Description
Nonna’s Secret Veggie Pasta Sauce hides nutritious vegetables beneath a rich, silky blend that delights picky eaters and health-conscious families alike. Packed with hidden goodness and irresistible flavor, you’ll want this sneaky sauce in your weekly meal rotation.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups pasta, any shape
- 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
- Grated parmesan cheese for garnish
Vegetables:
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 celery ribs, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Cooking Oils:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Sauté a medley of finely chopped onions, celery, carrots, bell peppers, and zucchini in heated oil over medium heat for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until vegetables become soft and slightly translucent.
- Introduce minced garlic to the vegetable mixture and pour in tomato sauce, reducing heat to low. Cover the pan partially and allow the sauce to gently simmer for 15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld together.
- Carefully transfer the simmered vegetable sauce to a blender, processing for 1-2 minutes until achieving a completely smooth and velvety consistency.
- Combine the silky sauce with freshly cooked pasta, incorporating a small amount of reserved pasta water to enhance the sauce’s texture and creaminess. Optional: Garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese for an additional layer of flavor.
Notes
- Sneak extra veggies into picky eaters’ meals by blending the sauce until completely smooth, hiding the vegetable textures.
- Customize the sauce’s thickness by adjusting pasta water when mixing – add more for a lighter consistency or less for a thicker coating.
- Boost nutrition by using whole wheat pasta or adding protein like ground turkey or lentils directly into the sauce for a more balanced meal.
- Extend sauce shelf life by storing in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze in portion-sized containers for quick future meals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg