Ever had those moments where you crave a rich, homemade sauce but time is not on your side? I sure have, which is why I've fallen head over heels for the simplicity and flavor of an Instant Pot Marinara Sauce. This recipe takes the guesswork out of cooking a fantastic marinara, allowing you to enjoy restaurant-quality pasta sauce in less than an hour. Join me as I share my go-to method for making marinara sauce that tastes like you've been slow-cooking it all day, but with just a fraction of the effort.
Why Use an Instant Pot for Marinara Sauce?
The Instant Pot is a game-changer for recipes that require long simmer times, like marinara sauce:
- Time-saving: Traditional marinara sauce recipes can take hours, but the Instant Pot gets you there in under an hour.
- Deep flavor: Pressure cooking intensifies the flavors, giving you that depth you'd expect from a long-cooked sauce.
- Simplicity: One-pot cooking means less mess and fewer dishes to clean up.
- Nutrient preservation: Since pressure cooking uses less liquid and cooks food faster, it helps to retain more of the nutrients.
Ingredients for Instant Pot Marinara Sauce
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes (fresh or canned) | 2 lbs (or 28 oz can) |
| Onion | 1 medium, finely chopped |
| Garlic | 4-5 cloves, minced |
| Olive Oil | 2 tablespoons |
| Basil (fresh or dried) | 1 tablespoon dried or a handful of fresh |
| Oregano (dried) | 1 teaspoon |
| Salt | To taste |
| Black Pepper | Freshly ground, to taste |
| Sugar (optional) | 1 teaspoon, or to taste |
| Red Pepper Flakes (optional) | A pinch |
How to Make Instant Pot Marinara Sauce
Preparation
- Chop the Vegetables: Start by finely chopping your onion and mincing the garlic. If you’re using fresh tomatoes, roughly chop them as well.
- Prepare the Instant Pot: Ensure your Instant Pot is clean and ready for use.
Cooking Process
- Sauté: Set your Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add olive oil, and once hot, sauté the onions until they are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add Tomatoes: If using fresh tomatoes, add them now, along with salt, pepper, basil, oregano, and optional sugar and red pepper flakes. If using canned tomatoes, crush them with your hands directly into the pot, saving any extra liquid to pour in afterward.
- Mix: Stir all ingredients together, allowing them to combine and cook for a couple of minutes. This step helps in building a flavorful base.
- Pressure Cook: Secure the lid on your Instant Pot, set it to ‘Sealing’, and choose the ‘Manual’ or ‘Pressure Cook’ function for about 15 minutes for canned tomatoes, or 20 minutes for fresh.
- Natural Release: After cooking, let the Instant Pot naturally release the pressure for 10 minutes, then carefully move the valve to ‘Venting’ for quick release of any remaining steam.
- Blend: Use an immersion blender or transfer the sauce to a regular blender to achieve your desired consistency. Be careful, as the sauce will be hot!
Taste and Adjust
After blending, give the sauce a taste:
- Is it too acidic? Add a touch more sugar.
- Need more salt or pepper?
- Desire more heat? A dash of red pepper flakes can intensify the flavor.
🍅 Note: If the sauce is too watery for your taste, simmer it on sauté mode without the lid until it thickens to your liking.
Serving Suggestions
- With Pasta: Toss your favorite pasta with this sauce and top with Parmesan or fresh basil.
- As a Base for Other Dishes: Use as a base for lasagna, eggplant parmesan, or pizza.
- With Proteins: Add meatballs, chicken, or sausage to the sauce for a hearty meal.
- Freeze for Later: This sauce freezes well. Divide into portions and freeze for quick future meals.
So there you have it, a quick, delicious Instant Pot Marinara Sauce that promises all the flavor of a slow-cooked sauce but with the efficiency of modern cooking technology. Whether you're whipping up a weeknight dinner or preparing for a weekend feast, this marinara sauce will not disappoint. The beauty of this recipe lies not only in its taste but also in its adaptability to your personal flavor preferences. Next time you're in the mood for Italian, remember this recipe, and let your Instant Pot do all the work.
Can I use different types of tomatoes for this sauce?
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Absolutely! You can use Roma tomatoes, San Marzano, or even grape tomatoes for a different flavor profile. Adjust the pressure cooking time if necessary for very firm tomatoes.
How can I make this sauce smoother or chunkier?
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To make it smoother, blend longer or use a high-speed blender. For chunkier sauce, reduce blending time or just pulse a few times, leaving some tomato pieces intact.
Can I add other ingredients to enhance this sauce?
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Yes, feel free to add carrots for sweetness, celery for depth, or even a splash of wine for extra complexity. Experiment with herbs like thyme or rosemary, too.
How long will this sauce keep in the fridge or freezer?
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The sauce can be refrigerated for up to one week or frozen for up to three months in an airtight container or freezer bag.
Can I make this recipe without an Instant Pot?
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Yes, you can! Simply simmer the ingredients in a pot on the stove for about 1 to 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and flavors meld.
