This spaghetti with Nana’s red sauce from The Wicked Healthy cookbook is a simple yet robust dish. Layers of flavor are built over time with just a handful of humble ingredients. This recipe is one you’ll want to bookmark, dog-ear, tweet, etc. It’s a goodie.
I haven’t been reviewing nearly as many cookbooks lately. Not because I haven’t wanted to, but because I’ve had to strictly limit extra projects since I’m working just two days a week.
But when I was contacted to review The Wicked Healthy Cookbook by Chad Sarno, Derek Sarno, and David Joachim, I couldn’t resist.
The Wicked Healthy cookbook offers a fresh, exciting, and chef-led twist on plant-based cooking. Chefs Chad and Derek use innovative techniques and ingredients to create recipes that are sure to entice even the most meat-loving and hoity-toity of palates.
Here’s a rundown of a handful of the recipes on my must-make list:
King Satay with Spicy Peanut-Ginger Sauce
Smoky Poutine
Corn Dumplings in Coconut Corn Broth
Lion’s Mane Steaks
Sourdough Pizza Dough
Lion’s Mane Street Tacos
Sloppy BBQ Jackfruit Sliders with Slaw, Sriracha Mayo, and Pickles
New England Lobster Roll (side note: this one looks CRAZY good)
Banana Blossoms with Coconut and Chile
Stir-Fried Farro Fawcett
Spicy Coconut-Corn Crack
Lobstah Mushroom Chowdah
I’m only halfway through the book, but I’ll cut myself off here. Plenty to entice!
To give you a little preview of the tastiness of this book, below you’ll find the recipe for Spaghetti with Nana’s Red Sauce.
This unassuming dish is full of robust layers of flavor. The trick is all in the sauce. Ingredients are added a few at a time and a lengthy (three-hour) cook time is a must. Trust me, it’s worth it. This is a staple sort of sauce. The “gravy” for a variety of pasta canvases, if you will…
Beyond spaghetti, think: tagliatelle, vegan lasagna, vegan stuffed shells, etc. Splatter this stuff around wherever red sauce is needed. You won’t be disappointed.
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post 1) to grab this recipe and 2) to enter to win your very own copy of The Wicked Healthy Cookbook. And if you simply can’t wait to get your hands on it (I feel you), you can purchase a copy here (←affiliate link).
Spaghetti with Nana's Red Sauce
Ingredients
- Nana Sarno's Red Sauce (recipe below)
- Sea salt
- 1 pound your favorite dried spaghetti or spaghettini
- Chile flakes, optional
- Chopped, fresh basil, optional
- Plant-based Parmesan, such as from Follow Your Heart, optional
Instructions
- Be sure that Nana's sauce is in a pot on the stove on low heat.
- Bring at least 1 gallon water to a boil in a large pot. Season the water with 2 tablespoons salt. (A large pot with plenty of water helps to keep the pasta from sticking, and the salt helps season the pasta and create a chewy yet tender al dente texture.) Add the pasta to the water, fanning it out. Give it a stir, then return the water to a boil and cook until the pasta is tender yet chewy when you bite into a piece, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir occasionally with tongs to prevent sticking. Strain in a colander. The sauce will cling to the pasta better if you don't rinse it.
- There are two ways to serve spaghetti: Mix the pasta into the sauce in the pan, then transfer to a pasta bowl; or put the pasta in a bowl and pour the sauce on top. Most chefs like the former because you can meld the pasta and sauce together over low heat. But my kids pour their sauce on top because they don't like too much sauce. I'm not going to argue with them. Finish with a sprinkle of chile flakes, basil, and some Parmesan.
Nana Sarno's Red Sauce
Ingredients
- Everyday olive oil
- 1 white onion, diced small
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced small
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 28-ounce cans San Marzano tomatoes, drained
- 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
- About 1/4 teaspoon organic cane sugar (optional)
- Large handful of basil leaves, torn
Instructions
- Heat a large saucepot over medium-high heat. Add enough oil to cover the bottom of the pot. Sauté the onions in the oil until they look golden around the edges, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, bell pepper, and oregano. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper, then sauté until the peppers are soft, about 5 minutes.
- Use your hands to pinch and pull out the canned tomatoes' cores, then crush the tomatoes right into the pot. Add the tomato paste and sugar. Fill the tomato paste can 4 times with water, adding the water to the pan, and stir until incorporated. Simmer the sauce uncovered over low heat for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring now and then to prevent burning. Use an immersion blender in the pot, or an upright blender, to puree the sauce—or, for the perfect rustic texture, use a food mill.
- Return the sauce to low heat and simmer until the flavors blend, an additional 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Taste the sauce, and add salt, pepper, and sugar until it tastes good to you. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil.
The Wicked Healthy Cookbook Giveaway
One winner will receive a copy of The Wicked Healthy Cookbook. For a chance to win, simply enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below and comment on this post between June 7th and June 20th. Please note: this giveaway is only open to residents of the US and Canada.
This cookbook looks amazing and Inspiring and sure to bring some variety to mealtime. Thanks for the giveaway!
i genuinely love the taste & flavor of fresh produce more than meat and the philosophy behind this book resonates with me
This looks like an amazing cookbook. Thanks for sharing!
The cookbook ecipes sound delicious! I want to make the New England Lobster roll for my dad!
This book sounds really interesting and yummy! Thanks for the chance to win.
I’m always looking for new and exciting, meat-free recipes!
Looks super yummy!
Always looking for a good sauce recipe – freezing batches for later!
Love the pure simplicity of this recipe, looks like this cookbook has some great plant based recipes!
Love how this sauce is made with easy, pantry staple ingredients to make anytime of the year!
the red sauce looks amazing! I look forward to trying it. and the other recipes sound amazing too! love the cover of the book too!
This cookbook looks amazing!!! And I can’t wait to try and make homemade red sauce! Yum!
Super excited about this book and giveaway!
I’ve been eyeing this cookbook for a while! It sounds amazing!
That looks simple yet amazing! Can’t wait to check out this cookbook!
man, it’s lunch time and i really want spaghetti now. specifically nana’s red sauce. looks great, thanks for sharing!!!
What a serendipitous event to find this giveaway here! I have been looking at this book on Amazon for a couple of days now but cannot currently afford to buy anything new. Whether I end up winning a copy or not, I’m going to have to try this recipe!
I’m slowly building my collection of healthy cookbooks and this one looks fabulous! Cannot wait to get it! Thank you!!
I would love to win this cookbook because I was planning on buying it anyway but am a poor student. Haha <3
I am in need of good, vegan recipes.
I am going to make this spaghetti for sure and would love the cookbook!
I am drooling just thinking about it! xo
I can’t wait to try this recipe on zucchini noodles for a light summer supper!
This looks simply delicious! I would love to win the cookbook.
I like the simplicity of the red sauce recipe. I’m sure each ingredient will shine. I’d love to have more recipes from the book. Thanks for the chance, celesta
Hoping to win a copy of this cookbook… my vegetarian fiance doesn’t like most vegetables, and these recipes look like ones he would actually eat! I’m vegan, and have been in a rut of making the same things over and over… these recipes look so unique – I would love to try them (lobster roll… wow!). Oh, and I’m going to try the red sauce – I really need a good recipe for that! Thanks!
That must-make list literally got me drooling, so yes I really really want this book!
I can’t wait to try this sauce! And this cookbook looks amazing. I’m always looking for good plant-based cookbooks :)
The photos in this book look gorgeous! Thanks for the chance to win!
For one, the cover is amazing! This recipe looks delicious, as do all of the others that you listed! I am always looking for new, healthy plant-based meals. Thank you for the opportunity to win!
Those recipe titles sound so good! I never win contests but count me in. It’s worth taking a chance!!!
Gah, yes! The perfect cookbook for a most delicious summer :)
I’m trying to increase my collection of vegan cookbooks so this would be perfect!
This looks fantastic! If the recipes in the book are anything like this then they will be phenomenal! Thanks for offering this giveaway!
Yum!!!
This recipe sounds delicious, can’t wait to try it! And the cookbook sounds really interesting and creative! Thanks for the giveaway!
I’ve been following them for a while, and seeing their cookbook EVERYWHERE. All of their food looks amazing… I would LOVE the opportunity to add it to my shelf. Thank you for having a giveaway and *fingers crossed* :)
This cookbook looks amazing.
Thanks Ashley! This sounds delicious!
I love trying more plant based meals that my family will eat too! Xo
I’d like to win because the recipes look so delicious.
I will have to try this in place of our usual Scarpetta tomato sauce. Thank you for the opportunity to win the cookbook!
Nana’s Sauce sounds wonderful, I’ll be making this simple sauce. I would love to explore more of their recopies. Thank you for the giveaway and an opportunity to win..
OMG this book looks insane !! I have made their lions mane steaks as well as the oyster mushrooms !! They are magicians in the kitchen !! they are revolutionizing vegan cooking and making it the best ever !!!! I would love to see what other epic recipes and gems that are in this book!!!
I would love to win a copy of this cookbook to add to my collection. I’m always looking for fresh ideas for meals. This would be perfect. Thank you for the chance. :)
I’m seeing this cookbook everywhere, it looks amazing! Thanks for the review and the giveaway!
Looks like a really interesting cookbook
I’m sorely lacking in the inspiration department these days, this cookbook looks awesome!
Oh my word – an ode to my East Coast roots in that title AND the perfect lineup of legit, hardy, plant based recipes?! Stoked about this cookbook! And to make this dish;)
I have had my eye on this book. I am really impressed with the range of recipes and the creativity of these writers!
This lools delicious! Can’t wait to get my hands on this cookbook!
I LOVE THEIR BLOG! IT’S FUN AND THE RECIPES ARE AMAZING!!! LOVE THESE GUYS!!
This looks so good! I have been trying to incorporate more plant based meals and to get my two toddlers some more vegetables in their diet and real food. This cookbook would be great to give me some ideas :)
THIS ONE LOOKS YUMMY! I”M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THESE GUYS SO I’D LOVE TO GIVE THEM A TRY. THANKS FOR SHARING THEIR YUMMINESS WITH US!
I love cookbooks and have recently been trying to find some new healthy recipes for my “Summer bod”. Would love to check out this cookbook.
Cooking is actually my #1 passion in life and I get a lot of happiness and inspiration from cookbooks! They are my favorite types of books to read.
I’d love to try some of the recipes you listed from the cookbook – the chowder sounds great, and that red sauce looks delicious!
I would love to win this cookbook because my husband and I are on a mission to become healthier eaters this year- we’re trying to bulk up our cookbook selection, so were never out of ideas. This recipe will be perfect when we’re craving one of those heavy, not-so-healthy italian meals (read: it’ll stop us from ordering pizza!). Thank you!
I have tried the Homemade Marinara that is with the Portobello Parmesan, my daughter and wife thought it was too chunky. So this recipe using the immersion blender should address that complaint. Looking forward to giving it a try. I really like the Homemade Marinara, this should be even better.
i would love to share my passion for vegan cooking with the rest of my family and this looks like the perfect cookbook to get them on board.
I’ve been looking for a new red sauce recipe, this sounds good. This book is on my wish list.
I would love this. I don’t eat meat and I’m always looking for fun new recipes.
I’m looking for bold, exciting meals to prepare, so I’d love to have/win a copy!
I’d like to win because I need a lot of healthy vegan recipes!
Thank you for sharing a preview of The Wicked Healthy Cookbook. I would love to win a copy of this book so I can explore the 80% healthy, 20% wicked way. 😉 Also, it seems like these chefs have some innovative techniques combined with bold flavors and textures and an incredible attention to detail. Finally, I love Woody Harrelson and can’t wait to read the forward. :)
I’d like to win the Wicked Healthy Cookbook because I’m trying to add new foods and ingredients to my diet, in an effort to bring variety and interest to my plant-based lifestyle.
Thanks for the opportunity, Ashley.
I have been taking the plunge into a vegan diet and bringing my meat-loving hubby and kids with me… Extra resources at my fingertips would certainly be appreciated. 😊
I want this cookbook because I am always on the lookout for healthy, creative-type recipes and this book looks like it is just that!
keeps!!! I want this book so bad! thanks for sharing
Everything looks great, but I really want to make the New England Lobster Roll.
I would love to win this as a birthday gift for my foodie bestie!
Hi, I’d like to make this sauce, but I have a question: why drain the tomatoes? At first I thought it was because the liquid would make the sauce too thin, but then, when I read the method, it says to add 4 tomato sauce cans of water. Seems a shame to waste the flavourful liquid from the tomatoes and replace it was plain old water. Am I missing something? Thanks.
Oops, tomato paste cans, not sauce.
Hi, Rose! I was wondering the exact same thing while making this. Since I’m not the one who wrote the recipe, I can’t comment on reasoning or logic. All I know is that the sauce turned out amazing exactly as written!
This looks SO good! I’m always looking for an easy red sauce recipe. Cannot wait to try it :)
I’m always looking for more vegan recipes to try. This book looks interesting.
I’d love this cookbook. Sounds like some classic recipes as well as some creative and unique ones. And at 64, I want to be wickedly healthy!
Love this, Ellen! Hope you’re doing well! :)
Love to be able to try some of these great sounding recipes!
I just cannot resist a good cookbook and this one looks great!
Thanks.
I adore cookbooks and trying new receipes.
I love discovering new cookbooks and delicious recipes!! This one looks awesome!
I like to try new and different recipes.