I’m really excited to share this recipe. I actually can’t believe how long it took for me to do it… gravy has always been a staple in our Italian household. Of course, before we were all vegan (my mom, sister, and brother are vegan) Sunday gravy meant a lot of meat. But not anymore!
It will never taste 100% identical to a meat-filled gravy (but trust me, that is NOT a bad thing). But this is the recipe that I swear by in our household.
It’s great to serve immediately or to freeze for later. That’s what I really love about it. I will make a huge batch and store some away for a quick meal later. Double the recipe for a bigger batch for freezing, if you are interested in that sort of thing. I use this recipe for pasta, pizza sauce, or just dipping in some good Italian bread. Ughhhh… that is the best.
Willow is a big fan, too. It’s family-friendly and easy on the wallet. Canned tomatoes and tomato paste are literally cents. But enough ramble… onto the recipe.
Recipe
You will need:
- 3 tbs olive oil
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 onion, sliced thin
- 1 can crushed tomatoes
- 1 can of water (use crushed tomatoes can)
- 1 can tomato paste
- 4-5 passes of dried basil
- 3-4 passes of salt
- 3-4 passes of onion powder
- 2-3 passes of pepper
To make:
- In a large pot, add olive oil, minced garlic, and onion. Sauté over medium heat for about 5 minutes or so, or until fragrant.
- Add crushed tomatoes, water (using the crushed tomatoes can), and tomato paste. Stir well until incorporated.
- Add your basil, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Give it a quick stir, turn the heat to high and wait for it to bubble.
- Once bubbling, set to a simmer and cover. Simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid burning on the bottom of pan. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan, too. That is the good stuff.
- Turn off heat and allow to cool before serving or storing.
It’s really that simple. It’s such a flavorful gravy and so versatile… and of course, great in a pinch. I have been making a batch of this weekly just to have on hand. We never get sick of it. But maybe that is the Italian in me.
Have an amazing day, friends. xx bianca
