Paraben Free Paleo Marinara Sauce
A rich, slow-simmered tomato sauce built from nothing but whole, recognizable ingredients — this is the kind of recipe that makes you wonder why you ever reached for a jar. Garlic blooms gently in olive oil, red pepper flakes add a quiet kick, and crushed San Marzano tomatoes do the heavy lifting with their naturally sweet, low-acid depth. The real magic happens in that 25-minute simmer, when the sauce shifts from bright red to a deep brick hue and the flavors knit together into something that tastes like it took all day. Torn fresh basil stirred in at the very end keeps things vibrant and aromatic without any cooking-down bitterness. For anyone navigating paraben concerns, store-bought sauces can be a minefield of preservatives and additives that are harder to track than they should be. This recipe sidesteps all of that by relying entirely on fresh and minimally processed ingredients — olive oil, garlic, canned tomatoes, dried herbs, and fresh basil, full stop. It's endlessly versatile too, whether you're spooning it over zucchini noodles, using it as a pizza base, or pairing it with your favorite protein. Clean, bold, and deeply satisfying.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed san marzano tomatoes
- ½ tsp salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- 8 fresh basil leaves, torn
Instructions
- 1
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat until it shimmers. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, if using, and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant and just beginning to turn golden at the edges, about 2–3 minutes. Watch closely — garlic can brown quickly and turn bitter.
- 2
Pour in the crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Add the salt, black pepper, and dried oregano.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!