Chunky Garden Marinara

I wanted to share a simple vegetarian recipe with you that is full of fresh ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen right now!

 

This is a chunky garden marinara sauce I made the other night to go with some whole wheat pasta. I had been craving pasta and couldn't decide whether to cook it to make a cold salad or make up a quick sauce to go over it. I had all these wonderful vegetables at my fingertips, so the marinara won out.

Chunky Garden Marinara 

olive oil or grapeseed oil, 1-2 T.
garlic, 1-2 cloves
small onion, chopped
1-1/2 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp pepper
pinch of salt (to taste)
1 small green pepper, chopped
1/2 medium zucchini, sliced/quartered
mushrooms, canned or fresh (as many as you like!)
20oz jar of organic diced tomatoes

Heat oil in large saucepan, adding garlic, onion, and seasonings. Add green pepper, zucchini, and mushrooms, cooking for 5-7 minutes until vegetables are tender. Add tomatoes, bring to a slight boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for about 20 minutes.

Serve over cooked pasta. ( I used whole wheat farfalle - the pasta cooked while the sauce simmered).

 

And I bet you're not surprised that I added a sprinkling of feta cheese to my plate! This tasted amazing! Even better the next day, after refrigerating overnight (it gives the flavors time to really blend together).

Give this a try - very healthy and a quick dinner, too!

Comments

[Peggy Cutter]

Thanks Denise...I'm going to try this..and take a look at all your archive recipes!...question...what would you add to the sauce to cut down on the acid from the tomatoes?

[Adrianne Iszler]

Looks amazing! Did you get the new Lara Bars?

[sentimentsbydenise]

Peggy - to reduce the acid in the marinara sauce, just peel a carrot, cut it in half and add it to the sauce while it's simmering. Right before serving, remove the carrot from the sauce.
The natural sugars in the carrot will counteract much of the acid in the tomatoes and will greatly reduce the heartburn/reflux problems that you may have.

[Peggy Cutter]

Thanks Denise...want to reduce using sugar as much as possible...should have thought of this...since carrot's are a pure form of sugar!!..Will let you know how it works out!!