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Homemade spaghetti sauce on top of noodles with basil and Parmesan cheese in white bowl.
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4.96 from 22 votes

Healthy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

This Healthy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce recipe is meatless and made from scratch with fresh tomatoes! It's vegetarian and uses fresh herbs.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Keyword: spaghetti sauce, spaghetti sauce from scratch, spagetti sauce fresh tomatoes, marinara sauce
Servings: 5
Calories: 461kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 2 shallots or 1 small onion
  • 12 roma tomatoes or San Marzano tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
  • ¼ cup fresh basil or 2 Tbsp. dried basil
  • 1 tsp. thyme or ½ tsp. dried thyme
  • 1 tsp. oregano or ½ tsp. dried oregano
  • 2 tsp. sugar adjust to taste
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt adjust to taste
  • ½ tsp. pepper adjust to taste
  • 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 1 package gluten free pasta noodles or regular noodles if not gluten free
  • Parmesan cheese optional

Instructions

  • Prepare the gluten free pasta according to package instructions and drain. Set aside.

Blanch The Tomatoes:

  • Fill a large pot with water, place the pot on the stove top, and bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, carefully drop 12 roma tomatoes into the pot using a Spider strainer or slotted spoon (being careful not to splash yourself with boiling water).
  • Lower the heat a bit and boil the tomatoes for 3-4 minutes, or until the skin begins to break open.
  • Fill a large bowl with ice water. Once the skins have begun to split as the tomatoes are boiling, carefully remove each tomato with a Spider strainer or slotted spoon and place them in the ice bath.
  • Allow the tomatoes to cool completely in the ice water and discard the hot water that was used to boil the tomatoes. Once the tomatoes are cool to the touch, carefully peel the skin from each one and discard. Remove the core from the top of the tomatoes using a paring knife or small metal scoop.

Prepare The Spaghetti Sauce:

  • Mince 6 cloves of garlic and 2 shallots (or 1 small onion). Mince ¼ cup fresh basil, and 1 tsp. each of fresh oregano and thyme.
  • Place a large pot on the stove top and heat to medium. Add 2 Tbsp. olive oil. Once the oil is heated add the garlic and shallots. Sauté for 5-6 minutes, stirring often. Add the peeled and cored tomatoes to the pot and sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring often.
  • Once the tomatoes have sautéed for 4-5 minutes, it's time to smash them with a potato masher (or some similar kitchen tool). Cook the tomatoes on medium heat for another 10 minutes, smashing them often with a potato masher. They will begin to break apart and look more like a sauce.
  • After 10 minutes or so add 1 8 oz. can of tomato sauce, 2 tsp. sugar, ¼ cup fresh chopped basil, 1 tsp. each of fresh oregano and thyme, and ½ tsp. kosher salt and pepper.
  • Cook for another 5 minutes, all the while continuing to mash the tomatoes with a potato masher. Add 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter to the sauce and simmer for a few more minutes on low or until the butter has melted.
    If the sauce is still too chunky for your tastes feel free to pulse it with an immersion blender until it reaches your desired consistency. Be very careful when using an immersion blender in hot spaghetti sauce! Be sure to turn the heat off before using an immersion blender in a pot of sauce on the stove top.
  • Taste the sauce and adjust the sugar, salt and pepper levels. Add more fresh herbs if you like.
  • To Serve: Serve sauce immediately on top of prepared pasta and add desired toppings such as extra basil and Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Nutrition information includes cooked pasta.
If sauce is too watery add a bit of tomato paste to thicken it or alternatively let is simmer a little longer to boil off any extra water.
Dried herbs can be substituted for fresh herbs. Adjust dried herb levels to taste.
This recipe is not meant to be canned or jarred. The canning process requires a few extra steps in order for it to be safe for consumption. This recipe is meant to be enjoyed fresh.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 461kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 208mg | Potassium: 631mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1445IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 2mg