Marinara Sauce
Spaghetti marinara is pretty much a given on a tight budget, but I’m sharing my marinara recipe because it is simple and versatile. You can use this as plain marinara, add meat for a Bolognese or add the yummy meatballs. You get spaghetti 3 different ways with one sauce. Make it ahead of time and store in the fridge for easy access. Easy is my middle name, oh, uh, wait that came out wrong.
1 28oz can of crushed tomatoes
1 small onion
2 garlic cloves
1 tbsp olive oil (olive is best here but whatever oil you have is fine in a pinch)
Fresh basil if you have it is also nice in this recipe but not required
In a large skillet heat the oil on a low heat. Low and slow is the way to go. No one likes a burned tomato sauce. When you see little wisps of smoke from the oil in the pan, oil is ready. But before it gets ready, mince your garlic.
Best way to mince garlic:
Take the flat side of a large butcher knife, lay it against the peeled garlic clove, with the base of the palm of your hand, strike the knife crushing the garlic. Then take the same knife and chop the garlic very finely. Those mincers are nice but you waste too much. This is the best way believe me.
Add the garlic to the now heated oil, keeping the heat very low, sauté the garlic until aromatic. Next chop the onion. The onion should be chopped as fine as the garlic or as fine as you can get it. You want the flavor of the onion, not a big chunk of onion. Add it to the pan. Sauté until the onion and garlic almost disappear in the pan. Now add your tomatoes. If you like it a little chunky add a small can of diced tomatoes. Simmer for about 10 mins. Store it until ready to serve with pasta.
For the Bolognese, take a ground meat package and brown in a skillet. Next add to the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes until fully heated. You may also want to try a little bit of sausage in your Bolognese. It does give your sauce a nice kick of flavor. Brown the sausage with the ground meat and add to your marinara. Serve with pasta.