Easy Homemade Vegan Marinara Sauce Recipe

Here are the basic real ingredients you need to make this delicious homemade marinara sauce recipe with a rich flavor:

• Large can of crushed tomatoes - do not drain
• Roma tomatoes - save the liquid from the chopped tomatoes
• Olive oil
• Several cloves of garlic
• Carrot - this adds sweetness, eliminating the need for added sugars.
• Red onion
• Sea salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes - for seasoning
• Tomato paste
• Baking soda, to neutralize the acidity of the tomatoes
• Fresh basil, chopped, to stir in at the end

A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

History of Marinara Sauce

There are many stories about how marinara sauce came to be. I found this article interesting while researching this topic. The marinara sauce originated in Naples; one story says that it was invented by mariners returning from the Americas with a newly discovered fruit in the 1700s, the tomato. Another story says that marinara sauce was made for the sailors when they returned from the sea, by their Neapolitan wives.

The marinara sauce recipe is traditionally simple and usually calls for crushed San Marzano tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and basil. You can experiment and tweak the ingredients to your liking, as I did. As you can see from the ingredients list, it's naturally vegan.

First, to make this sauce with basic pantry ingredients, you are going to need to blanch the tomatoes. Read on for how to do it.

Variations

Here are some variations you can try when making this marinara recipe:

• Herbs - Add fresh herbs such as fresh basil or fresh oregano, or add a bay leaf while the sauce is simmering. 
• Vegetables - Add more vegetables such as chopped bell pepper - red peppers or sweet potatoes, which will add natural sweetness. Cut into small pieces and let them simmer in the sauce.
• Vegan meat sauce - Add a cup of cooked lentils to this homemade sauce to make a vegan bolognese.
• Sweet - If you'd like to add sweetness, add maple syrup or balsamic vinegar.

How to Blanch Roma tomatoes

Before you make this Vegan Marinara Sauce, you will need to blanch the tomatoes before removing the tomato skins. Here's how to do it:

• Drop the tomatoes in boiling water and put the lid back on. You will want them in the pot no longer than two minutes total. Remove the lid after 30 seconds or so, and stir the tomatoes around quickly. Put the lid back on, and repeat in another 30 to 45 seconds.
• When the two minutes are up, drain the tomatoes in a colander and run cold water over them.
• Cut an X on the bottom of each tomato and remove the skins.
• Chop the tomatoes into large pieces, and save the liquid along with the tomatoes.

How To Make This Vegan Marinara Sauce Recipe

I have made many variations of marinara, with some recipes taking 20 or 30 minutes to make. For me, the depth of flavor comes in at 45 to 60 minutes. Here's how to make this homemade marinara sauce recipe:

1. Step 1: Blanch the Roma tomatoes as described above.
2. Step 2: Pulse the onion and garlic in the food processor until finely diced, scraping the side of the container and setting aside.
3. Step 3: Add the fresh tomatoes with the canned tomatoes and pulse briefly for about 10 seconds. You want the sauce to be chunky.
4. Step 4: Saute the onion, carrot, garlic, salt, and both types of pepper until softened. Add the tomato mixture and tomato sauce.
5. Step 5: Simmer for at least 45 minutes on low heat or low-medium heat. At the end of the cooking time, taste for seasoning, adding more salt and pepper as desired. Add the baking soda and stir in the basil.