Happy meal prep Sunday! Here’s a marinara sauce I made for a veggie lasagna (recipe coming soon!). I decided to make my own because it’s quick, delicious and budget-friendly. I never realized most tomato sauces have sugar as one of the first few ingredients, since sugar brings out the flavor in tomatoes; sometimes those sauces are just too sweet then. It’s hard to find a sauce without any added sugar (Whole Foods’ 365 brand does have a great one). This Basil Marinara Sauce is so easy and literally ready in 20 minutes — plus you get the satisfaction of it being homemade and making it from scratch. With only 5 ingredients, there’s no added sugar or salt, while still bursting with flavor.
Ingredients (serves about 13; makes 6½ c).
- 2 t basil extra virgin olive oil (or regular EVOO)
- 1/2 T minced garlic
- 2 cans (28 oz each) crushed tomatoes with basil
- 1 t oregano
- 1/3 c fresh basil, finely chopped
Directions.
- In a large saucepan, heat EVOO over medium heat. Add garlic and quickly sauté for 30-60 sec.
- Once garlic sizzles and just begins to brown, pour in crushed tomatoes and stir in oregano. Reduce heat and simmer covered for 20 min, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in fresh basil and remove from heat.
- Store in a sealed container for up to 10 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Enjoy!
Adapted from my slow cooker marinara in Turkey Meatballs over Zoodles.
Nutrition for 1/2 c sauce.
47 calories • 0.7 g fat (13%) • 8.2 g carbs (69%) • 2.1 g protein (18%) • 4 g fiber • 4 g sugar
* These are estimates based off specific products I used and how I entered ingredients in a fitness tracker. This is completely subjective and used to give a rough nutritional estimate.
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