3 Ingredient Pasta Sauce

This 3 Ingredient pasta sauce is all you need for lazy, healthy, comfort food nights. For recipes like this one, I became in love with the simplicity of Italian food.

When you plan to eat your way through Italy you can't leave Appetizers like Eggplant Parmesan, Italian Eggplant Stew, and Eggplant Involtinis behind! There are so many widely known eggplant dishes, but these are the must-haves.

It's all about the right ingredients in Italy. Less is more, the Italian mantra for pasta sauces and preparations—a couple of them in the blog, such as the Lemony Spaghetti and the famous Pasta Alla Puttanesca.

💚 Why you will love it

• Effortlessly Simple
• Rich Tomato Flavor
• Versatile Use
• Quick to Prepare
• Healthy Choice

🧾 Ingredients

This 3-ingredient pasta sauce will not make you stroll the supermarket corridors. It can't be simpler. And it is one of my favorite WFPB 3-ingredient pasta recipes.

• Eggplants: These purple gems serve as the hearty base of the sauce, adding a rich, velvety texture. Plus, they're low in calories and fiber, making your pasta both delicious and more satiating.
• Tomato Sauce brings tangy sweetness and rich color to the dish. Fun fact: tomatoes are also packed with lycopene, an antioxidant that can boost your skin health.
• Garlic: Ah, the zesty kickstarter! Garlic infuses the sauce with a pungent depth, while its natural antimicrobial properties keep you fighting fit.

Optional

• Fresh Basil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Basil adds a fragrant, herbaceous note, and the olive oil enriches the sauce with a luxurious, silky finish. Consider them the Beyoncé and Jay-Z of the plant-based culinary world.
• Pair with Your Favorite Pasta Noodles: The true canvas for this saucy masterpiece. Opt for whole-grain or legume-based options for an extra nutritional kick!

See quantities and complete instructions in the recipe card.

🔪 Instructions

Get nice and firm Eggplants. The Eggplant is the Queen of the Recipe. Get the best ones!

Your three ingredients for this excellent spaghetti sauce are eggplant (Aubergine), garlic, and tomato sauce.

The 3-ingredient pasta sauce: an easy pasta sauce from scratch

1. Cut the eggplant into medium-sized dice.
2. Put the eggplant cubes into the skillet and the grated garlic on medium-low heat and let it roast a little.
3. Sautée the eggplant cubes until they are all roughly roasted and soft.
4. Add the tomato sauce.
5. While it cooks, boil your pasta using the pack’s directions.
6. Turn the fire off, add the olive oil and basil leaves if you add them, and adjust the salt and pepper.

You might add some olive oil and/or basil leaves, which I recommend but is unnecessary. This one is truly the tastiest pasta sauce we have had, with only three ingredients. How?

📖 Variations

In Italy, this same sauce is called Pasta alla Norma when adding about 9 oz of ricotta cheese. If you want to go for a Vegan Norma Sauce, we recommend adding a serving of our 5-minute Vegan Ricotta Cheese recipe, see the creamy eggplant with tomato ricotta.

Use it with your favorite pasta.

Read on: how to make your own fresh vegan pasta dough and homemade noodles!

🥡 Storage

Storing the sauce is easy and works for many other recipes. It is easy to thaw and add to a bowl of boiled pasta.

Simply put it on medium-low in a saucepan for 10 mins.

In the fridge, you can also ley in thaw for a couple of hours.

How do we come into this three-ingredient tomato sauce?

Remember: the key is on the ingredients, ensuring you either have an excellent passata or blend your tomatoes and have a beautiful bright eggplant.

If you feel like sprinkling some extra Parmesan, you should take a look at our 5 minutes Homemade Vegan Parmesan Cheese.

🍷 Wine pairing

• Italy - Red - Lacryma Christi (Campania)
• Spain - Red - Grenache (Sierra de Gredos)
• United States - Red - Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara)

🍝 More Easy Pasta Recipes

• Cacio e Pepe Spaghetti (with Wine Pairing Suggestions)
• Lemony Spaghetti (with Wine Pairing Suggestions)
• 5 minute Vegan Pesto

If you fancy more Italian Inspiration, have a check at our

• Roman-Style Artichokes (Carciofi alla Romana)
• Romanesco Broccoli
• Risotto alla Milanese

In love with Eggplants? 9 Vegan Eggplant Recipes

• No-fry Eggplant Parmesan (Parmigiana di Melanzane)
• Vegan Eggplant Involtini (with Wine Pairing suggestions)
• Mom's Pickled Eggplants
• Catalonian Escalivada (with Wine Pairing Suggestions)

⭐ If you try this recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!

📋 Recipe

3 Ingredients Pasta Sauce (Vegan Pasta alla Norma)

Author: Gustavo De Obaldia

This 3 Ingredient Pasta Sauce is all you need for lazy, comfort food nights. This recipe is the reason we became in love with Italian food' simplicity.

4.9 from 27 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Resting Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Basics & Preparations, Main Course, Sauces & Dressings

Cuisine Comfort Food, Italian-Inspired

Servings 5 Servings

Calories 76 kcal

Equipment

(affiliate link)

Skillet (affiliate link)

(affiliate link)

Cutting board (affiliate link)

Ingredients

 

CupsMetric

 

0.5x1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 eggplant large and diced (medium dices)
• ▢ 24 ounces tomato puree no additives such as Italian passata, or 3 lbs of ripe tomatoes blended
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic grated or minced
• ▢ 1 tablespoon salt
• ▢ black pepper to taste

Optional:

• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin, organic (skip if you are on a low-fat diet or WFPB diet)
• ▢ 10 basil fresh leaves are highly recommended
• ▢ 1 lb pasta short, (like a Bran Rigati)

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Directions

 

• Dice: Cut the eggplant into medium-sized dices.
• Roast: Add the eggplant cubes and grated garlic into a skillet on medium-low heat. Allow them to roast slightly, achieving a golden hue without burning. Stir occasionally. For added richness, consider using a tablespoon of olive oil.
• Sauté: Once the eggplant cubes are roasted and soft, which should take about 3 to 5 minutes, proceed to the next step.
• Add Tomatoes: Introduce the tomato puree to the skillet. Adjust the heat to medium-low or lower if there's too much splatter. Place a lid on the skillet, stirring occasionally.
• Make Pasta: Start boiling your salted water for the pasta, according to the package instructions.
• Simmer: Allow the sauce to cook for about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your stove's intensity. The goal is to reduce the liquid by about a third, leaving a sauce with distinct eggplant chunks.
• Season: Once the sauce is ready, turn off the heat. If using, add the olive oil and basil leaves. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
• Combine: Drain the pasta and combine with a portion of the sauce, reserving some to be served on top. Enjoy your meal!

Notes

Let the sauce rest for 5 minutes before serving off the fire. Is good for the sauce to consolidate its flavor before been served.
You can freeze it in portions and have the portions ready to defrost in minutes for quick pasta meals.
You can add it to other preparations just like Grilled Tofu and have a full protein meal.

If you like Parmesan Cheese, try to sprinkle with our 5 mins Vegan Parmesan "Cheese"

Wine Pairing by our Sommelier Ramón Barreiro @pejo_barreiro

• Italy - Red - Lacryma Christi (Campania)
• Spain - Red - Grenache (Sierra de Gredos)
• United States - Red - Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara)

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 76kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1435mgPotassium: 812mgFiber: 5gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 715IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 3mg

Did you make this recipe?Tag @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram and Hashtag it #ourplantbasedworld so we can see what's cooking!!

Gustavo De Obaldia

Website | + posts

As the lead content writer and recipe developer at Our Plant-Based World, he combines his passion for health and sustainability with a Plant-Based Nutrition Certification to create accessible, delicious vegan recipes. His expertise in plant-based cooking supports the blog's mission of fostering a healthier, environmentally conscious lifestyle through simple and seasonal dishes. His commitment to making vegan cooking enjoyable and inclusive for everyone shines in each recipe and article.

• Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing
• Creamy Carrot Hummus without Tahini
• Easy and Protein-packed Yellow Lentil Wraps
• Easy, Healthy Pasta Salad (High in Protein)