Healthy Marinara Sauce (with Carrots)
Healthy marinara sauce is simple and quick to throw together, making it the perfect weeknight sauce to toss with a fresh bowl of pasta. This recipe puts a fresh spin on traditional marinara sauce by using carrots to add subtle natural sweetness and fire roasted tomatoes to deepen the robust tomato flavor.
Servings: 8 people
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 medium carrots, finely diced or shredded
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes, low sodium
- 1 14.5 oz can fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp sea salt, more to taste
- ¼ tsp cracked black pepper, more to taste
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil over medium high heat and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute, or until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add the onions and carrots and saute for 4 to 5 minutes or until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Add tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Stir to incorporate. Reduce heat to simmer. Simmer covered for 25 minutes before serving. Season with more salt and pepper, according to taste. For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender or food processor to blend the sauce to desired consistency.
Notes
- If you prefer a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender or food processor to blend the sauce to desired consistency.
- For richer "spaghetti sauce" type consistency and flavor, simmer for 3-4 hours on low heat to allow the sauce to thicken and the ingredients to meld more.