Simple Vegan Tomato Sauce

Simple Vegan Tomato Sauce

This easy, 20 minute homemade vegan marinara sauce is also gluten free. Use with pasta, vegetarian lasagna, pizza, or to mix with roasted vegetables to add an extra layer of flavor.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup good quality extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 medium white or yellow onion

    coarsely chopped

  • 3 medium cloves garlic

    minced

  • 1 can crushed or diced tomatoes

    28-ounce

  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 pinch granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves

    chiffonade

Directions

  1. 1

    Gather the ingredients.

  2. 2

    In a large skillet or saucepan, heat 1/4 cup good quality extra-virgin olive oil over medium heat. Sauté 1/2 coarsely chopped onion and 3 medium garlic cloves (minced) for just a few minutes, until soft.

  3. 3

    Add in 1 (28-ounce) canned crushed or diced tomatoes with juices, and season with 1/2 teaspoon fine salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Add a pinch of sugar. Allow the sauce to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

  4. 4

    Remove the pan from heat and stir in the 1/2 cup fresh basil just before serving. Serve with your choice of pasta or other dishes.

Simple Vegan Tomato Sauce

Simple Vegan Tomato Sauce

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About this Recipe

Craving the vibrant taste of homemade tomato sauce but short on time? This Simple Vegan Tomato Sauce delivers rich, fresh flavor in just 20 minutes of cooking, making it perfect for busy weeknights.

The beauty of this vegan marinara sauce lies in its simplicity and fresh ingredients. By sautéing aromatic garlic and onion in good quality olive oil before adding tomatoes, you build a foundational flavor that tastes like it simmered for hours, not minutes. The result is a genuinely homemade sauce that is both naturally vegan and gluten-free.

You'll be delighted by the bright, robust tomato flavor, complemented by the gentle sweetness from the sautéed onion and a hint of sugar. The freshly minced garlic adds a pungent depth, while the chiffonade of fresh basil provides a fragrant, herbaceous finish that elevates every bite. This sauce has a wonderful texture, making it versatile enough to cling perfectly to pasta or spread smoothly over pizza.

This sauce is incredibly adaptable to your preferences. While the recipe is delicious as written, you can easily adjust the balance of salt, pepper, and sugar to suit your taste. For a subtle depth, consider using fire-roasted crushed tomatoes if you want to experiment with a smoky note, though the traditional crushed or diced tomatoes work beautifully.

Serve this versatile sauce as the base for your favorite pasta dishes, layer it generously into a vegetarian lasagna, use it as a flavorful spread on homemade pizza, or toss it with roasted vegetables for an extra layer of flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions