Tomato & Zucchini Pasta Sauce
Posted Jul 21, 2017, Updated Jun 30, 2024
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Fresh tomato & zucchini pasta sauce is a delicious marinara sauce that’s easy to make in the blender with a handful of simple ingredients. A delicious way to enjoy fresh summer tomatoes and zucchini!
If you garden, chances are you grow tomatoes and zucchini and are always looking for fresh ways to enjoy the summer harvest. Well, this tomato & zucchini pasta sauce is a delicious and nutritious way to use the best summer produce.
Tomato & Zucchini Pasta Sauce: Substitutions
As always I recommend making this recipe exactly as written, but here are a few potential substitutions:
- Tomatoes. Roma, heirloom, etc. are all great choices. Or you can use 2 cans of crushed or diced tomatoes.
- Garlic powder. Minced garlic is a great substitute.
- Onion powder. Use half of an onion in place of the onion powder, if desired.
- Sugar. honey is a great substitute.
How to make Zucchini Pasta Sauce
Blend. This recipe is straightforward and simple! Blend everything in the Vitamix (or other high-powered blender or food processor) then transfer to a saucepan and cook.
 Simmer. It’s important to let the sauce simmer for a while to allow the flavors to blend. Since tomatoes vary in their sweetness and size, be sure to taste your sauce and adjust the seasonings as you see fit!
Color Changes. The sauce will become deeper red as it cooks, so if it looks a little pink when you’re just done blending done worry!
Serve
Use this sauce the same way you use marinara sauce! Here are some suggestions
- Serve it with meatballs like homemade meatballs, turkey meatballs or chicken meatballs.
- Use it to make lasagna – beef lasagna or vegetable lasagna.
- Or, pizza casserole, stuffed shells, cheesy sausage gnocchi, etc.
- Serve it plain over fresh homemade whole wheat pasta.
Store/Freeze
Store in an airtight container or glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Tomato & Zucchini Pasta Sauce FAQs
Yes, the tomatoes and zucchini need to be cooked for the best flavor.
Yes, you can follow best canning practices and can this sauce.
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Zucchini Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 pounds tomatoes (about 6, quartered)
- 2 small zucchini (shredded – about 2 cups)
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 4 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons fine sea salt (or more to taste)
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- Place zucchini and 4 tomatoes into the container of a high-powered blender (Vitamix)
- Blend, starting on low speed and gradually increase to high speed for 30-60 seconds or until a liquid is formed. (You may need to pause, scrape down the sides, then continue blending).
- Add the rest of the ingredients (the remaining two tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper and sugar) and blend until smooth.
- Transfer the sauce to a saucepan and cook on medium heat until it begins to bubble.
- Once mixture begins to bubble turn heat to low and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until the sauce is a deep red color.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Serve over your favorite pasta.
Notes
- Tomatoes. Roma, heirloom, etc. are all great choices. Or you can use 2 cans of crushed or diced tomatoes.
- Garlic powder. Minced garlic is a great substitute.
- Onion powder. Use half of an onion in place of the onion powder, if desired.
- Sugar. honey is a great substitute.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Great use of summer produce!
My husband was JUST inquiring whether I knew how to make a good homemade pasta sauce and the answer was: no! Totally going to try this one – sounds delicious and so easy!
I love, love, love this recipe! The addition of zucchini is wonderful and the texture look so good!
What a great way to use up those fresh summer veggies! Can’t go wrong with pasta either! 😉
This is a brilliant way to up the veggie content for dinner! Perfect for picky eaters. 🙂 Thanks!
I must make this ASAP! It sounds and looks amazing! My family is going to devour it!
Tis the season to find all kinds of ways to use that zucchini and I do love this! Especially for folks who seem to have an aversion to green things on their plate, sneak veggie!