Meatless "Meat" Sauce

It's hard to believe but here I am - posting my second blog of the week --- and it's only MONDAY.  I'm just going to go ahead and say it - I'm pretty darn proud of myself.  Back to back blog posts --- that's got to be the sign of a good week, right?  

This is going to be a really busy week so dinner's are happening between 5:00 and 5:15 every night.  (Anyone else so over-scheduled that dinner occurs within a 15 minute window?)  Hello pasta dinners!  I love a good pasta sauce that I can make ahead of time so getting dinner on the table by 5:00 --- easy as pie.  ;)  

Meatless "Meat" Sauce
8 ounces mushrooms
6 Tablespoons olive oil
1 onion
1 clove garlic
​1 1/4 teaspoons dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup tomato paste
28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 cups chicken broth
15 ounce can chick peas, rinsed
2 Tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
​

Pulse mushrooms in food processor.  

Heat 5 T. oil in dutch oven.  Add mushrooms and 1 t. salt. Cook 8 minutes until browned.  

Pulse onion in food processor.

Add onion to mushroom mixture.  Cook 5 minutes. 

Combine 1 T. oil, garlic, oregano and pepper flakes.

Add tomato paste to mushroom, onion mixture.  

Push vegetables to sides of pan and pour garlic/oil mixture in center.  Cook 30 seconds.

Stir in tomatoes and broth.  Bring to simmer and cook 5 minutes.  

Pulse chick peas in food processor.  

Transfer to a strainer and rinse under running water. 

Add chick peas to pot and simmer until slightly thickened.  

Stir in basil and season with salt and pepper. ​

Serve with your favorite pasta.  

I love a great homemade pasta sauce and this one makes the list as one of my favorites.  I don't eat very much ground beef so I don't normally order (or make) meat sauce.  I usually make meatballs so the carnivores in the house can have their meat and the non-meat eaters can have their pasta too.  No more separation of meat and sauce for this girl anymore though - EVERYONE loved this sauce!  I hope that your family enjoys it as much as mine did.

Ciao!

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