My Favorite Marinara Recipe
This marinara recipe is simple and easy to make (and vegan), and nails all the right flavor notes. Fresh basil, garlic, and a veggie infusion make the sauce pop.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic crushed, pressed, or minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 Tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 carrot cut into quarters (sticks) lengthwise
- 1/2 onion cut into quarters through the root so the layers of each quarter hold together
- 1-2 sprigs basil
- 2 cans whole peeled tomatoes (28 ounces / 793 grams per can)
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 Tablespoon miso
- Salt to taste
Garnish
- Fresh parsley chopped
- Fresh basil chopped
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and stir until fragrant and light golden, 2-3 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and oregano and stir for another minute.
- Add the carrot, onion, and basil sprig. Pour the canned tomatoes, including all the juices on top, covering the other ingredients. Stir in the tomato paste. When the tomato juice begins to boil, reduce to low heat and cover.
- Simmer at least 30 minutes, up to an hour, depending how much you’d like to develop the flavor of the sauce. Remove the basil, carrots, and onions, which you can either discard or eat separately.
- Scoop a few tablespoons of the liquid part of the sauce into a small bowl. Mix the miso together with the sauce and dissolve it completely using a fork. Pour the mixture into the pot of sauce.
- Use a wooden spoon, muddle, or other device to crush and chop the tomatoes to your desired consistency. Taste the sauce and stir in salt as needed.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and basil and serve over boiled pasta, as a dipping sauce, or any other way you prefer.
Notes
The sauce will stay good in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 days or in the freezer for a month.
I used white miso. Red miso should work well too. When purchasing, check the label to ensure the miso does not contain bonito or other fish ingredients.
You can skip the miso but you'll need to add more salt.