Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce

Easy, fresh and much more cost effective than store-bought organic pasta sauce. The basic version is delicious, and you can add additional herbs and spices to make it your favorite go-to pasta sauce.

Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce
Prep Time: 15 min
Total Time: 1 hour 15 min
Serves 4

Ingredients for basic marinara:

• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small white or yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1-2 garlic cloves, finely chopped or pressed
• 1 carrot, peeled and shredded or finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 32-ounce can organic crushed tomatoes
• 1 dried bay leaf

Additions:

• ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tbsp dried basil
• 2-3 tbsp fresh chopped basil
• 1/2 tbsp dried oregano
• 1-2 tbsp fresh chopped oregano

Recipe:

Heat the oil over medium heat in a large pot. Add the onions and sauté until they are translucent, about 7-10 minutes. Add the carrot, garlic, crushed red pepper (if using), salt and black pepper. Sauté until all the vegetables are soft, about 10 more minutes. Add the tomatoes, bay leaf, (and additional herbs if using), and simmer uncovered over low heat until the sauce thickens, about 1 hour. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Add more salt and pepper to taste.

Toss with sautéed veggies and whole grain spaghetti, penne or any other pasta of your choice.

Tips:

• 1 tbsp of agave nectar or honey can be used in place of the carrot. A fresh carrot is better :)
• Use 1 32-ounce can of tomato sauce instead of crushed tomatoes for a smoother sauce.
• Let cool and store in airtight glass containers for up to 2 days in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer. Let defrost 1 day in the refrigerator when thawing. You can also place the sealed glass container in a bowl of warm water to defrost. Avoid the microwave as it zapps all of the nutrients.