Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce Recipe | Wellness Mama

canned tomatoes

🥗Healthier: fresh tomatoes

💰Cheaper: crushed tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes enhance flavor while crushed tomatoes are budget-friendly.

red wine

🥗Healthier: grape juice

💰Cheaper: beef broth

Grape juice adds sweetness without alcohol, while broth keeps costs down.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: lentils

Ground turkey reduces fat content, lentils offer a plant-based option.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free, while pecorino is often less expensive.

Grate half of the carrot.

Pour the olive oil into a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

When hot, add the diced onions to the olive oil and saute for 5 minutes.

Add the minced garlic and grated carrot and saute for 2-3 minutes longer or until onions are translucent and tender.

Add the tomatoes, chopped basil leaves, oregano, thyme bay leaves, parsley, and sea salt.

Simmer on low heat for 2-3 hours or until cooked down and starting to darken.

Add carrot piece for the last 30 minutes to absorb acidity while the sauce thickens.

Remove the sprigs of fresh herbs, bay leaves, and piece of carrot.

Optional: Use an immersion blender to puree sauce until smooth (for a thicker sauce, skip this step).

Use fresh or store in the refrigerator up to 1 week, or can it according to your canner's instructions for tomato products.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens