HEARTY Marinara Sauce

This heart healthy sauce goes great with all your favorites. It's filled with fresh vegetables that gives it a natural sweetness and saltiness so no need for enhancement with this sauce. A few canned items are needed, however unless you prepare your own tomato sauce and paste.
The colorful vegetables used in this sauce is a medley of good health. The red in the tomatoes and peppers as well as the green in the zucchini, pepper and spices are loaded in phytochemicals which studies have shown to help your body fight disease and promote good health. In addition to the oranges and yellows of carrots and peppers full of beta carotene.


5-6 Tomatoes, chopped
1 Can reduced sodium tomato paste
2 (15 oz.) cans reduced sodium tomato sauce
1 large onion, chopped
3 Cloves garlic, minced
1 sm. Red bell pepper, diced
1 sm. Green bell pepper, diced
1 sm. Yellow bell pepper, diced
2 sm. Zucchini, sliced
2 Carrots, sliced
2 cup Fresh baby spinach, chopped
12 Mushrooms, sliced
1/4 c. Red wine
2 bay leaves
1 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tbsp. basil
1/2 tbsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. sage
2 bay leaves

Prepare and combine all the ingredients together in a large stewing pot on the stove. Simmer for about 2 hours. Add the dry herbs and simmer for another 1 to 2 hours. Remove bay leaves before serving.

*Serve over whole grain breads, crustiness or pastas. Also great as a multigrain bread stick dipper. White bleached carbs are bad and should be limited. Whole grain or mutligrain carbs are GOOD and are ESSENTIAL in weight loss.