
Veggie Spaghetti Sauce
In the mood for Italian tonight? Veg out with this homemade spaghetti sauce that’s prepared with fresh produce. It’s the perfect recipe for meatless Mondays. You’ll get a flavorful bang for fewer bucks.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon(s) dried basil leaves
- 1 teaspoon(s) dried oregano leaves
- 1 teaspoon(s) anise or fennel seeds, crushed
- 2 large bay leaves
- 2 tablespoon(s) extra virgin olive oil
- 2 large onions, finely minced
- 2 large carrots, peeled and finely minced
- 8 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 2 (6-oz.) cans tomato paste
- 1 large red or green bell pepper, finely minced
- 2 large celery ribs, finely chopped
- 6 small zucchini, finely minced
- 28 ounce(s) can crushed Roma tomatoes, undrained
- 3 cup(s) water
- 1 tablespoon(s) worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon(s) soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon(s) dried parsley
- 2 teaspoon(s) kosher or coarse salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon(s) freshly ground pepper, or to taste
- 12 ounce(s) fresh mushrooms, sliced or use canned mushrooms
- 1 Premium Spaghetti pasta (Cook the pasta al dente according to package directions)
- 1 Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
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In small bowl combine the basil leaves, oregano leaves, anise or fennel seeds and bay leaf; set aside.
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Prepare the garlic, onion, carrot, bell pepper, celery and zucchini; Set aside.
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(If you have a food processor, using it will speed things up and be easier.
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Be careful not to over-process).
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In a large cooking pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add onions.
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Cook onions until they begin to soften, then reduce heat to a low simmer and cook for at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally, to caramelize the onions.
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This is one of the most important elements of this sauce, it’s the source of its rich flavour.
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Caramelizing onions correctly requires patience, rushing it produces an inferior bitter taste.
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After 1 hour cooking time, add the carrots and caramelize them together with the onions.
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Add the garlic and cook over medium heat for one minute, stirring constantly, then add the reserved spice mixture, cooking and stirring for 30 seconds.
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Add the tomato paste and cook about 2 minutes while stirring constantly.
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Add the remaining prepared vegetables and continue to cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
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Add the crushed tomatoes, water, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, salt, pepper and the parsley leaves.
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Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for at least 3 to 4 hours.
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Add the sliced mushrooms to the sauce about 10 minutes before the end of the cooking time, or if you prefer your mushrooms cooked limp, add during the last 2 hours cooking time.
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To serve, ladle the sauce over hot cooked pasta and top with a sprinkling with the Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 3419.74kcalCarbohydrates: 684gProtein: 176.1gFat: 60.57gSaturated Fat: 10.91gCholesterol: 24.3mgSodium: 17618.64mgFiber: 165.32gSugar: 385.74g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!