Pizza/Marinara Sauce

Just half an onion makes this Marinara.

Well not *this*.  This is a pizza.  The sauce, dummy.

So the best part of the pizza experiment was the sauce that we put together.  We've been making it frequently just to dip things in it.  It is also butt-simple.  I think what makes it good it the mix of fresh and dried herbs.

I avoid too much basil in this sauce for two reasons.  One, my pomodoro sauce is basil rich and I want this sauce to taste different.  Two, traditional margherita pizza has plenty of basil on it.

To make this into marinara sauce you should start with the oil, anchovies and half a finely chopped onion.  After the onion has sweated out for 5-6 minutes add the garlic and continue as before. 

You'll need

• 2-3 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 anchovies
• 2 cloves garlic (minced) or 2 inches from the squeeze tube
• 1 rounded Tbsp fresh oregano leaves (no stems) chopped fine
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning (or 1/4 tsp each dried basil and thyme)
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1 can (28oz) San Marzano tomatoes

Crush the tomatoes with your hand in a bowl if they weren't already crushed.  If you don't do this now, you will spend 10 long minutes smashing them with a fork while this is cooking like I did.

Pick the oregano leaves off the stems and make a pile that would basically fill your cupped palm.  Chop this down to a big Tbsp worth of oregano.

Put the olive oil in a skillet on med-low heat and add the garlic and anchovies.

Smash the anchovies with a fork.  Watch out, it might spit a bit if the oil gets too hot. Avoid browning the garlic.  We just want to flavor the oil.

Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper, and the rest of the spices.

Stir together while it comes to a boil.  Add the sugar once it is hot.

Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 30 minutes.  Stir occasionally to help incorporate the oil into the sauce.  Smash any tomato chunks while you stir.

Taste for salt and pepper, then allow to cool a bit before use. My use was a margherita pizza on wheat crust.