Make Oil-Free Vegan Marinara Sauce at home in just 30 minutes. This healthy marinara sauce is easy to make and perfect to pair with spaghetti and vegan meatballs!
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I know that it's really easy to go to the store and grab a jar of marinara sauce for pasta night. It's quick. You don't have to think about it. I get it!
BUT even the best marinara sauces, with the cleanest of ingredients, use oils. (And honestly, lots of them sneak in cheese and other non-plant-based ingredients.)
So here I am, inviting you to make marinara sauce at home. Because it's not as hard as you think. It takes just six ingredients. And only about 30 minutes, which less than the amount of time you'll need to cook your vegan meatballs and pasta anyway.
Plus, homemade marinara sauce tastes so much better than store-bought. And, if you have leftovers that you aren't planning to eat, just throw them in the freezer and next time you won't have to make sauce at all!
Why I love this Oil-Free Vegan Marinara Sauce
- Dietary needs - this marinara sauce is dairy-free, plant-based, oil-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free
- Weeknight meal - this sauce comes together in just 30 minutes, whip up some pasta and vegan meatballs and you've got a quick and easy weeknight meal
- No hidden ingredients - many store bought pasta sauces have oils, cheeses, gluten, and other processed ingredients that you don't want in your marinara sauce. This oil-free vegan marinara sauce is as straightforward as it gets
- Freezer/leftover friendly - this marinara sauce freezes well, so it's great to make and store for later
Ingredient Notes
- White Onion: I like white onion for this dish, but you can also use a yellow or red onion.
- Garlic: this recipe calls for an entire head of garlic - this may seem like a lot but it really gives the sauce good flavor, so go hard with the garlic!
- Canned Diced Tomatoes: canned tomatoes are perfect for homemade marinara sauce. There's minimal prep and you don't have to worry about tomato season or dealing with peels. Be sure to buy cans that don't have any added sugar or oils
- Tomato Paste: tomato paste help to intensify the tomato flavor. (Pro tip: to prevent waste, freeze any extra tomato paste in tablespoon-sized blocks. Then, just pull a block or two out whenever you're making sauce.)
- Herbs & Spices: oregano, basil, salt & pepper. Dried herbs are perfect for this sauce - they have plenty of flavor and, again, you don't have to worry about seasonality
How to make Oil-Free Marinara Sauce
Step 1. In a large pot over medium heat, sauté the onion for 4-5 minutes, until it turns soft and translucent. Add a splash of water if the onion starts to stick.
Step 2. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds.
Step 3. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then simmer 10 minutes.
Step 4. When the sauce has thickened, remove from the heat. Use an immersion blender to puree the sauce to your desired consistency. Alternatively, transfer to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Step 5. Serve with your favorite pasta and vegan meatballs.
Expert Tips & FAQ
Canned tomatoes are often just as flavorful as fresh (especially during the colder months). And they're easy! No peeling or pre-boiling.
Yes! Pour the sauce into a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to a year. When you're ready to eat, defrost the sauce by reheating on the stovetop or using the defrost setting of your microwave.
- Make a vegan pizza
- Dip your favorite crackers
- Serve over tofu
- Enjoy with zoodles
- Toss with roasted vegetables
Recipe Prayer
Thank you God for this healthy sauce. Thank you for giving us the means to make food that is good for our bodies. Amen.
More oil-free sauces
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📖 Recipe
Oil-Free Marinara Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Medium White Onion diced
- 1 Head Garlic minced
- 2 28 Ounce Cans Diced Tomatoes
- 3 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
- 2 Teaspoons Dried Oregano
- 2 Teaspoons Dried Basil
- 2 Teaspoons Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium heat, sauté the onion for 4-5 minutes, until it turns soft and translucent. Add a splash of water if the onion starts to stick.
- Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then simmer 10 minutes.
- When the sauce has thickened, remove from the heat. Use an immersion blender to puree the sauce to your desired consistency. Alternatively, transfer to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Serve with your favorite pasta and vegan meatballs.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate.
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