I could go on and on about all the different ways to use marinara sauce, it is super easy, low-cal, and delicious!  I usually make a big batch of it and then use it for multiple meals during the week, or use some and freeze the rest.

I always have diced tomatoes and tomato sauce (the plain canned version) in my pantry they are great to whip up chili, tacos, and marinara.  I love having these on hand because they can be used so many different ways and you can easily throw them together on a busy night.

Ingredients Needed:

1 large can diced tomatoes

1 large can tomato sauce

1 T basil

1 T oregano

1 t red pepper flakes (or to taste)

2-3 T extra virgin olive oil

salt & pepper

Calories: approximately 65 per 1/2 cup

To get started you simple put some olive oil in a large pan or sauce pot next I like to quickly saute my minced garlic with the seasonings to release some of their flavors before adding in the tomatoes.   After that simply add in the diced tomatoes I usually use a large can or two smaller cans.   Then you add in a large can of tomato sauce.   Let it simmer for about 10-20 minutes and then let cook on low heat for around an hour.  I never add any sugar or anything like that because when you let the tomatoes cook slowly for a longer period of time you get a really delicious tasting sauce with out adding in anything bad for you! I always use this marinara for home-made pizzas and I find that even with a vegan style pizza it adds tons of flavor to the veggies and I really don’t miss the cheese at all!  Of course I always make two and the second one has all the cheesy goodness of a regular pizza that my hubs and daughter love! Then of course you have your traditional uses like with pasta, one of my husbands faves is with homemade chicken cutlets.  You can also make chicken parmesan by simply taking the chicken cutlets topping with sauce and fresh mozzarella and throw it under the broiler for a few minutes and it is so yummy!

Xo Meg