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Bowl of pasta with hidden veggie pasta sauce
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Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce

This hidden veggie pasta sauce is smooth, comforting, and perfect for picky eaters. Made with carrots and other vegetables blended into a classic red sauce, it tastes familiar while packing in extra nutrients. A go-to vegetable pasta sauce for busy weeknights and kids who “hate vegetables.”

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 large carrots peeled and chopped
  • ½ small onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon date sugar can sub regular sugar if you want, this offsets the acidity
  • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • ½ to 1 cup broth I like using bone broth

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  • Add carrots and onion. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until very soft.
  • Add garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  • Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Add crushed tomatoes and broth.
  • Simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes, or until the carrots are completely tender.
  • Blend until fully smooth. A high speed blender works best, but an immersion blender can also be used.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve warm.

Notes

This sauce only needs to simmer until the carrots are soft. Timing may vary slightly depending on how small they are chopped.
For a roasted vegetable pasta sauce, roast the vegetables before cooking for deeper flavor.
Add extra broth if the sauce is too thick before blending.