This AIP, vegan-friendly, and nightshade-free Legit Nomato Sauce look and tastes like real tomato sauce. It’s easy to make using the Instant Pot and perfect for making nightshade-free marinara, ketchup, and bbq sauce too!
Table of Contents
Why This is THE BEST Nomato Sauce
The first is because of my secret ingredients which other recipes miss: fish sauce. Why fish sauce? UMAMI. Did you know? Tomatoes are one of the best plant-based sources of umami flavor. In fact, their sweet-yet-savory flavor comes from their high glutamic acid content. Fish sauce is also high in glutamic acid and umami flavor!
Color! A good AIP Nomato Sauce will look like the real deal in your recipes. With this nomato sauce recipe, I wanted the color to be PERFECT. The flavor is not too tangy, and with a tiny bit of sweetness to truly mimic what homemade tomato sauce would taste like. This AIP Nomato sauce comes together quickly and easily and is perfect to use in any recipe or even make AIP BBQ or AIP Ketchup!
Ingredients for Tomato Free Tomato Sauce
It might seem strange to find that there are no tomatoes in sight. However, for those with nightshade intolerances or allergies, a good nomato sauce is a kitchen staple. Here is what you will need to make this AIP tomato sauce.
- Don’t freak out about that big beet. You’re doing to peel it, and trim the ends. The sauce does not taste like beet at all. This helps get a nice color, you need it.
- Just a little sweet potato, this helps add a little sweetness without adding sugar or dates.
- Carrots, celery and onoin because a mirpoix is the foundation of flavor for all things!
- Fish sauce for salty umami which tomatoes have in spades.
- Apple cider vinegar for tangy acidic flavor.
- Copious amounts of garlic powder and Italian Herb seasoning for that Italian flavor!
- Not pictured, a cup of bone broth (or water) as the base.
Step by Step Homemade Nomato Sauce
This AIP marinara and tomato base sauce comes together very easily. Dice, saute, cook and blend. Here are simple steps to nightshade-free cooking bliss.
- Dice all your veggies, and heat the olive oil then add in the onion, celery, carrot and garlic. Saute until tender. Mix in the seasoings.
- Add in the apple cider vinegar to delgaze the pot. Add in the root veggies.
- Mix well and pour in the fish sauce and bone broth.
- Close the lid and pressure cook on medium for 8 minutes. Once done open the lid.
- Carefully transfer all of the vegetables and liquid to a blender.
- Puree until smooth.
- Taste and add more salt, vinegar or fish sauce as needed or to taste. If you’re not AIP you can also add in some black pepper.
Tips, Tricks and Recommendations for AIP Nomato Sauce
What I love about this sauce is that it’s really easy and you can use it for many different recipes like chili, soups, pasta, and more.
- Make it AIP BBQ Sauce: blend 1/2 cup Legit Nomato Sauce with 2 tablespoons honey, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, a tiny pinch of ground clove.
- Make it AIP Pizza Sauce: blend 1 cup Legit Nomato Sauce with 2 teaspoons Italian herb seasoning, and 1/4 teaspoon ground oregnago, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Make it AIP Ketchup: reduce the broth or water by 1/4 cup, add 1 tablespoon honey or 1 date when blending and up the salt by 1/2 teaspoon or to taste.
- Make it less sweet: Omit the sweet potato.
- Make it more tangy: Add more lemon juice, up to 1/4 cup.
- Never run out: Make a double batch and freeze it in ice cube trays! Just pop a cube or two in any recipe calling for tomato sauce.
Notamto FAQ’s
Yes, but I would replace it with 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast.
I don’t recommend it if you make this sauce only with carrots and sweet potato it will be too sweet and too orange. Don’t worry, you CAN’T taste it.
Yes, and replace it with only lemon juice.
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Legit Nomato Sauce (AIP, Whole30)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 5 cups 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: AIP
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This simple tomato-free tomato sauce is perfect for any recipe for those with nightshade allergies.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 3 ribs celery, diced
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fine salt, more to taste
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoon Italian Herb blend (AIP compliant)
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 beet, peeled, trimmed, and diced (about 2 cups)
- 1 small sweet potato, peeled and diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 cup bone broth or water
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
Instructions
- Heat your pressure cooker (or Dutch oven) on saute mode. When it comes to temperature drizzle in the olive oil.
- Add in the diced onion, celery, and carrots. Saute for 3-4 minutes or until tender. Mix in the salt, garlic powder, and herbs.
- Continue to saute until aromatic, then deglaze the pot with the lemon juice and vinegar, scraping the bottom of the pot. Add in the beets and sweet potato.
- Mix in the broth (or water) and fish sauce, Close the lid and set to pressure cook on medium heat for 8 minutes. If you’re making it stovetop, cover and bring to a simmer for 30 minutes or until tender.
- Once done, open the lid, and transfer everything, CAREFULLY, to a blender.
- Puree until totally smooth and bright red! Taste and add more salt if you like or a little more lemon for more tang or more fish sauce for umami! See post for BBQ sauce, Ketchup, and Marinara modifications.
Recipe Notes:
- You can replace fish sauce with 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast.
- You can omit the sweet potato but not the beet (replace the sweet potato with more carrots).
- You can use all ACV or all lemon juice depending on needs or preferences.
- There are NO added sugars in the recipe, it is WHOLE30 compliant. The sugar in the nutritional information is the natural sugars in the vegetables.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 86
- Sugar: 3g
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 3f
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: AIP Nomato Sauce
Z says
I just had to go low FODMAP and I’m also starting a modified AIP diet. My partner is on the spectrum, so they deal with some fairly troublesome food issues. They don’t like beets or sweet potatoes, and they despise fish sauce. I had to substitute the onion and garlic with scallion greens and chives, and I added I believe 1/4 tsp of asafoetida. This was such an insane hit at our house that my partner says they prefer this over actual tomato sauce! This is going on the list for long term recipes, and after the low FODMAP phase I’m going to try it as written.
★★★★★
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
Thanks for listing your modification!
Helen says
I have tried many versions this is the best and tastes grreat. Thanks
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
Thank you Helen!
LC says
I was looking for an AIP replacement for pizza sauce, and when your site came up in the search results, I saw mention of “fish sauce” and thought, “I have found my people!” I have long used fish sauce as a flavoring agent for that little hit of umami it lends.
I just finished my second batch of your nomato sauce, and wanted to thank you for an amazing recipe that my husband and I agree we actually prefer to regular tomato-based sauces. Even if he successfully reintroduces tomato products after the AIP elimination phase, this recipe will be our go to for all things tomato sauce-based.
I love the power-packed nutrition, and the flavor of this sauce is outstanding.
Your site has been a God-send to us starting out on this AIP journey, and I deeply appreciate the time and effort you put into making such tasty recipes.
★★★★★
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
Thank you sooo much!
Candra says
Can I cook this on the stove top not using a pressure cooker?
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
You can totally do stove top – use a dutch oven and simmer until tender.
Amy says
I’m going to have to try this, though I don’t think it can beat the ease of your Nomato Sauce from Made Whole. It’s my go-to after trying a handful of others.
Marilyn says
I wasn’t sure where to leave this comment, but when I printed this recipe it included the section for the video. Please remove this from the print version. It used up a substantial amount of black ink, and it’s useless to have it included in a recipe. Also brings the entire recipe to 3 pages which is also unnecessary. I could not figure out how to delete it prior to printing.
Cristina says
The BEST nomato sauce i’ve ever tried. Even better than regular tomato sauce
★★★★★
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
Thank you for your comment and review!
Caitriona says
Wow this sauce turned out so great! It was so satisfying finally having a sauce to add to my spaghetti squash and meatballs. Thank you again to Cristina for making an AIP diet a little easier
★★★★★
Chrissy says
Not surprised at all how delicious this is. Made a double batch last night and can’t wait to use it to make BBQ sauce!
★★★★★
Michelle S. says
I’ve tried at least 10 variations of nomato sauces. And this… this masterpiece is the only one I’ll ever need going forward. It is perfection. The flavor is so balanced, just right on the acidity and umami, the color is spot on. If you are nightshade sensitive then look no further you’ve found the sauce! Thank you again Cristina for your flavor wizardry!
★★★★★
Chris says
very good
★★★★★
Jackie says
AMAZING
★★★★★
Jody says
I could not wait to make this! It is SO good. The color is and consistency is perfect. I love the bright flavor the lemon brings. It’s really the best nomato recipe I’ve tried. THANK YOU!
Michelle says
I love you. So excited to try this.
And all the mods for different sauces?? You’re a freaking food angel!
★★★★★
REK981 says
It looks great!! I will have to make it once I get moved and settled!