Vegetarian Pasta Sauce

Transform your pasta night with this hearty and flavorful Vegetarian Pasta Sauce, a wholesome blend of fresh vegetables and rich Italian-inspired flavors. Packed with vibrant ingredients like zucchini, red bell pepper, and a medley of aromatics, this veggie-loaded sauce is simmered to perfection with crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and a balance of dried herbs and spices. Ready in just 45 minutes, it’s an easy and healthy option for busy weeknights, offering a satisfying depth of flavor without any meat. Serve it over your favorite pasta and top it with freshly chopped parsley for a restaurant-quality dish right at home. Perfect for vegetarians and anyone seeking a delicious plant-based pasta sauce!

Nutriscore Rating: 79/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium carrot, finely diced
• 1 medium celery stalk, finely diced
• 1 medium zucchini, diced
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 28 ounces crushed tomatoes (canned)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.

Step 2

Add the chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes, until softened and translucent.

Step 3

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 4

Add the diced carrot, celery, zucchini, and red bell pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.

Step 5

Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, black pepper, and sugar.

Step 6

Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the saucepan with a lid and let it simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 7

After 20 minutes, taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed.

Step 8

Remove the saucepan from heat and let the sauce rest for a couple of minutes.

Step 9

Serve the sauce over cooked pasta of your choice. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1554.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	682.1

Total Fat 31.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 4.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3591.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 95.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 26.6g	0%
Total Sugars 57.4g
Protein 18.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 352.4mg	0%
Iron 9.0mg	0%
Potassium 3665.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 38.3%

Protein: 10.2%

Carbs: 51.5%