Awesome Pasta Sauce
Transform your pasta dinners with this "Awesome Pasta Sauce," a luscious, homemade marinara brimming with rich, garden-fresh flavors. Crafted from wholesome ingredients like finely chopped onions, garlic, carrots, and celery, this sauce perfectly balances the sweetness of crushed tomatoes and a hint of sugar with the aromatic warmth of dried oregano, basil, and a touch of optional red chili flakes. Simmered to perfection and finished with fresh parsley and torn basil leaves, this sauce achieves a deep, complex flavor that's ideal for any pasta dish. Whether you're tossing it with spaghetti, layering it in lasagna, or using it as a pizza base, this versatile pasta sauce delivers unmatched freshness and authenticity. Ready in just an hour, it’s a freezer-friendly recipe you’ll return to time and again for all your Italian-inspired meals.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
- 1 stick celery stick, finely chopped
- 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.25 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 0.25 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 0.5 cup water or vegetable stock
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
Add the finely chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes, until softened and translucent.
Stir in the minced garlic, chopped carrot, and chopped celery. Cook for another 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender.
Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and water or vegetable stock to the pan. Stir well to combine.
Sprinkle in the dried oregano, dried basil, sugar, salt, black pepper, and red chili flakes, if using. Stir to ensure the seasonings are evenly distributed.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan with a lid and let the sauce simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
After 30 minutes, uncover the pan and use a spoon to taste the sauce. Adjust the seasoning with more salt or sugar, if needed.
Stir in the freshly chopped parsley and torn basil leaves. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
Remove the sauce from heat and let it cool slightly before serving.
Use the sauce immediately over cooked pasta, or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
480 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 29.8 g | 38% | |
| Saturated Fat | 4.4 g | 22% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1458 mg | 63% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 53.0 g | 19% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 15.2 g | 54% | |
| Total Sugars | 36.0 g | ||
| Protein | 10.7 g | 21% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 225 mg | 17% | |
| Iron | 7.4 mg | 41% | |
| Potassium | 2921 mg | 62% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
