Simple Healthy Marinara Sauce
Marinara Sauce is always great to have on hand. It is fantastic for dipping , is fantastic on pasta and can turn any plain dish into something more exciting.
is something that we kind of just go buy but it is actually really easy to make and you can flavor it as you choose. Use the recipe below to create your own super simple and delicious marinara pasta sauce.
This recipe is vegan, gluten free, grain free, dairy free, extremely simple and convenient to have on hand.
- 1/2 Cup Organic Low Sodium Vegetable Broth
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Cup Finely Chopped White Onion
- 3 Crushed Cloves Garlic
- 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 2 Tbsp Organic Low Sodium Tomato Paste
- 5 Cups Chopped, Peeled and Crushed Tomatoes
- 1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
- 2 Tbsp Sliced Fresh Basil
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Oregano
- 1/4 tsp Sea Salt
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Directions:
Clean Eating Spaghetti Sauce Brands:
This is a list of clean eating spaghetti sauces that I have found at the store. This is by no means a complete list. The basic point is that you want to look at the ingredient list on the jar, and know each and every ingredient as something you would/could purchase separately to cook with at home. So basically, tomatoes, basil, garlic, and oil. Items you would buy separately. If there is anything in there that you wouldnt/couldnt buy individually, chances are, its not clean. You also want to avoid added sugars. And if that all becomes too much, you can alway make one of my recipes listed below!
Aldi Specially Selected Premium Marinara
In terms of money-saving groceries, Aldi is a pretty great store to shop at. Nothing is too expensive, and there are a ton of options. The store brand of marinara sauce there, too, is pretty impressive. Aldi’s Specially Selected Premium Marinara isn’t the absolute best premade sauce on the market, to be fair, but it might just surprise you anyway.
According to one review of Aldi’s sauce, it’s decent overall, though “a little on the bland side.” But there’s also a bit of a culinary conspiracy theory that says the Aldi sauce is actually the same as Rao’s Marinara sauce, meaning you’d be getting an especially good deal on an amazing store-bought sauce if you buy the Aldi brand. Whether or not the two sauces are the same, it’s hard to deny that the Aldi’s sauce is a lot better than you might have thought.
You May Like: Costco Rao Sauce
Is Sauce A Superfood
Almost 70 percent of the sauces in our tests received at least a Very Good score for nutrition. Tomato sauce supplies vitamins A and C, plus lycopene. Tomatoes are one of the few foods high in this antioxidant, which, in addition to giving tomatoes their red color, has been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer, and other diseases.
Cooked tomatoes have far more lycopene than raw because the heat during cooking changes the chemical shape of lycopene, making it much more easily absorbed, says Xiang-Dong Wang, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Nutrition and Cancer Biology Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston.
And a little fat in your sauce can further enhance lycopene absorption. Most of the sauces we tested had fewer than 5 grams of total fat per serving and no saturated fat. Even among the higher-fat sauces, the source of the fat was almost always olive oil. The monounsaturated fats that make up the majority of the fat in olive oil help protect against heart disease and stroke when theyre part of a healthful diet, says Amy Keating, R.D., a Consumer Reports nutritionist who led the testing.
Did You Make This Recipe
Tag on Instagram and hashtag it #monkeyandmekitchenadventures
This post contains affiliate links, and we may receive a very small commission if you purchase through those links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Monkey and Me Kitchen Adventures! For more information, see our disclosures here.
Read Also: Raos Sauce Recipe
Recipe Notes And Substitutions
- Oil: For oil, I recommend using either organic palm oil, organic light olive oil, or organic avocado oil as they have higher smoke points.
- Sweetener: You can really use any sweetener you like or omit. If using stevia, use 1 scoop .
- Onions: You can substitute two small diced onions for the dried minced onions if you like.
- THM: This recipe will qualify as an “S” if you are on the Trim Healthy Mama plan. Reduce the oil to 2 Tbsp for a “fuel pull,” assuming you will use about 1 cup sauce per person.
Delallo Pomodoro Fresco Marinara Sauce
Many customers also love DeLallo Pomodoro Fresco Marinara Sauce for its authentic Italian recipe.
This sauce is made from premium quality ingredients providing you a palatable taste in every snack. DeLallo sauce is made from natural, fresh handpicked ingredients giving you a pure tomato flavor with a subtle blend taste of fresh herbs and spices.
This sauce is also artificial coloring and flavoring-free, letting you enjoy your pasta and pizza more.
You can enjoy DeLallo Marinara sauce just by using it as a topping for your favorite snacks, or you can use it to prepare family meals.
Also Check: Costco Rao’s Marinara Sauce
Barilla Marinara All Natural Pasta Sauce
Barilla Marinara Sauce also hits the market for its superb flavor quality. This Marinara Sauce has a rich flavor due to its all-natural and premium ingredients.
Vine-ripened tomatoes, aromatic herbs, and extra virgin olive oil are slowly simmered together coming up with rich taste and thick texture perfect for pasta, pizza, and many more.
Barilla Marinara Sauce doesnt come with artificial coloring and preservatives.
It can also be an excellent source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C, it is also low on cholesterol and a good source of fiber, so you can enjoy your food more and worry less.
Prego Lower Sodium Traditional
It might be good for your heart because it’s lower in sodiumcompared to the other Prego sauces, that is. But if you’re looking for low sodium, check out our best list of healthy spaghetti sauce brands below for an “Eat This”-approved recipe. Because between the excess amount of sugar and inflammatory omega-6s from the canola oil, this sauce really isn’t as heart-friendly as we’d like.
Read Also: Rao’s Tomato Sauce Costco
Asda Four Cheese Pasta Sauce
Rating for calorie-counters: 5/10Weight: 310gPrice: £1 at Asda
Verdict: Generally speaking this isn’t the healthiest pasta sauce, but in terms of cheese sauces Asda’s Four Cheese Pasta Sauce isn’t too bad. This is unfortunately reflected in the taste. While it has a creamy texture, it also has a bland flavour and definitely needs extra seasoning. Try adding a clove of garlic and grating some extra cheese on top if you’re looking for a treat.
Dr Sana Khan says, “This cheese sauce is not as expensive as others, although the saturated fat intake is 3.5g, in terms of salt and sugar this is not a bad option.”
4
Bertolli Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce
Rating for calorie-counters: 6.5/10Weight: 400gPrice: £1.99 at Waitrose
Verdict: Known for its olive oil, Bertolli has now put its name to a range of pasta sauces. While the price point is higher than the other tomato and Basil sauces we tried, we think it’s worth spending the extra money. In fact it’s so delicious there’s no need for extra seasoning. Plus it’s low in saturated fats and isn’t bad on the calorie side either. All in all it’s a great sauce and a worthy contender – we’re hoping there’s more flavours to come from Bertolli.
Dr Sana Khan says, “The salt and fat content are on the lower end in this pasta sauce. However, the sugar content is higher than necessary.”
6
You May Like: Rao’s Alfredo Sauce Costco
Raos Homemade All Natural Premium Quality Marinara Sauce
Made from fresh Italian tomatoes and herbs, this sauce is a feast for the taste buds!
Features:
- Sweetnessis from evaporated cane juice
- 80calories per ½ cup serving
- Goodsource of vitamin C
- Containsspices like garlic, oregano, and basil
Pros
- Contains340 mg sodium
- Moreexpensive than other brands
Raos homemade marinara sauce is very popular for its intense and power-packed flavors. It is as good as a genuine homemade sauce, although you buy it at a store.
Raos homemade marinara sauce is renowned for its organic range. The organic factor also sets it apart from competitor brands.
Since it contains fresh Italian tomatoes, it is a rich source of Vitamin C. The natural seasonings include pepper, fresh onions, and garlic. However, Italian herbs like oregano, fresh basil, and pepper add a gourmet touch.
The rich and hearty texture of this sauce can transform even the simplest pasta dishes. It also works well when mixed with ground meat or chicken. You can also use it as a dipping sauce or for pizzas and tofu dishes. The flavor is smooth and pleasant.
The only drawback is that Raos homemade marinara sauce is more expensive than other brands. However, the superior flavors make it worth its price.
About This Easy Marinara Sauce
But most homemade pasta sauce takes a lot of time.
I have very fond memories of my mother simmering homemade pasta sauce for hours, and hours, and hours at home.
The house smelled wonderful and it was such a treat to get to sample the pasta sauce ladled on a piece of bread . Yum.
It was lovely.
But hours and hours this busy mom doesn’t have.
Instead of slaving over a hot stove for hours, you can have delicious homemade easy marinara sauce in minutes.
And it tastes great.
And if you can memorize the ingredients, it’s easy peasy to recreate this easy marinara sauce because I made the measurements the same for the spices across the board.
One Tablespoon of each spice.
Easy Peasy Marinara Sauce Squeasy.
Just one thing — as I mentioned, you can easily memorize this recipe, so it’s easy to remember, but just don’t put something like cinnamon or ginger in there. ‘Cause then I’m not responsible for the outcome :). Just sayin’.
And also please promise me that you won’t sample it on white bread, ‘mkay?
I think you will love this sauce.
You will love that it’s easy, you will love that it is a great frugal option, and you will love that it tastes great.
And if you want meatballs with your pasta, you can try these Grain-Free Meatballs that actually hold together without eggs.
Read Also: Is Rao’s Sauce Worth It
Why You’ll Love These Zucchini Noodles
These spiralized zucchini noodles taste fresh and light but have enough sauce that they’re a hearty meal.
This recipe is successful for a couple of reasons – good whole tomatoes, lots of garlic, dried herbs, and a quick sauté of the noodles.
I like making this recipe on the weekend and portioning it out for a few lunches over the week. You can eat it cold or heat it up.
Prego Light Smart Traditional Italian Sauce
Were pleased by the low-calorie option out of Prego, but they still add sugar as a stand-in for fatan unfortunate substitution as the vitamin A found in tomatoes is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means your body wont be able to reap its free-radical-fighting benefits without a little drizzle of EVOO. Thats why its one of our foods youre eating wrong.
You May Like: Roas Sauce
A Quick Tomato Sauce History
Is tomato sauce good for you? This blog will be focusing on the bottled, table tomato sauce such as Heinzs brand, not the traditional sauce that is used in Italian pasta dishes. Lets start by looking at the history of tomato sauce. The first recipe produced for a Tomato sauce was in 1732 according to National Geographic. It is traditionally made up of tomato, sweeteners, vinegar, salts, spices, onion/garlic and some natural flavourings. Its success was due to its long shelf-life, this was initially due to some harmful preservatives such as tar. Henry Heinz initiated his bottle of tomato sauce in 1876, he later went on to launch a preservative-free version in 1905, from there he dominated the market.
Nowadays in the US 3 bottles per person are bought every year . There are 2 main types of tomato sauce on the market, the organic bottle and the original type. Heinz lead the market of tomato Ketchup until the rise of the supermarkets in the 1980s which competed for the market. In 1993 Heinz owned 43% of the market and was mainly sold from supermarkets. The 3 main meals we use tomato sauce with is hot dogs, burgers and french fries.
What To Do With Homemade Marinara Sauce
Feel free to use this marinara sauce on anything youd like! Ella loves making pasta with this marinara sauce and adding freshly grated parmesan cheese and basil on top. Also, low-carb pasta , zucchini noodles, and spaghetti squash work great with this sauce. My favorite way to enjoy this marinara sauce is to pour it on top of lentils.
You May Like: Where To Buy Rao’s Marinara Sauce
So What Exactly Is The Difference Between Pomodoro And Marinara
Lets start with their ingredients. While there are plenty of variations , the *essential* ingredients for a good marinara include: fresh tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, fresh basil, and salt. And while some recipes call for a few additions, like red onion or carrot, the basic ingredients are the same for pomodoro sauce: tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil, and salt. So, again, Whats the difference? you may ask. Consistency, for one.
Chowhound
Why Make Homemade Marinara
- 6 ingredients. Yep, just canned tomatoes, olive oil, fresh garlic, dried oregano and basil, sugar, and salt.
- Healthy. This homemade pasta is lower in sugar and sodium than what youll find at the store. Plus, we all know tomatoes are good for you :).
- Freezer-friendly. Store it for up to 4 months in the freezer.
Also Check: Campbell’s Garlic Butter Sauce
La San Marzano Marinara Sauce
If you dont have the time to create batches of homemade tomato sauce from scratch, then do not settle for something tasteless and watery.
If you want a marinara sauce that tastes like something that came from the stovetop, this marinara sauce from La San Marzano is the best bet to achieve a homemade taste.
This brand was founded more than 40 years ago and is imported from Italy.
The ingredients are simple, clean with no added sugar, giving a homemade taste. It is made from peeled tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, fresh onions, sea salt, and fresh sliced garlic, black pepper, oregano, and fresh basil.
The texture of this sauce is thinner, but it is rich in flavor, leaving an authentic taste. It makes a perfect pair in pasta, salad, and can be used as a dipping sauce.
You May Like: Where To Buy Raos Sauce
More Zucchini Recipes To Try
- Creamy Zucchini Pasta with Lemon – a rich and creamy sauce with half zucchini noodles and half pasta noodles
- Shaved Zucchini Salad – ribboned zucchini with creamy cheese, lemon, and pine nuts
- Baked Zucchini Fries – zucchini sticks baked with cotija cheese and breadcrumbs
- Zucchini Tartlets – puff pastry zucchini tarts with goat cheese and microgreens
- Kousa Mahshi – stuffed zucchini with rice and ground beef
Also Check: Costco Rao’s
The Fewer Ingredients The Better
Less is more when it comes to tomato sauces, specifically with the ingredients.
Real tomatoes contain natural acidity and a gelatin-like substance that binds the sauce together. As a result, you get a tasty flavor and smooth consistency that does not require additional ingredients.
Some marinara sauces contain unhealthy additives, which are commonly found in food to cut down the price, making the product with lower quality ingredients taste even better.
It is always essential to read the nutritional label of the jarred marinara sauce you are buying to make sure you get the best quality food. If you are torn between two jars, choose the one with fewer ingredients.
And The #1 Best Pasta Sauce Iscucina Antica Tomato Basil
Out of all the spaghetti sauce brands we ranked, this pick narrowly edged out its brand brother by being even lower in calories. Plus, made with all simple ingredients, you could easily whip this recipe up at homebut it may not even be worth it with this option being just a grocery-store trip away. Now that you know how fab your pasta can be, be sure to also avoid these surprising foods with more carbs than a bowl of pasta!
Eat This, Not That!
You May Like: Rao’s Spaghetti Sauce
How To Make Zucchini Noodles
I used a spiralizer to make these zucchini noodles and I highly recommend getting one if you think you’ll make zucchini noodles more than once. You can also spiralize carrots, apples, and all sorts of other food, but I mainly use mine for zucchini.
All you need to do is cut the ends off the zucchini, affix it to the spiralizer, and turn the handle. Most spiralizers come with multiple plates that allow you to cut your vegetables to varying thicknesses. I generally use the medium noodle size for everything.
If you’ve never used a spiralizer before, get an extra zucchini just to test on. The most important part is not to crank the handle so hard you break the noodles or tip over the machine.
If you get really long noodles, you can just cut them or break them into smaller pieces.
