San Marzano Tomato Sauce {Family Recipe}
A famous family recipe – San Marzano Tomato Sauce. Savory Italian flavors, vibrant herbs, simmered for several hours to develop the perfect hearty tomato sauce. Easily the best tomato sauce I’ve ever had!
This San Marzano Tomato Sauce is quite special. It was the very first recipe my mom ever taught me, and I can say without a doubt, I’ve never had tomato sauce better than this recipe. This sauce is thick, developed in flavor, and is the perfect sauce to top your favorite pasta with or layer in a lasagna.
Although tomato sauce is quite simple, using quality ingredients matters, and letting your sauce sit low and slow for hours will give you the most thick and savory sauce you’ve ever had.
How to Make San Marzano Tomato Sauce
- Saute garlic in olive oil: Saute your minced garlic for 30 to 60 seconds on medium heat – constantly stirring. Using tons of garlic in this recipe will give your tomato sauce the foundation of it’s flavor.
- Add Tomatoes – cook low and slow: The key to a good tomato sauce is cooking it for up to 4-6 hours. This allows the sauce to thicken, flavors to richen and develop, and acidity to balance.
- Add herbs at very end: Cooking herbs in the sauce for hours can actually result in bitter flavor. For a fresh, vibrant herb flavor add at the very end when sauce is finished for best results.
Special Tips for Making San Marzano Tomato Sauce
- Use San Marzano Peeled Tomatoes: to make a perfect tomato sauce you need San Marzano’s. These tomatoes give your sauce a thicker consistency, and are sweeter, richer, and less acidic in flavor.
- Use Amore Sun-Dried Tomato Paste: Rather than using normal tomato paste, my family loves to use this sun-dried tomato paste for it’s thickening factor and extra added depth of flavor.
This recipe is my go-to for any Italian recipe – chicken parmesan, pasta, or lasagna. I used this in my Italian Sausage Lasagna and it is absolutely delicious! I hope you love this San Marzano Tomato Sauce – it is dear to my heart and to this day haven’t tasted an Italian tomato sauce like it.
If you try this recipe or any other recipe, I would love to hear how you enjoyed it! Review and comment below and let me know your thoughts. Also share your pictures on instagram #asimplepalate - I love seeing your recipe creations! You can also follow me on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, and FACEBOOK.
San Marzano Tomato Sauce
A famous family recipe - savory Italian flavors, vibrant herbs, simmered for several hours to develop the perfect hearty tomato sauce. Easily the best tomato sauce I've ever had!
Ingredients
- 8 cloves minced garlic
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 5 28oz cans San Marzano Peeled Tomatoes
- 2 tbsp amore sun-dried tomato paste
- 1/2 tsp (each) salt & black pepper
- 3 tbsp fresh basil, minced (for dried basil - 1 tbsp)
- 2 tsp fresh/dried oregano
- 1 tsp fresh/dried thyme
Instructions
In a large pot on medium heat saute garlic in olive oil for 30-60 seconds - constantly stir. Garlic can burn very easily in this process.
Add San Marzano tomatoes to garlic. Add tomato paste, salt & pepper. Mix, and cover on low heat for 4-6 hours. Stir occasionally to avoid burning.
The whole tomatoes will break down as they cook and result in a thicker, chunkier sauce. If you prefer a smooth sauce you can use a hand-puree tool or transfer to a high-powdered blender.
When sauce is finished mix in fresh herbs. Serve with your favorite pasta, lasagna, or chicken parmesan.
I cannot wait to try this!
This was absolutely delicious!! Served with pasta. Will make again for sure!
so glad you enjoyed it! <3
This is such a gorgeous sauce! Definitely pinning and will try.
I love San Marzano tomatoes and this recipe is perfect for them….an awesome, robust flavor is revealed via longer cooking time. Thanks for sharing recipe!
Thanks so much! That longer cooking time is key for sure 😊 glad you enjoyed it.
Recipe says 5 cans San Marzanos. Does this mean five 28 oz cans?
Yes! Sorry I didn’t add that detail. 28 oz cans! You can also do just 3 cans if you want to do a smaller batch. 🙂 hope you enjoy it!
I enjoyed reading your recipe. Would to learn more. My question is I don’t feel 2 tablespoon s of olive oil is enough for all those tomatoes is enough. Help me to understand I’m always willing to mzke a better saue.
Hi Rose,
the 2 tbsp of olive oil is just to saute the garlic. So you don’t need a ton of olive oil for that 🙂
This sauce looks amazing. Will have to try.
Let me know how you like it, Linda!
I made your family’s sauce and it was wonderful! Everyone loved it. We used it on homemade pizzas, tortellini, Italian sausage. I’m going to make another batch and jar them. I’m even thinking what a nice Xmas present it would make with some spaghetti and a bottle of wine. Thank you for sharing it.
So glad to hear, Laura! Means so much to her you all enjoyed it. 🙂 And you’re right – It’s a great recipe to jar and give as a gift!!
Could you use a slow cooker instead of stovetop?
Hi Cathy, I’ve never used a slow cooker for this recipe. But I don’t see why it couldn’t work. You would need to saute the garlic then add that to the slow cooker, but I believe you could use it in a slow cooker. Let me know if you try it!
Delicious!! Cooked for 4 hours and the flavor was amazing!
So happy to hear you enjoyed it 🙂 Thanks, Gabby!
Would love to make this recipe but would like to use the San marzanos from my garden. Is there a recipe for this using fresh tomatoes? Or do I just peel and cook down and then use this recipe?
It’s funny you ask, because my mom and I are planning on making this with fresh San Marzanos within the next week or so. I’d say peel them and cook them with maybe 1-2 additional tbsp of tomato paste to really help them thicken. Make sure to let it cook for the 3-5 hours. Let me know if that works! 🙂