I learned to make my own marinara sauce a couple years ago and I haven’t bought a jar of pasta sauce since – and this was before I was even worried about eating all that healthy! It’s just as quick and so much fresher tasting to make your own, and you can customize it however you like.
First, just dump a can of crushed tomatoes in a pot and start that simmering over medium-low heat. While it’s warming up you can chop up whatever other veggies you’d like – for this particular recipe I used zucchini, mushrooms, onions, some fresh tomatoes, spinach and garlic.
Throw the chopped tomatoes in with the crushed ones to let them get their groove on, and then if you are using spinach just let it wilt in a medium saucepan over medium heat for a couple minutes. Once it’s nice and wilted, throw all the other veggies together in that same medium saucepan over medium heat until they are soft and just slightly browned.
Chop up your wilted spinach and throw it in with the tomatoes. Once the veggies are softened, throw them in with the tomatoes too. Add some oregano, thyme, basil, salt and pepper to the mix and let simmer for a few more minutes.
Then if you want to be the valedictorian of vegetables you can serve it over zucchini noodles with a side of steamed broccoli. That’s a big plate of delicious food with half a dozen different veggies and goodness knows how many vitamins for about 200 calories and no fat. Of course, you could also serve this sauce over regular noodles but then you’re on your own with the calorie counting.
Quick & Easy Vegan Marinara sauce
Ingredients
- 1 can crushed tomatoes 24 oz.
- 2 tomatoes medium
- 3 cups spinach fresh
- 1 onion chopped
- 6 white mushrooms chopped
- 1 zucchini (or two if you are making zucchini noodles)
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat crushed tomatoes and chopped tomatoes in a medium pot over medium heat.
- While that is heating, heat spinach in a medium saucepan over medium heat until wilted (usually 2-3 minutes), stirring regularly.
- Once spinach is wilted, transfer to a cutting board and chop fine.
- In the same saucepan over medium heat, cook onion, zucchini, garlic, and mushrooms until softened and the mushrooms have lost their moisture.
- Add spinach and vegetable mixture into tomato sauce. Add oregano, basil, thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Heat for about 5 more minutes, stirring regularly. Serve immediately.
How much does this recipe yield?
About four cups of sauce
looks delicious and hearty. My mann’s birthday is coming up and his favorite dish is chicken parmigiana although we are vegan now I’m going to replicate the comfort of that dish as much as I can!
ill be using your vegan eggplant recipe and THIS marinara
thank you for the wonderful posts
Hi Jessica,
I copied your recipe for This sauce and I can’t wait to make it. I enjoy your site.
Thanks….Peg