Basic Nomato Sauce (Tomato Free Tomato Sauce)

Chef# 616082's Note:

This recipe comes from the Interstitial Cystitis Network site at www.ic-network.com/bev/april00. We enjoy it just as much in spaghetti and enchiladas as tomato sauce. One batch makes the equivalent of 2 larges cans of tomato sauce (4 cups) so I use half the batch and freeze the other half in a freezer bag for next time. I find that I have to add about 25 percent more spice than I did when I used tomatoes.

• Total Time: 35 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 2

• 6 carrots , peeled and diced
• 1 small beet , peeled and diced
• 1 large onion , diced
• 3 celery ribs , diced
• 1 bay leaf , whole
• 1 ½ cups water

Directions:

1. Put everything in a covered pot, bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer until veggies are soft.
2. Take out the bay leaf, blend well till smooth and use as you would tomato sauce, spicing appropriately for the dish you're using it in.

Reviews

[jkochhar]

Review via my 2 year old-tomato allergic (but spaghetti loving) son. "YUUUUMMMMMYYYY! "

[Unrising Muffin]

I really enjoyed this recipe.

1) If you end up with a runny sauce, you either boiled for too long or put it in the food processor for too long.

2) I would recommend to add the following ingredients to give some punch to this sauce. While not bad as it is (not bad at all in fact) it might be but somewhat sweet for the super tasters (or boring for those who usually burn their throat with hot spices)...

2 Tbsp Vinegar
2 Tsp Oregano and/or Basil
1 Tsp Garlic powder
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Black Pepper

[birdnerd]

I tried this and I thought I followed the directions, but what I ended up with was the just about the right color for real, fake 'mater sauce, but the texture was runny and grainy and the taste had nothing going for it. As much as everyone else raves about this, I'm thinking I must have done something really wrong. It didn't work for me at all.