Monday, March 14, 2022

Quick and Easy Eggplant Marinara Sauce for Pasta, Rice, or Quinoa

eggplant Marianna sauce

This is no ordinary tasting marinara sauce. 
Cooked eggplant in a simple sauce brings it to a whole new level. Do you ever feel like you want to find more ways to use eggplant?

This thick and rich eggplant sauce is quick and easy to make and tastes hearty and delicious. Perfect over your favorite pasta (I use GF chickpea pasta), rice, quinoa or any kind of grain. Or I've even used it as a cold dip with chips!
 

eggplant sauce , marinara sauce

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The recipe is so fast and easy to make, I hesitate to call it an actual recipe because I use every shortcut I can (jar of organic salsa instead of chopping onions, tomatoes, and peppers, a jar of organic marinara sauce instead of making my own)

pasta and eggplant sauce 

I simply buy a large eggplant, peel it, and chop it into large bite-size pieces and set aside. I then add a 24 ounce jar of marinara sauce (I use 365 brand from Whole Foods Fat Free Marinara Sauce), 1 cup of any chunky mild salsa ( I use organic 365 brand from Whole Foods), 3 cups of water, and the chopped eggplant to a 3 quart sauce pan. After cooking for about 20 minutes, everything blends together and makes a thick delicious sauce.


Eggplant, Vegetables, Fruit, Egg Fruit

This sauce is similar to an eggplant recipe that I posted in back in May of 2017. However, that sauce required a little more chopping. I call this new sauce my quick and easy version. 

Appetite, Bolognaise, Calories, Catering

I found that I was doing so much cooking during the lockdowns that I needed to find shortcuts. Now, I figure, why not continue to use the shortcuts.





Ingredients: 
1 large eggplant, peeled and cubed
1 cup of organic chunky salsa (I use 365 Brand)
1 25 ounce jar of marinara sauce ( I use 365 Brand Fat Free)
1 25 ounce jar of water 
1 teaspoon of garlic powder

Directions: 
Add the salsa, marinara sauce water, garlic powder, and eggplant to a 4 quart saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer or cook on medium until eggplant is soft, stirring to prevent burning. When eggplant cubes are soft, remove from heat and serve over pasta, quinoa, or rice.

My other eggplant recipes that you might enjoy

Since 2020 all of my recipes are vegan (as opposed to vegetarian) and oil-free.  All of my recipes have always been gluten-free since the beginning of my blog in 2010. 

Notes: 

1. This recipe or my original recipe could be used for the Passover holiday. It would taste great over zucchini noodles or Quinoa! 

2. Mushrooms would taste good added to this sauce too. Imagine- eggplant and mushrooms ! Yum 






21 comments:

  1. A marinara sauce made with eggplants..this is so interesting and delicious!

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  2. like your post. thanks for sharing :)

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  3. Usually don't think to use eggplant, but your recipe sounds so easy and delicious I'll give it try. Will pin and wish you a beautiful day!

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  4. This is a brilliant idea, Judee! I'm always looking for new ways to use eggplant. :-)

    Shirley

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  5. I love this idea. And seeing as I am growing eggplants I may need lots of recipes to use them up :)

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  6. This sounds really good! I love that you took the short cuts.

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  7. That looks worth a try! I have prepared mushroom bolognese before and I know I would love this too.
    Not sure If my comment went through as it said error when I hit publish.

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  8. Wow, what a great idea! And using the salsa in lieu of chopping vegetables is brilliant!
    Jenna

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  9. LOVE eggplant in a marinara sauce. This looks great, and it's certainly nice and easy. Just what I like! :-) Thanks!

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  10. I love eggplant and this is a nice way to incorporate it into a recipe without frying it.

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  11. You can't go wrong with a hearty marinara! Or, for that matter, garlic powder. I love your idea about adding mushrooms; that would be the way to go for me. :)

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  12. You're right, that does sound easy!

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  13. Good flavor combination — a classic.

    best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  14. This one of the few ways my husband eats eggplant -- a vegetable I love! I agree with you that having and using shortcut recipes can be a godsend.

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  15. Anything eggplant. I adore eggplant and love any new way to try it.

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  16. i adore eggplant. and i just want to rub it all over with my hands :-) soooo beautiful so smooth so soft to the touch. such a sensual experience - tee hee.

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  17. My husband hates eggplant, I wonder if I could get this past him?

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  18. Looks delicious! I am not the biggest eggplant fan, having only a few favorites, but the zesty sauce would be so good!

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  19. Aubergines/eggplants are a favourite in our house.

    All the best Jan

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  20. I do like a good eggplant recipe!

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Your comments are appreciated. I love knowing who is stopping by to read my posts! Have a great day.

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