Super Secret Veggie Pasta Sauce
Super Secret Veggie Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
For the Super Secret Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 zucchini, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar, (optional, to balance acidity)
To Serve
- 12 ounces pasta, cooked according to package directions
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Ask a grown-up to help you heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until it's soft and see-through, about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Stir in the minced garlic, chopped carrots, zucchini, and red bell pepper. Cook for another 8-10 minutes, stirring sometimes, until the veggies start to get a little tender.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
Pour in the diced tomatoes (don't drain them!), tomato paste, vegetable broth, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and sugar (if you're using it). Give everything a good stir.
⏱️ 2 min
- 4
Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then turn the heat down low. Cover the pot and let it cook for at least 20 minutes, or even longer (up to 30 minutes) for the best flavors to mix and mingle. This is where the magic happens!
⏱️ 25 min
- 5
Carefully remove the pot from the heat. Now for the super secret part! Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce right in the pot until it's super smooth and creamy. If you don't have an immersion blender, a grown-up can carefully transfer the sauce to a regular blender (in batches if needed) and blend until smooth, then pour it back into the pot.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Taste the sauce and ask a grown-up if it needs a tiny bit more salt or pepper. Serve your super secret veggie pasta sauce over your favorite cooked pasta. Don't forget a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese if you like!
⏱️ 3 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Super Secret Veggie Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
For the Super Secret Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 zucchini, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar, (optional, to balance acidity)
To Serve
- 12 ounces pasta, cooked according to package directions
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Ask a grown-up to help you heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until it's soft and see-through, about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Stir in the minced garlic, chopped carrots, zucchini, and red bell pepper. Cook for another 8-10 minutes, stirring sometimes, until the veggies start to get a little tender.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
Pour in the diced tomatoes (don't drain them!), tomato paste, vegetable broth, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and sugar (if you're using it). Give everything a good stir.
⏱️ 2 min - 4
Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then turn the heat down low. Cover the pot and let it cook for at least 20 minutes, or even longer (up to 30 minutes) for the best flavors to mix and mingle. This is where the magic happens!
⏱️ 25 min - 5
Carefully remove the pot from the heat. Now for the super secret part! Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce right in the pot until it's super smooth and creamy. If you don't have an immersion blender, a grown-up can carefully transfer the sauce to a regular blender (in batches if needed) and blend until smooth, then pour it back into the pot.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Taste the sauce and ask a grown-up if it needs a tiny bit more salt or pepper. Serve your super secret veggie pasta sauce over your favorite cooked pasta. Don't forget a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese if you like!
⏱️ 3 min