What's the difference between marinara and spaghetti sauce?

Spaghetti sauce is purported to have meat whereas marinara does not. However, as a vegan blogger, this recipe website and others will use these terms inter interchangeably.

What pasta goes with marinara sauce?

Any pasta goes with marinara sauce. I like to use penne, fusilli (corkscrew), and shells because they trap the pasta's sauce, making the bite that much more saucy. But spaghetti, linguini, fettuccini, and angel hair work great too. Also, if you have leftover sauce, check out the Veggie Pizza for One .

What can I add to this?

While this dish is basic, I often build on it with leftover grilled veggies and cannellini beans or toss in some sautéed mushrooms and baby spinach or arugula. You could also add sweet bell peppers, steam broccoli or cauliflower florets. The addition of olives or capers will make this into a puttanesca. Or make it a Ragu with the addition of lentils or Walnut "Magic" Meat .

How do I store leftovers?

You can store unused sauce and pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Or freeze the leftover sauce for up to 4 months for reheating later. I don't recommend freezing cooked pasta unless it's al dente (just barely cooked) because it tends to get mushy upon reheating. To thaw, you can put the sauce into the refrigerator to thaw. If you're short on time, you can microwave it on a defrost setting and then finish it off on the stove before serving.

Simple Pasta Marinara

Description

This simple pasta marinara uses our basic marinara sauce. It adds sundried tomatoes, fennel seeds, and your favorite whole-grain pasta to provide the perfect base for the seasonal veggies of your choosing. It's vegan, oil-free, soy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and full of flavor.

Ingredients

Units Scale

6 cups Super Simple Marinara Sauce (6 cups = 1 batch)
3 Tbsp minced sundried tomatoes (without the oil)
1/2 tsp fennel seed
12 oz. whole grain pasta (gluten-free, or whole wheat)
3 Tbsp fresh basil or parsley
1 Tbsp Easy Vegan Parm Cheese (optional)
1 tsp Crushed red pepper (optional, for more heat)

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Instructions

If you haven't done so already, prepare the Simple Marinara Sauce.

Add prepared marinara sauce, sundried tomatoes, and fennel seeds to a sauté or sauce pan with a lid. Turn the heat to medium and let it come to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to low and cover the pan with a lid.

While the sauce is simmering, make pasta according to the package directions. See Pro Tip for cooking pasta.

Drain pasta and dish up with heated sauce.

Top with fresh herbs and Easy Vegan Parmesan Cheese, if using

Pro Tip

Reduce the cooking time of the pasta by one minute. So if the directions say to cook for 9 minutes, cook it for 8 minutes instead. Then drain the pasta and add it directly to the hot marinara sauce. Continue to simmer the sauce with the hot pasta for another minute. This will make sure the pasta is coated with all that saucy goodness. I use this method when making spaghetti, linguini, or fettuccini pasta.

Notes

EQUIPMENT / SUPPLIES

Knife
Cutting board
Measuring spoons
Sauté or sauce pan with a lid

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Lunch/Dinner Entrée
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian