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There are few jarred sauces as well loved as Rao’s Homemade Marinara. Chefs swear by it. Ina Garten calls it her “easy” favorite. It’s even the official winner in The Kitchn’s taste test. Its sauce is bright, savory, and full of umami-rich tomatoes that turns a bowl of pasta into an event.
Not one to rest on its past success, the brand frequently introduces new sauces, and they’re almost always a hit. One of the latest offerings — Rao’s Lemon Parmesan Marinara — screams SUMMER. As a fan of lemony-sauced noodles, I rushed to try it, and I’ll just start by saying: It’s my new favorite marinara sauce.
Credit: Ali Domrongchai Credit: Ali Domrongchai
What You Should Know About Rao’s Lemon Parmesan Marinara
Earlier this month Rao’s Homemade (formerly of the legendary Rao’s Restaurant in New York City), released two new sauces: Lemon Parmesan and Creamy Marinara with Mascarpone. The Lemon Parmesan flavor features both lemon zest and juice, and the Creamy Marinara Mascarpone contains added cream, plus mascarpone, Parmesan, and Pecorino cheese for a creamy, cheesy twist on classic marinara.
Rao’s Homemade Lemon Marinara Sauce
Rao’s Homemade Lemon Marinara Sauce
Amazon
$9
Buy Now
They are the latest additions to Rao’s Homemade impressive roster and are available in 24-ounce jars at Whole Foods Markets and Amazon (and will be available at additional retailers nationwide over the next few months). They are priced at $7.99 and $8.99, depending on the sauce. I’m a huge fan of any and all citrus-forward pastas, so I immediately started boiling a pot of water as soon as the jars arrived at my doorstep.
Credit: Ali Domrongchai Credit: Ali Domrongchai
My Honest Review of Rao’s Lemon Parmesan Marinara
Going into the Lemon Parmesan sampling, I had very high expectations. After my first bite — drenched onto Rao’s Rigatoni — my expectations weren’t just met; they were exceeded. Aesthetically, the pasta sauce is bright red and coats the pasta gorgeously. As for flavor? Absolutely delicious.
The sauce has a bold tomato and lemon flavor, and the touch of Parmesan balances out all of that acid for a really bright yet well-balanced marinara. It is by far one of the tastiest versions of red sauce that I’ve ever had. It really tastes like something that you’d find in a fancy Italian bistro. Safe to say that it’ll be my official sauce of the summer.
Buy: Rao’s Lemon Parmesan Marinara, $8.99 for 24 ounces at Rao’s Homemade
Have you tried Rao’s newest marinara sauces? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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