I never had homemade marinara. I grew up with the good fortune of having a mom who used Prego (not being facetious). Even friends of mine whose Italian grandmothers made homemade “gravy”, came over my house specifically for my mom’s baked ziti and my pizza bagels–what can I say, they were hungry for our marinara! But the problem with Prego is that it has high fructose corn syrup. I decided to give the Whole Foods brand tomato sauce a try because it doesn’t have a drop of corn syrup. The shortened verdict: It was “ordinary” at best. The good news is that WFM also sells delicious, made-on site marinara from an Italian restaurant in Brooklyn, Michael’s of Brooklyn. This is the first product I gave a 10. See why? The rating goes 1 to 10 (10 being the best)
Michael’s From Brooklyn Marinara Sauce
Verdict: 10 (Addendum, of course, price. This product only gets a 10 when it’s on sale)
Appearance: The marinara sauce comes in big glass jars (great by the way for reusing), so you can see all of the ingredients– the rich red color of the tomatoes, the fresh pieces of basil and even the chunks of garlic
Flavor: Michael’s homemade taste comes in a variety of flavors, including Marinara, Putanesca, Arrabbiata (a spicy pepper sauce), and Fresh Tomato & Basil. My favorite is the marinara because it has a touch of sweetness and delivers a nice after taste, even with the rich garlic flavor
Texture: The marinara is not too thick, and anything but watery. Just the right consistency.
Health: All natural; no additives or sugar added; There are only five simple ingredients listed on the jar: imported Italian tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil, olive oil, oregano, spices. Per serving, 1/2 cup: 45 calories, 2g of fat, sugar 4g, sodium 320g.
Cost: $4.99 for a 32-ounce jar, on sale at WFM; the regular price is about $10 at WFM; Michael’s Restaurant sells all of their homemade sauces online, here, but at $ 9.95 a jar your best bet is to look for it at other gourmet grocery stores in the city or wait for it on sale at WFM.
Recommendation: With a busy day, stick with simple: Michael’s Marinara, Whole Foods Brand Organic Fettuccine, and grated parmesan
Resolution Stats: 13 new foods stuffs tried, 92 more to go
Final Verdict: This fresh-pasta worthy sauce is a steal on sale. While all of Michael’s great-tasting sauces are hard to resist, the marinara may not be welcomed by garlic haters, boyfriends, girlfriends, and my mom who loves her Prego
The Guide to All That's Healthy & Delicious Eats on NYC's Upper West Side 