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Marinara dipping sauce in a bowl surrounded by roasted cauliflower with panko.
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4.50 from 2 votes

Easy Homemade Marinara Dipping Sauce Recipe

Revel in dipping magic this easy homemade marinara dipping sauce recipe—seven simple, low-fat ingredients and no added oil with using canned tomatoes for a flavorful vegan sauce in just 20 minutes.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Condiment
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Vegan
Servings: 6
Calories: 31kcal
Author: Denise Perrault

Ingredients

  • ½ small onion chopped, ¼ cup
  • 2 cloves garlic minced or pressed
  • 1 can tomatoes 15 ounces, 400 grams
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon red chili flakes optional or adjust to your level of heat tolerance
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Heat a small or medium saucepan. Add the onions and stir them constantly for 2-3 minutes until they soften.
  • Add the garlic and stir to mix it. Cook no more than 30 seconds.
  • Stir in the tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, Italian seasoning. Add ¼ teaspoon of crushed red chili. Taste and add more if you want it spicier.
  • Simmer the sauce for 10-15 minutes on low heat. It will reduce, thicken, and get darker the longer you cook it.
  • Use an immersion blender to puree the ingredients for a smooth dipping sauce. You can also transfer all or part of the sauce to a blender or food processor.
  • Taste the sauce and salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the spices and balsamic if desired.
  • Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

  • Makes 1 ½ cups. Nutrition is based on ¼ per serving.
  • It's important to simmer the sauce to reduce the water. The longer you simmer, the thicker and richer it gets. The flavors will get more intense, which is why I recommend adding a little chili and more after tasting. 
  • If the sauce is too thin, blend some and return it to the saucepan. Or use an immersion blender.
  • Store sauce in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze for 3-4 months.
  • Break up or dice larger tomatoes before simmering. Do this carefully to avoid tomato splatter. Use the back of a spoon for small tomatoes or your hands.

Nutrition

Calories: 31kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 94mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 203IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg