A simple Italian tomato-based pasta sauce made with tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and onions, without meat. It serves as a base for many other Italian sauces and dishes.
From Italian 'marinara,' meaning 'sailor-style' or 'of the sea,' though ironically it contains no seafood. The name likely refers to sailors' wives preparing this quick, shelf-stable sauce for their husbands' return from sea voyages.
Marinara's genius lies in its restraint - by avoiding cream, cheese, or meat, it allows the pure flavor of tomatoes to shine and serves as the foundation for countless variations. Interestingly, the 'sailor sauce' that contains no seafood reflects how Italian naming often celebrates the people who ate the dish rather than its ingredients.
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