- The name marinara comes from the Italian word "marinaro," which means "seafaring" or "sailor."
- This simple red sauce was first made for 16th century Italian sailors in Naples upon their return from a voyage at sea.
- Recipes vary, but a basic marinara sauce is made of tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, basil, salt and pepper. While other pasta sauces contain meats like ground beef or sausage, marinara sauce does not.
- Food Network chef Giada De Laurentiis adds chopped carrots, celery and onions to her recipe. Other recipes call for herbs such as oregano or parsley.
- In addition to serving marinara sauce over pastas such as spaghetti and ravioli, it is often used for dipping mozzarella sticks and other finger foods.
- Because the origin of the word marinara is associated with the sea, many people mistakenly believe the recipe includes seafood, such as anchovies.
