Pepper and onion tomato sauce is one of my favorite dishes to prepare when entertaining. The flavors are appealing to most and this particular dish is easy to adapt when catering to various dietary restrictions. What do you cook when you are hosting a dinner party for a combination of vegetarian, meat lover, and gluten intolerant friends? I am always excited when I find a dish that caters to everyone’s preferences. While this specific recipe does not contain meat or seafood, it serves as an excellent vegan base to which you can add chicken or shrimp, in turn creating a vegan and non-vegan option for your guests. In addition, this sauce pairs well with both pasta and rice, giving you an additional option for gluten sensitivities.
Ingredients
- 1 pound bell peppers
- 1 medium red onion
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1.5 cups water
- 3 heaping teaspoons of tomato paste
- Salt to taste
Preparation
- Wash and cut the peppers into strips
- Peel the onion and slice in half rounds
- Chop the garlic
- Place the peppers, onion, garlic, and olive oil in a large sauté pan
- Cook on medium-high heat for 15 minutes until the vegetables are softened
- Add the tomato paste, water, salt and cook for another 10 minutes. Note that depending on the tomato paste used you may need to add more or less paste to achieve the desired richness