Ingredients
Vegetables
- ½ small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cups zucchini, grated or cut small
- 1 ½ cups carrots, grated or cut small
- ½ bell pepper, deseeded and diced
- 2 cups chopped spinach, loosely packed
Pantry Staples & Seasonings
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ cup vegetable broth (or water)
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- Heat the oil and sauté aromatics. Place a large saucepan over medium heat and warm the olive oil. Once hot, add diced onions, garlic powder, sea salt, and Italian seasoning. Cook for about 4 minutes until the onions turn translucent and fragrant.
- Add the vegetables and sauté. Stir in the zucchini, carrots, bell pepper, and chopped spinach. Continue to sauté the mixture for about 5 minutes, until the vegetables soften slightly.
- Add tomatoes and simmer the sauce. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, vegetable broth, and add the bay leaves. Stir everything together, then cover the pot. Once the sauce reaches a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, remove the cover, and cook uncovered for 15 minutes to deepen the flavors.
- Blend the sauce to desired consistency. Remove the bay leaves from the sauce. Use an immersion blender directly in the pot to puree the sauce until smooth or to your preferred texture. Alternatively, carefully transfer the hot sauce in batches to a regular blender and blend, being cautious of the heat.
- Adjust seasoning to taste. Taste the blended sauce and add extra sea salt or garlic powder if desired to enhance the flavor.
- Serve the sauce. Toss the sauce with your favorite cooked pasta or spiralized vegetables. Optionally, add cooked ground meat or meatballs for added protein and heartiness.
- Store leftovers properly. Allow any leftover sauce to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 6 days or freeze for longer storage of several months.
Notes
- You can grate the vegetables finely or chop them small to ensure they blend smoothly into the sauce.
- Using an immersion blender makes blending easier and safer, especially with hot liquids.
- The sauce freezes well, making it convenient to prepare in advance for quick meals.
- Adjust seasoning quantities according to your taste preferences.
- This sauce is vegetarian and can easily be made vegan depending on pasta choice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
