Hidden Veggie Tomato Pasta Sauce (Printer-Friendly)

Smooth Italian tomato sauce blended with carrots, zucchini, and spinach for added nutrition.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
02 - 1 medium zucchini, chopped
03 - 2 cups fresh spinach, washed and roughly chopped
04 - 1 medium onion, chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce Base

06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
08 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)

→ Optional

14 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
15 - Fresh basil, for garnish

# Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, sauté until softened, about 3 minutes.
02 - Add carrots and zucchini. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften.
03 - Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.
04 - Add crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Stir to combine thoroughly.
05 - Season with oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and sugar if using. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook on low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until all vegetables are very tender.
06 - Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Using an immersion blender (or transfer to a blender in batches), puree the sauce until completely smooth.
07 - Return to heat if needed, adjust seasoning, and stir in Parmesan if desired. Serve hot over pasta, garnished with fresh basil.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The vegetables completely disappear into the sauce, leaving only richness behind
  • It freezes beautifully so you can keep a stash of healthy sauce ready for busy nights
  • The texture becomes silky smooth, almost like you simmered it all day
02 -
  • Let the sauce cool before blending or it will explode everywhere and burn you
  • The sauce thickens as it cools, so keep it thinner than you think you need
  • An immersion blender saves so much time and dishes compared to transferring to a regular blender
03 -
  • The sauce tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld together
  • If it is too acidic, add a tiny pinch of baking soda instead of sugar
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