Vegan Marinara Sauce. Simplicity at its best! Made with pantry staples and ready in only 20 minutes.
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Everyone needs a quick pasta sauce recipe in their recipe collection, and this naturally vegan marinara sauce is always a hit and endlessly versatile.
It's simple, rustic, full of flavour, great for meal prep, and can be used in so many different ways. Enjoy it simply with pasta and some vegan parmesan or a dollop of vegan ricotta, or use it in other dishes such as stuffed shells, eggplant or chick'n parmesan, pizza, spaghetti & chickpea meatballs, lasagna, or as a dipping sauce for focaccia, garlic knots, or mac and cheese bites.
Mel x
Ingredients
Made from pantry staples this is a recipe that is perfect for weeknight dinners. The ingredients list is very short and simple:
- Canned tomatoes - These should be whole plum tomatoes or crushed tomatoes. Because this is such a simple recipe, the quality of the canned tomatoes makes a huge difference. You really get what you pay for when it comes to flavour, so I recommend using the best quality canned tomatoes you can afford. San Marzano tomatoes are my preference. Note that I don't recommend using diced tomatoes in this recipe because they are treated with calcium chloride to make them stay chunky and keep their shape while cooking. They won't break down in the sauce and are really only good for recipes where you want distinct chunks of tomato to remain.
- Onion & garlic - White or yellow onion is fine. I prefer a very fine dice in this sauce. And although the recipe calls for 4 cloves of garlic, feel free to add more. I feel strongly that garlic should be measured with your heart!
- Extra virgin olive oil - For another layer of delicious flavour.
- Herbs - Dried oregano is always my go-to in marinara sauce for a really great flavour, but feel free to switch it out with dried basil, thyme, rosemary, or Italian seasoning. A bay leaf adds another layer of subtle flavour, and some fresh basil really seals the deal if you have some.
- Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper - The right balance of salt and pepper can make or break a simple recipe like this. Don't forget to taste the sauce once it has simmered and add more if needed.
Important Tomato Tip
Because this is such a simple recipe, the quality of the canned tomatoes makes a huge difference. You really get what you pay for when it comes to flavour, so I recommend using the best quality canned tomatoes you can afford. San Marzano tomatoes are my preference.
Flavour Variations
- Make it spicy - Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a little bit of diced fresh chili pepper for a pop of heat.
- Make it buttery - Finish the sauce with a tablespoon or two of good-quality vegan butter. It makes the sauce richer, creamier, and more decadent!
- Make it creamy - Add ¼ to ½ a cup of vegan cream or cashew cream near the end of the cooking time and allow to gently heat through.
- Make it veggie-packed - Add veggies like sliced mushrooms, celery, bell pepper, zucchini, or black olives.
Recipe
Vegan Marinara Sauce
Author:Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ medium onion , diced finely (about ½ a cup)
- 4 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 x 28oz can (796 ml) whole plum tomatoes or crushed tomatoes
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano , or basil/thyme/rosemary
- ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt , plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper , plus more to taste
- 1 to 2 teaspoons cane sugar , only necessary if not using good quality canned tomatoes
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place a pan (I prefer a wide, shallow skillet) over medium heat, then add the olive oil. Once the oil is nice and glossy and hot, add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes until translucent.
- Add the garlic and cook for another minute (don't let it brown) before adding the tomatoes, bay leaf, oregano, salt, and pepper. If using whole plum tomatoes, you can either crush them in your hands before adding or smush them up in the pan with your wooden spoon.
- Bring to a gentle simmer and cook partially covered for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you have time to simmer the sauce a bit longer, it will continue to reduce and concentrate, deepening the flavour.
- Check the seasoning, adding a little more salt and pepper if necessary. If it tastes a little acidic, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar (to taste) for balance.
NOTES
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