Protein Pasta with Homemade Vegan Tomato Sauce

Our Protein Pasta with Homemade Vegan Tomato Sauce will have you skipping the sauce aisle at the grocery store.  The rewards of creating ones own sauce is nothing short of kitchen magic! Our vegan recipe is always dairy-free and super easy to follow and create. Cheers!

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• 1 box protein pasta (chickpea, lentil, or edamame variety)
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons vegan butter
• 1 large yellow or white onion
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 2 teaspoons basil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons dried or fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1. Time to get your sauce simmering! In a cast-iron skillet over medium-heat, add three tablespoons of olive oil and one tablespoon of vegan butter. Cut your onion into quarters. Once the butter has melted, add your onion and cover, stirring occasionally, as you allow it to brown for about three minutes.
2. After your onion has cooked down, add two cans of diced tomatoes and four cloves of minced garlic. Stir to incorporate. Cover and let cook about ten minutes, stopping to stir every 3-5 minutes.
3. When your tomato sauce is simmering, add your oregano, basil, salt, red pepper flakes, and the other two tablespoons of vegan butter. Reduce the heat to low and simmer 10-15 more minutes, until fragrant.
4. After the sauce is bubbling and the onions have grown translucent, carefully transfer the sauce to a blender; you can do the following part in stages if it's easier. Being mindful of the temperature, set the blender to puree, then vent the heat.
5. After you've blended the sauce, transfer it to a stainless steel saucepan over low heat. It should be a reddish-orange color (like the photo above) and smooth, without any visible chunks of tomato or onion. Make sure to stir the sauce occasionally as you prepare your pasta. You may add more salt,  herbs, or red pepper taste.
6. While your sauce is simmering, follow the instructions on the box to prepare your pasta. Make sure to salt your water with 1 teaspoon of sea salt. Once the pasta is cooked and drained, drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil to deepen its flavor.
7. Ladle a generous serving of sauce over your pasta. Serve with a green salad and warm french bread for sopping up the sauce!

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