Easy Homemade Pasta Sauce | The Mediterranean Dish

canned tomatoes

🥗Healthier: fresh tomatoes

💰Cheaper: crushed tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes can enhance flavor, while crushed tomatoes are often less expensive.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil offers health benefits, while vegetable oil is more budget-friendly.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey can add a unique flavor, while brown sugar is a cost-effective sweetener.

dried oregano

🥗Healthier: fresh oregano

💰Cheaper: Italian seasoning

Fresh oregano provides vibrant flavor, while Italian seasoning is often cheaper.

Grate 2 big carrots using a food processor.

Heat a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil in a pan over medium high heat.

Add chopped onion, grated carrots, and minced garlic to the pan.

Sauté for about 4 to 5 minutes until fragrant.

Add crushed canned tomatoes to the pan.

Add a little bit of water to the pan to rinse out the tomato can.

Season the sauce with salt, pepper, dry oregano, and about a teaspoon of sweet Spanish paprika.

Stir the sauce well and add chopped parsley and basil.

Optionally add crushed red pepper flakes.

Turn down the heat and let the sauce simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Boil a pot of salted water and add spaghetti to cook.

Once the pasta is just about cooked, save a little bit of pasta water.

Add the partially cooked pasta to the sauce to finish cooking and absorb flavors for a couple of minutes.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary