This light, tangy, and super flavorful Red Wine Pasta Sauce comes together using a few ingredients in under an hour. Take your red pasta a notch higher using this easy sauce recipe (vegetarian, gluten-free, and can be easily made vegan).
Here are a few more homemade sauces that you may like – Strawberry BBQ Sauce, Lemon Drop Hot Sauce, Thai Sweet Chilli Sauce, Bechamel Sauce, Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce, Cilantro Chimichurri Sauce, Gigi Hadid Spicy Vodka Pasta and Peri Peri Sauce.
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About Red Wine Pasta Sauce
Red Wine Pasta Sauce is a delicious combination of crushed tomatoes, Italian herbs, and of course, the star ingredient – red wine.
This pasta sauce is super easy to whip up, comes together in no time, and is bursting with robust flavors.
If you are looking for a unique red pasta sauce, your search ends here. Toss it up with your favorite pasta and serve it for weeknight dinner or weekend brunch.
Not only pasta, but you can use this versatile sauce to make many other dishes. I have mentioned a few options in the post below, do check them out.
This pasta sauce with red wine freezes well. You can double or triple the recipe and freeze it for later use.
This recipe is also gluten-free and vegetarian and by replacing honey with any vegan sweetener, you can make it vegan-friendly too.
Ingredients
Use the best quality tomatoes and olive oil and seasonings to make the best-tasting pasta sauce.
Red Wine – Choose your favorite dry red wine to make the sauce. Don’t go for expensive wines, the inexpensive ones with bold and rich flavors and peppery undertones will do. You can try merlot, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, chianti or zinfandel.
Crushed Tomatoes – Use your favorite brand of canned crushed tomatoes. My personal favorite is Cento San Marzano crushed tomatoes, as they are high quality, and have perfect flavor and texture.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Use the best quality one!
Seasonings – The pasta is seasoned with Italian herbs such as oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Adjust the quantity depending on your taste.
Others – You will also need onions, garlic, honey, fresh basil, and veg bouillon powder.
Honey is added to cut the acidity from tomatoes and wine. You can also use sugar instead.
The addition of bouillon powder gives it an extra rich and delicious flavor. You can replace the veg powder with chicken bouillon powder for added flavor.
How To Make Red Wine Pasta Sauce
Heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
Once the oil is hot, add ¼ cup grated onions, 2 teaspoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, and ½ teaspoon salt and cook for 5-7 minutes, until the onions are softened and lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
Stir in ½ cup of dry red wine and cook until it is nearly evaporated (2-3 minutes).
Add the remaining ½ cup of wine and cook until it is reduced by at least half and leaves a trail when a spatula is pulled through it (6-8 minutes). Stir frequently while cooking.
Stir in 36 oz (1 kg) crushed tomatoes, 2 tablespoon honey, 2 teaspoon veg bouillon powder, and 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and bring the sauce to a simmer.
Cook for 10-12 minutes until the sauce is thickened, stirring frequently.
Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper and 2 tablespoon chopped fresh basil and mix well.
Check for salt and pepper and add more if needed.
Remove the pan from the heat and use the sauce as desired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they can. The alcohol content of the wine evaporated while cooking and only the flavor of red wine is left behind. So it’s perfectly safe for the kids to eat this sauce.
Serving Suggestions
Throw in your favorite cooked pasta in this flavorful red wine sauce and serve it for weeknight dinner or weekend brunch.
Other than pasta, you can also use this sauce to make homemade pizzas, risotto, open toast, open zucchini boats, vegetable casserole, soup, or bruschetta.
Use it as a dipping sauce for Grilled Cheese, Baked Sweet Potato Wedges, and Air Fryer Potato Wedges.
I use it to make my Italian Eggs and Million Dollar Spaghetti.
Storage Suggestions
This pasta sauce will last for about 4 to 5 days in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. I will recommend storing it in a glass container, as it might stain the plastic container.
It is also freezer friendly! You can also make it in bulk and freezer for later use. I will recommend storing it in individual containers or zip locks, as once thawed you can’t freeze it again.
Reheat the sauce in a pan or microwave until nice and hot before serving.
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Recipe Card
Red Wine Pasta Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (divided)
- ¼ cup grated onions
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- teaspoon salt (divided, plus more to taste)
- 1 cup dry red wine (divided)
- 36 ounce canned crushed tomatoes (1 kg)
- 2 tablespoons honey (use maple syrup for vegan)
- 2 teaspoons veg bouillon powder
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper (or to taste)
- 2 tablespoons chopped basil leaves
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add onions, garlic, oregano, and ½ teaspoon salt and cook for 5-7 minutes, until the onions are softened and lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in ½ cup of dry red wine and cook until it is nearly evaporated (2-3 minutes).
- Add the remaining ½ cup of wine and cook until it is reduced by at least half and leaves a trail when a spatula is pulled through it (6-8 minutes). Stir frequently while cooking.
- Stir in tomatoes, honey, bouillon powder, and red pepper flakes, and bring the sauce to a simmer.
- Cook for 10-12 minutes until the sauce is thickened, stirring frequently.
- Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt, black pepper, and basil, and mix well.
- Check for salt and pepper and add more if needed.
- Remove the pan from the heat and use the sauce as desired.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!