Fresh Tomato Marinara Sauce

Yield: servings

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 8 large tomatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
• 6 cloves garlic, minced 
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp dried marjoram or 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp fennel seed
• 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper
• 2 tsp balsamic vinegar, or more to taste

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a stock pot over medium heat. Cook and stir onions into hot oil until softened, about 5 minutes; add tomatoes, garlic, and bay leaves. 
2. Bring the liquid from the tomatoes to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until tomatoes are softened, about 30 minutes.
3. Stir in red wine, honey, basil, oregano, marjoram, salt, black pepper, fennel seed, and crushed red pepper; bring again to a simmer and cook until herbs have flavored the sauce, about 30 minutes more.
4. Stir balsamic vinegar into the sauce.

Based on the recipe Fresh Tomato Marinara Sauce