Instant Creamy Marinara Hack (Printable)

A luscious, velvety tomato sauce crafted quickly from simple pantry ingredients for versatile use.

# What You Need:

→ Sauce Base

01 - 2 cups plain tomato sauce (unsalted if possible)

→ Dairy

02 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

→ Seasoning

03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - ½ teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
05 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional Additions

06 - 1 tablespoon heavy cream
07 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (basil, oregano)

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine tomato sauce, butter, and garlic powder.
02 - Stir until butter melts completely and sauce begins to simmer, approximately 5 minutes.
03 - Incorporate salt and black pepper; stir thoroughly.
04 - For enhanced richness, mix in heavy cream and dried Italian herbs if desired.
05 - Simmer for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. Serve hot over pasta, as a dipping sauce, or on pizza.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you simmered sauce for hours, but you'll actually be eating in ten minutes.
  • The butter creates this silky finish that makes even basic pasta feel special.
  • It's the kind of thing you can make without thinking, which means you'll actually make it.
02 -
  • Medium heat is non-negotiable—too high and the butter breaks and separates, leaving you with greasy red sauce instead of silky sauce.
  • If your sauce looks broken or separated, whisk in a splash of cold water off the heat and it'll often come back together, like a small miracle in a pan.
03 -
  • Always taste the raw tomato sauce before you start—if it's already salty, go lighter on your salt additions or you'll end up with something cloying.
  • The emulsification is where this sauce gets its silky feeling; don't skip the simmering time or you'll miss that transformation.
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