Well my friends, some days feels like walking on sunshine and some days it’s a “grab your umbrella and take cover” kind of day. Today was one of those latter days… figuratively and literally! The rain came to town and I can’t deny that it made me feel as grey as the clouds in the sky… sigh. You know what always puts a smile on my face though? PASTA!
Yeah yeah we’ve heard a lot of trash talk about pasta, but pasta makes me smile and if I’m guessing correctly it puts an ear to ear grin on your beautiful face too. And today I’m selling smiles, not grey skies so pasta it is! Tell me you’re with me?!
No I am not about to teach you how to make homemade pasta *GASP* I’m not that talented friends..! Not just that, but who has the time? Not this mama, not today. What I do have for you is something that will solve your weeknight dinnertime problems. Served with your favorite noodles, zoodles, or roasted veggies, this Easy Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce is sure to take any grey skies from clouds to sunshine with just one taste!
It can be made on the spot with no prep time, or be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for a delicious homemade pasta sauce for any night of the week. Cook your favorite meatballs in it, or throw some cooked meat in and you’re belly will be forever grateful!
Bet You Didn’t Know
By now you probably already know the skinny on tomato sauces… The added sugar, preservatives, and salt are enough to give any pasta dish a bad rap. While I do enjoy some sugar free options found on grocery shelves, there is still nothing like the taste of fresh tomatoes and spices! And good thing tomatoes are amazingly healthy for us… I went ahead and amped up the nutrition factor even more with peeled baby carrots, because I’m always looking for more Vitamin A in my diet! Carrots are full of Vitamin A and antioxidants that help give our skin that GLOW. Carrots also help to absorb the acidity of tomatoes naturally as oppose to using refined sugar. Carrots and tomatoes are a true winning team!
And let’s not knock the glorious health benefits of tomatoes! Cancer research suggests that antioxidants absorbed by the body from tomatoes may aid in protection from breast cancer for women and prostate cancer for men. Short story, my friends… Homemade pasta sauce is so good for you and this one packs a mighty punch!
It’s All In the Sauce
My kids love this pasta sauce and it’s a major bonus for me, because the veggies are all in the sauce! This means I actually have less food to prepare. No extra side dishes, salads or veggies, IT’S ALL IN THE SAUCE! I’m pretty excited about it, but that’s probably all too obvious by now.
You Will Need:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 1/2 cup peeled baby carrots (straight from the bag!)
1 box, 26 oz fresh tomatoes, no salt or sugar added*
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 1/2 tablespoons Italian seasoning**
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoons coconut sugar or honey
1 to 2 tbsp water
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon baking soda
Basil, fresh (optional)
*I love Pomi Brand! The taste and freshness have not compared to any other tomatoes I’ve tried. And this is not sponsored at all, just my own opinion!
*For a distinct and yummy twist on classic Italian Seasoning I used McCormick Naturals Tuscan Seasoning Blend. It has a blend of traditional Italian spices plus the addition of roasted red peppers and tomatoes, marjoram… if you can find it I suggest giving it a try. Also my own opinion!
How to Make:
- Heat olive oil in pan with garlic and carrots. Saute until fragrant being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add tomatoes and paste, plus spices, and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce to low. Simmer for 25 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, scoop out carrots and place into blender with 1 to 2 tablespoons water. Blend until completely smooth.
- Add carrot puree back to sauce, season with salt and pepper, and sweetener of choice and baking soda, then stir and enjoy with your favorite noodles or veggies. Top with fresh basil if desired.
That’s a Wrap!
And that’s all there is to it. Simple, fresh, and easy! I’m definitely adding this sauce into my meal prep day, what about you? I hope this gives you another delicious and healthy idea for a quick meal that everyone will love. Let me know how you like it, if you give it a try. Thank so much for reading friends, and never let any grey skies kill these spring vibes!!
X o X o,
Check out my printable version of this recipe below!
Easy Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 box fresh tomatoes, no salt or sugar added 26 oz
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 1/2 cup peeled baby carrots
- 1 1/2 cup Italian Seasoning
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar or honey
- 1-2 tbsp water
- 1 tsp baking soda
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- 1. Heat olive oil in pan with garlic and carrots. Saute until fragrant being careful not to burn garlic.2. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, seasoning, and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, cover and reduce to low. Simmer for 25 minutes.3. Using a slotted spoon, scoop out carrots and place in blender with water. Blend until completely smooth.4. Add carrot puree back to sauce, add coconut sugar or honey and baking soda, season with salt and pepper, and discard bay leaves. Stir and serve over noodles or roasted vegetables.
Yummy!!
Thanks best friend! I knew you would love this one. You and the boys will love it!
I love this idea to make sure our kiddies get those extra nutrients without all the added junk. I have never tried adding in carrots to the sauce, but it looks and sounds like it will be a tasty addition!
Thank you so much Britney! It feels so sneaky hiding the veggies in… also kind of fun!