8.18.2014

30 Minute Marinara

We are big pasta eaters. It's hard not to be when you've got an Italian around! Doug is in charge of most of the Italian cooking and we are regularly spoiled with really delicious dishes. He's usually the one that makes sauce, too. For some strange reason, we seem to make it more often in the summer than in the winter. Because everyone wants to simmer tomatoes on the stove in 100 degree weather apparently.

Anyway, I used to make the sauce more often than he did so I'm no stranger to the process. Like usual, though, I'm always looking for a faster way to get dinner on the table. I decided to make up a quick version for weeknight dinners when we really want tomato sauce, but don't have any in the freezer.

30 minute marinara! A quick and easy weeknight dinner solution. #pasta #italian

30 Minute Marinara (Weight Watchers = 3PP per serving)
makes 6 servings

Ingredients
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1 6 oz can tomato paste
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3/4 cup onion, diced
  • 1 T Italian seasoning
  • 1 t basil
 Directions
  1. Saute the garlic and onion in olive oil for 2-3 minutes in a large frying pan.
  2. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, and seasoning and stir well.
  3. Simmer on medium-medium low heat for 25 minutes. 

You can serve this over warm pasta, use it in a baked pasta dish, or even use it as pizza sauce. It's not quite the same as Doug's regular version of sauce, but it certainly did the trick for a mid-week dinner.

Do you make your own sauce, or do you stick to jarred sauce? If I get jarred sauce, I like to get one of the Muir Glen varieties. I love their tomatoes!

30 minute marinara! A quick and easy weeknight dinner solution. #pasta #italian