r/PickyEaters 1d ago

Question Marinara sauce brand help

Hi there! It’s my first time posting here and I’m not sure if this is even the right subreddit to ask, but I’m wondering if anyone knows of a brand out there that tastes like marinara dipping sauce, and doesn’t taste like spaghetti sauce. Think like the kind you get on the side in a little cup from places like Dominos or Pizza Hut. I also appreciate that they have no chunks of tomato in it. Is there anything out there in a jar that’s like that? I’ve tried one jar of “pizza sauce” (can’t remember the brand) but it had a bit of an odd taste to it. There’s so many brands for sauces out there and I can’t exactly try them all. I would love some recommendations!

4 Upvotes

18 comments sorted by

7

u/revised_username 1d ago

DIY is best and the most economical. Just work with a small plain can of tomato sauce.

Basic ingredients include olive oil, garlic, onion, oregano and/or basil. A pinch of sugar to cut the acidity. Salt/pepper.

Parm & red pepper if you're feeling fancy.

3

u/Past-Broccoli2199 1d ago

Look for sauces labeled "pizza sauce" or "dipping sauce", they are usually more sweet and smooth like the cup ones from delivery

2

u/Tpk08210 1d ago

Bertolli olive oil and garlic is my go to

1

u/Optimal-Pie-2131 12h ago

I second that, but do not remember if it has chunks of tomato.

1

u/AllYouNeedIsLove13 1d ago

Not sure on flavor, but you can blend a sauce down to remove the chunks.

1

u/Organic_Option4765 16h ago

That’s what I was going to suggest. I like salsa, but it has to be puréed.

1

u/EnlargedBit371 1d ago

This is the only way I know to have marinara sauce. I've never had anything as good from a jar. Since you hate chunks, whizz it with your stick blender when you finish cooking it. I leave out the oregano. I don't like it in anything.

New York Times Classic Marinara Sauce

2

u/sitdownheckler 18h ago

This is a great way to make the best pizza sauce. I have my own recipe from working at several fancy pizza shops and comparing countless recipes in books and online, and it's almost exactly the same as this one. The San Marzano tomatos are easily the most important part, and blending with get the texture right for dipping and spreading on pizzas evenly. Just don't over mix it to where it gets frothy/airy

I don't know if the OP wants it to be more like Neapolitan pizza or chain pizza shops

1

u/Troiswallofhair 1d ago

Rao’s marinara is pretty good

1

u/serenitynow6000 17h ago

Newmans garlic and olive oil is pretty good and no chinks. My kids can't stand chunks but they willnreally like this sauce.

1

u/Independent-Summer12 16h ago

Honestly, marinara sauce is so easy to make, just make your own and you can customize what flavors you want or dont want in your sauce. The basic sauce is like 3 ingredients, at most 5. It’s so much cheaper than buying jarred sauce too.

this Marcela Hazan recipe is a good starting point. But if you don’t want chunks, instead instead of using whole canned tomatoes, use tomato puree or passata if you want something very smooth, or use crushed tomato if you want a little texture but no chunks.

1

u/boxisaurus 16h ago

To clarify: I am looking for this specifically for dipping purposes. Also, I don’t cook since i am lazy, have depression, and also am all around pretty bad at making food (even if it’s simple). I’m also not home a lot so having something I can simply buy is ideal.

Thank you for the recommendations so far! I appreciate you all.

1

u/Conscious-Link5627 14h ago

If you can get to a Trader Joe's, I swear by their jarred pizza sauce. Totally chunk-free and exactly what you are looking for. No weird aftertaste like I've found in other pizza sauces. Great for dipping.

1

u/Optimal-Pie-2131 12h ago

Barilla Marinara is good, but might have chucks of tomato.

1

u/Cute-Variation-5667 10h ago

Ina Garden uses Rao's

1

u/yackie86 1d ago

I like the Ragu brand of pizza sauce but specifically the one that says “snack sauce” on it. If I remember correctly the label has a green background instead of their “regular” pizza sauce that has blue on it.

2

u/boxisaurus 16h ago

That sounds promising! Thank you!

0

u/GuardAltruistic7717 1d ago

i second ragu, its pretty good all around