Easy spaghetti marinara recipe | Vegetarian Spaghetti recipe

Name: Easy spaghetti marinara recipe | Vegetarian Spaghetti | Vegan spaghetti marinara
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 kg tomatoes (Or use 1 large can (28 ounces) of whole peeled tomatoes. ); 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; ¼ cup finely chopped onion (or 1 small onion, chopped); 6 cloves garlic (finely chopped); 1 teaspoon dried oregano; ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional); 1 tsp finely chopped fresh basil; salt to taste; 1 tsp ground black pepper; 2 tsp sugar (check notes or use a small carrot); 150 gram whole wheat noodles; 1 tsp garlic, finely chopped; 1 red onion, (sliced); 1 carrot, (sliced); 1 Yellow capsicum, (sliced); 1 red capsicum, (sliced); 1 green capsicum, (sliced); 1/2 cup cabbage, (shredded); salt to taste; 1/2 cup Marinara sauce ((add as required)); 1/2 tsp black pepper powder; 2 tsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp spring onion greens

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Easy spaghetti marinara recipe with whole wheat noodles, yummy vegetables, & homemade marinara sauce! I would love to have this vegetarian spaghetti at any time of the day.

close-up of spaghetti marinara served on a plate.

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Recipe Features
Ingredients to make spaghetti marinara
How to make spaghetti marinara
Cooking Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Variations that you can try
Storage suggestions
Recipe Card

The delicious combination of spaghetti with colorful stir-fried vegetables and yummy Italian marinara sauce makes it an awesome pasta. This spaghetti marinara is a complete meal in itself.

If you crave something light, delicious & healthy pasta for dinner then this vegetarian spaghetti is the best option for you. There are vegetables, pasta, homemade marinara sauce & Italian flavors.

The best part is you can prepare the marinara sauce ahead of time and refrigerate it. The flavors get enough time to mingle together.

Whenever needed, heat the sauce, cook spaghetti, and toss it with stir-fried veggies. Spaghetti marinara is ready within 30 minutes.

Recipe Features

Quick & easy to make - Just toss the spaghetti with marinara sauce & veggies. Vegetarian spaghetti is ready within 30 mintues.
Easy to customize – see the ingredient list below for alternative ingredients. You can add or skip the ingredients as per your taste.
Italian marinara sauce - you can use store-bought marinara sauce too. In this recipe, I have shown how to make the marinara sauce at home.
Make-ahead recipe - You can make it ahead of time. Prepare & store the marinara sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Vegan - No chicken, shrimps, or dairy is used to make this marinara spaghetti.

Ingredients to make spaghetti marinara

For marinara pasta

Pasta - I have used whole wheat spaghetti. You can use any pasta of your choice.
Vegetables - I have used bell peppers (red, yellow & green), carrot, cabbage, red onion, and spring onion greens. They add fresh flavors, crunch & beautiful colors to the salad. You can add any veggies of your choice.
Olive oil - Olive oil is healthy and also has its own beautiful flavor. But you can use any cooking oil.
Flavoring - Garlic, salt to taste, black pepper powder, sugar, and soy sauce.

For Marinara Sauce

Tomatoes - I have used plum tomatoes. But you can use canned tomatoes too.
Flavoring - onion, garlic, salt, ground black pepper, oregano, red pepper flakes, and sugar.
Herb - Fresh basil leaves (optional). But it adds true Italian flavors to the sauce.

For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.

If you like this recipe, you may be interested in these other quick dinner recipes:

How to make spaghetti marinara

To make the marinara sauce

Wash & clean the tomatoes. Make a cut (cross shape) at the bottom of each tomato. Set it aside. (image 1)
Heat 3 cups of water in a pan over high heat. When the water begins to boil, add the tomatoes. (image 2)
Cover & cook for 5 minutes. Remove & drain it to a colander. (image 3)
Immediately put the tomatoes in cold water. (image 4)
Peel off the skin & roughly chop the tomatoes (discard seeds). (image 5)
Reserve a few chopped tomatoes aside & puree the rest of the chopped tomatoes. Set it aside. If you are using canned tomatoes then you can skip the steps from 1-5. (image 6 & 7)
Heat a heavy bottom pan over medium heat & add olive oil.
Add onion & sauté until it is translucent. (image 8)
Next, add garlic cloves and sauté it for 2 minutes.
Add the pureed tomatoes & chopped tomatoes. Combine it well. Let it come to a boil. (image 9)
Now add salt, black pepper powder, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, and sugar. Mix it well. (image 10 and 11)
Simmer the heat & cook for 20 minutes. (image 12)

To cook spaghetti

While the sauce is simmering, let's cook the spaghetti.
Heat 6 cups of water in a pan over high heat. Add salt & stir.
Cook the spaghetti as per the instructions given on the package.
Drain & immediately rinse it with cold water & set it aside. (image 1 & 2)

To make Vegetarian spaghetti

Heat 2 teaspoons of oil on high heat.
Next, add garlic & sauté for a minute.
Add sliced onions and sauté until onions are translucent. (image 3 & 4)
Add carrot, bell peppers, and cabbage. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes. Make sure they retain the crunch. (image 5)
Add salt to taste & mix it well. (image 6)
Add cooked noodles, marinara sauce, black pepper powder, soy sauce. Toss everything well. (image 7)
Taste & adjust the seasoning.
Finally, add spring onion greens, mix and remove from heat. (image 8)
Spaghetti marinara is ready to serve.

Cooking Tips

I have used fresh plum tomatoes. You can also use canned tomatoes. If you are using canned tomatoes then make sure it does not contain any flavors added to it.
The longer you let the marinara sauce simmer, the more flavorful it is. The flavors beautifully mingle at low heat.
Cook the spaghetti until al dente - Cook it as per the instructions given on the package. Mushy or overcooked spaghetti will not taste good.
Rinse spaghetti with cold water - It will stop the further cooking process of spaghetti Also, the excess starch is rinsed with the water that makes the pasta sticky.
Make the marinara sauce ahead - Make the sauce ahead of time, let it cool down completely & store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will reduce the cooking time.
You can use the marinara sauce as pizza sauce too.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to make marinara sauce with canned tomatoes?

If you do not have fresh tomatoes then make the marinara sauce with canned tomatoes. Use 1 large can that weights 28 ounces of whole peeled tomatoes.

What is a marinara sauce used for?

You can use the marinara sauce as a pasta sauce or pizza sauce.

Which tomatoes are best for making Marinara sauce?

San Marzano tomatoes are the best tomatoes for making marinara sauce. But any plum tomatoes can be used to make this sauce.

Variations that you can try

You can add the vegetables of your choice. Add blanched broccoli, boiled corns or mushrooms, etc.
If you are a non-vegetarian, you can add some shredded chicken or shrimp.
If you are not vegan then add grated parmesan cheese and serve. It tastes awesome with parmesan cheese and Sriracha.

Storage suggestions

To store the leftover - Let the spaghetti cool down completely. Store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Consume it within 2 days.

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Easy spaghetti marinara recipe | Vegetarian Spaghetti recipe

Recipe Features