I’ve said it before, but my hubby is not the biggest fan of traditional Spaghetti (thus this and this), but I am.  We had a lengthy discussion about this and what it came down to was the sauce.  He’s just not a fan of the bottled/canned sauces that are available to purchase on the grocery isle.  So, I set out to make us a homemade sauce that would make all of our tummies smile.  Here’s what did the trick!

The secret to most GREAT sauces is the opportunity to let them simmer for a nice amount of time.  While this sauce takes only a few minutes to prepare, it does require a nice 45-minute simmer.  So, plan ahead.  The simmering is where all the magic happens, so don’t be messing with that step if you mess with anything.

I love the balance of textures found in the sauce.  I used a combination of diced tomatoes and crushed tomatoes and I think it yielded some fabulous texture.

The spice combination is pretty perfect too!  If I wasn’t feeding a 2-year-old, I may have added a bit more crushed red pepper . . . but what I have in the recipe is definitely enough to give is a slight punch without really even noticing it’s there. And, you’ll find all your traditional Italian spices in there too.

I must note that I used no added sugars.  Sugars are typically added to most spaghetti sauces.  I was hoping that this sauce would taste well without it, and I am happy to report that it’s not even missed . . . not one bit!

You can easily use lean ground beef in the recipe.  I chose to use ground turkey to save a little on calories and fat, but they can be interchangeable.

This recipe makes a lot of sauce.  I like it that way because then I can freeze it and use it for later (without having to do any of the work).  It freezes beautifully.

I like to serve this sauce on top of whole wheat noodles of any kind.  It would also be delicious served over spaghetti squash.  Seriously  . . . I’m so glad to have this recipe because now we can have spaghetti a little more often with smiles all-around!  Homemade is always better, isn’t it!?

Fit Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Mimi’s Fit Foods
Adapted from Tastes of Lizzy T

Ingredients:
2 pounds ground turkey
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 (14.5-ounces each) cans Italian diced tomatoes, with juice
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
1 cup water
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Directions:
In a large saucepan, brown the ground turkey along with the chopped onion. Drain, if necessary.

Add in the rest of the ingredients and bring to a low boil, stirring often. Once the sauce is heated through and at a low boil, reduce the burner temperature to low and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Yields Approximately 13 Cups.

Nutritional Information (Per 1/2 Cup):
77 Calories | 7.9g Protein | 4.1g Carbs | 3.6g Fat (0.9g = Sat.) | 0.6g Fiber | 2.5g Sugars