This New Jarred Pasta Sauce Is So Delicious, I’m Never Buying Another Brand Again (Promise It’s Not Rao’s!)

On those nights when I can’t be bothered to put much effort into cooking, an easy pasta recipe is my go-to dinner: Boil water, cook pasta, stir in sauce, and I’m done. (It’s so satisfying!) 

There are minimal steps and even fewer ingredients, so I make sure I’m reaching for ones that really pack in the flavor. I’ve tried many jarred pasta sauces in my day, and few have wowed me as much as Sauz’s Miso Garlic Marinara. The flavors are so delicious and well-executed that it’ll be the only jar you’ll want to reach for on your next pasta night. (It’s definitely become mine.) Here’s why. 

Sauz first came to the market in 2023, and was born out of innovation during the pandemic. Its founders wanted to (quite literally) spice up the pasta sauce aisle by crafting fun, innovative flavors unlike any others you’d see on the shelf — including Hot Honey Marinara, Cracked Pepper and Parmesan, and Brown Butter Alfredo.

The latest flavor drop, Miso Garlic Marinara, is the brand’s first ever Italian- and Asian-inspired sauce. The tomato sauce gets its added umami from white miso paste, black garlic, ginger purée, and white wine vinegar. 

All Sauz sauces are non-GMO and gluten- and preservative-free. They’re made in small batches, and there’s no compromise on flavor or quality. The Miso Garlic Marinara is currently sold exclusively at Whole Foods nationwide (for now) for $8.99. You can also buy them in bulk directly on Sauz’s website for a few dollars more per jar.

When I first got word of Sauz’s new Miso Garlic Marinara, I was intrigued. While I use miso often in my cooking for marinades and quick dressings, I’d never had it with pasta before, let alone marinara sauce. 

So I cooked up my favorite rigatoni and waited eagerly to mix in the sauce. As I opened the jar, I noticed that the sauce was thick and chunky. I could see whole pieces of garlic and onion, and it coated the pasta nicely. 

I took a bite and was hit with a flavor explosion in my mouth! The miso is PROMINENT and punchy, yet melds beautifully with the subtle sweetness of the tomatoes. The garlic flavor is strong as well, and there’s a hint of ginger, which makes for a layered, funky, fermented sauce. 

It’s not overly salty, either, and has just the right balance of seasoning. Typically I tend to doctor up a jarred sauce with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and a dash of salt and pepper, but the Miso Garlic Marinara needs no additions. 

I love the fusion of Asian and Italian flavors. I could see this sauce being delicious as an add-in to ramen, smeared on a sandwich, or used as a dipping sauce or as the base of a quick shakshuka. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever tried, and I’d buy it again in a heartbeat. 

Buy: Sauz Miso Garlic Marinara, $24.99 for two 25-ounce jars at Sauz 

Have you tried Sauz Miso Garlic Marinara? Let us know in the comments.

This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: This New Jarred Pasta Sauce Is So Delicious, I’m Never Buying Another Brand Again (Promise It’s Not Rao’s!)