Marinara Sauce with Vegetables

Get a boatload of veggies without ever knowing they're there! This tomato sauce features more than 6 cups of veggies plus the tomatoes, that all get blended together to form a smooth, flavorful, delectable sauce for pasta, zucchini noodles, dipping, and any other use you can imagine. You're already making the sauce, you might as well make it in bulk. Use some right away and freeze the rest for up to 4 to 6 months. It's to die for!

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Calories: 61 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 bay leaf
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 3 tablespoons dried oregano
• 3 tablespoons dried basil
• 1 cup finely chopped celery
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup finely chopped carrots
• 1 large yellow onion
• 2 cups chopped baby portobello mushrooms
• ½ cup Pinot Grigio wine
• 6 tablespoons dried parsley

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add oil to the warm pot and heat until shimmering, 1 to 2 minutes. Add onion, celery, and carrots; cook and stir until the onion has turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and bell pepper; cook until softened, 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 2

Make a well in the center of the veggies and add garlic to the bottom of the pot. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute, then stir garlic into the veggies. Stir in wine and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon salt, tomato paste, and then all 4 cans of tomatoes. Break up tomatoes with a potato masher.

Step 3

Puree sauce with an immersion blender until all veggies and tomatoes are broken up and smooth. Cook sauce until hot and bubbly, 8 to 10 minutes. Add parsley, oregano, basil, 1 tablespoon salt, red pepper flakes, and bay leaf. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes.

Step 4

Let sauce cool completely, then store in the refrigerator until flavors marry, 8 hours to overnight.

Step 5

Transfer 1- or 2-cup portions of sauce into airtight containers or 1-quart resealable plastic freezer bags and store in the freezer for up to 4 to 6 months.