Slow Cooker Vegetable Spaghetti Sauce
Fennel seed adds spunk to this veggie spaghetti sauce combo.
2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
2 medium carrots, chopped (1 cup)
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms (6 ounces)
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano,
undrained
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (6 ounces) Italian-style tomato paste
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fennel seed, crushed, if desired
12 ounces uncooked spaghetti
Grated Parmesan cheese, if desired
1. Heat oil in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook onion and carrots
in oil 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender. Stir
in mushrooms and bell pepper.
2. Spoon vegetables into 4- to 5-quart slow cooker. Stir in remaining
ingredients except spaghetti and cheese.
3. Cover and cook on low heat setting 7 hours. Uncover and stir well.
Cook uncovered on high heat setting about 1 hour or until sauce is desired
consistency.
4. Cook and drain spaghetti as directed on package. Serve sauce over spaghetti,
sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Note: This recipe was tested in slow cookers with heating elements in
the side and bottom of the cooker, not in cookers that stand only on a
heated base. For slow cookers with just a heated base, follow the manufacturer’s
directions for layering ingredients and choosing a temperature.