The homemade marinara sauce requires more than just tomatoes. The quality of each ingredient should not be compromised since this Italian staple features a small list of ingredients. Particularly for tomatoes, which are the main component of the sauce.
You may have wondered if there’s any difference between canned tomatoes and fresh tomatoes at the grocery store. Professional chefs and Italian home cooks have tested and vetted a few canned tomato brands. The sauces are categorized based on flavor, texture, and appearance. Here are the best two:
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The Best Italian Flavor: Cento Style Italian
Tomatoes
With a little more kick, these Italian-style tomatoes from Cento taste like San Marzano tomatoes with extra flavor. The tomatoes are the real San Marzano tomatoes with salt and basil. These tomatoes are sweet without that bracing acidity. They remain plump and juicy even after canning.
Adding just one herb to these tomatoes amplifies their flavor and inspires our cooks. The classic combination of basil and tomato inspired our team to think of satisfying red sauces, chicken cacciatore, and chicken parmesan. Italian dishes cannot be without these.
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Best For Sauces: Alessi Pomodoro San
Marzano
San Marzano tomatoes are a great choice for making pasta sauce. This marinara recipe has basil and oregano because San Marzano tomatoes are slightly sweet and not too acidic. It is best to use the Alessi Pomodoro San Marzano for your homemade sauces.
Marinara and pizza sauces benefit from bright red tomatoes out of the can. Unlike other options we tried, the Alessi tomatoes were softer, which is perfect for sauces where the tomato needs to break down and melt in.