Vegan Marinara Sauce

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This vegan marinara sauce is a delicious tomato sauce using farm fresh tomatoes. Try this gluten free recipe when tomatoes are in season!

I have a complicated relationship with tomatoes.

For the first 20 years of my life, I wouldn’t go near a tomato. I couldn’t stand them. I wouldn’t eat anything derived from tomatoes. I was “that kid” who refused to eat pizza.

Then in college, I finally overcame my aversion to pizza, and I’ve embraced tomatoes ever since.

Tomatoes fresh off the vine are perfection, and the grocery store version just doesn’t compare. When I get a big batch of tomatoes from my farm share, one of my favorite things to make is fresh marinara sauce.

Vegan Marinara Sauce Tips

This vegan marinara sauce is so easy to make, and the flavor is incredible. It can be served with pasta, on pizza, or as a dip.

For the best texture, it’s important to peel the tomatoes before making this sauce. To do this, place the tomatoes in boiling water for about 30 seconds, then transfer them to a large bowl of ice water. The skin should come off easily.

This vegan marinara sauce tastes best if you can give it a few hours to simmer on the stovetop. If you’re pressed for time, you can turn the heat up a bit higher and shorten the cook time as needed.

This sauce freezes well, so you can stash some of it for a cold winter night.

Vegan Marinara Sauce

This fresh marinara sauce is so delicious and easy to make.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Total Time:2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Ingredients

• 2 tbs olive oil
• 2 cloves small garlic minced
• 8 lbs tomatoes
• 2 sprigs fresh basil (no need to chop)
• 2 tbs pure maple syrup or sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper optional

Instructions

• Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Place the tomatoes in the boiling water for about 30 seconds, then transfer them to a large bowl of ice water. (You may need to do this in 2 batches.)
• Remove the skin from the tomatoes. Cut off the cores and remove the seeds. You can do this by scraping the seeds out with your finger, and it’s okay if you don’t get them all. (I use food-prep gloves to protect my sensitive hands.)
• In a large pot, cook the garlic in the olive oil over low heat for a few minutes.
• Add the remaining ingredients and simmer over medium low heat for about 2 hours, or until it reaches the consistency you like. You can turn the heat up a bit if you don’t have 2 hours.
• Remove the basil stalks and leaves, and serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 251mg | Potassium: 860mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 3030IU | Vitamin C: 50mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg

Servings: 10

Calories: 104kcal

Author: Annemarie Rossi

Cost: $1.28 per serving

Price Breakdown

The cost of this recipe will vary according to the cost of your tomatoes. With tomatoes from my farm share costing $1.50 per pound, this recipe costs a total of $12.82 ($12 worth of tomatoes). It yields 5 cups of marinara sauce, or 10 half-cup servings costing $1.28 each.  If you grow your own tomatoes, this price comes way down because the cost of everything other than the tomatoes is $.82. Homemade vegan marinara sauce has a delicious flavor that can’t be found in a jar, so it’s well worth the effort.