GF
SF
SF
Difficulty level: easy
Spaghetti Marinara
Preparation time
15 minutes
Cooking time
20 minutes
When is it ready?
30 minutes
There are various ways to make marinara sauce. Thin or thick, with fresh tomatoes, canned or just paste. Different herbs to go with it... many choices the cook makes impact the result. I've created this recipe using fresh tomatoes & garlic to enhance natural flavors. I use an organic tomato paste with a 'clean label' (as few ingredients as possible) and organic basil dry leaves.
The sauce I make is a staple sauce in my kitchen. It's highly popular even among the toughest tasters (aka kids). Try it, love it and then make sure to make it every 3 days, so you always keep a fresh sauce in the fridge. It's perfectly easy to make, excellent to serve for any guest (vegan or not), and great for all ages. By the way, as opposed to certain other veggies, tomatoes are even healthier when cooked, as while being cooked they secrete something called Lycopene, a pigment which functions as an antioxidant that protects against cell damage.
Ingredients
4 large tomatoes, diced (Any kind will work) or an equivalent quantity of small tomatoes
1 garlic clove, minced
4 tbsps tomato paste
2 tsps basil dry leaves
1 tsp sugar
2 tsps salt
Let's get cooking!
In a 3qt pot, place the minced garlic & basil with 2 tbsps of Sunflower oil, and turn on the stove on medium heat. When the oil begins to bubble and there's a slight garlic aroma, add the diced tomatoes and stir. Add the tomato paste, the sugar and the salt and mix well. Add 1/3-1/2 cup of tap water, to bring the sauce to a consistent texture and to avoid from sauce sticking to the bottom and burning.
Cover with lid, bring to boil and reduce the heat to low.
Cook for about 20 minutes, or until the tomatoes are very soft.
Pour the sauce over cooked pasta of any kind. I use it with Penne or any kind of short pasta that my kids love. I also use the sauce with spaghetti, which really works as well.
You can serve this dish with your choice of vegan Parmesan.
Buon Appetito!