoes
1/2 yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 TBSP olive oil
1/2 TBSP balsamic vinegar
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp dried basil
Salt and pepper to taste

Sauté onion in olive oil until soft. Add garlic, sauté another minute. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer on low for an hour.