sneaky spaghetti sauce
I'm not usually a fan of "stealth" nutrition. I want my kids to learn to eat and enjoy healthy food, and we're working on that. However, I'm not above sneaking in some extra good stuff from time to time, especially when it comes to veggies. Some of them just don't like them no matter how many I make them eat! If I can get some extra veggies in them now and them without the fuss, I'm all for it! I put this sauce together with that in mind and let me tell you I had to bite my tongue as some of my biggest "veggie haters" went on and on about how good it was!:)
prep time
15 Min
cook time
30 Min
method
---
yield
8 serving(s)
Ingredients
- 2 cans crushed tomatoes(28oz.)
- 1 - medium onion, cut in 1in. pieces
- 1 - medium zucchini or yellow squash, slice 1in. thick
- 1 cup shredded carrot
- 1 cup green or red bell pepper, coarsly chopped
- 1/2 cup celery ribs and leaves, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon gound black pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, minced*
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced*
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
How To Make sneaky spaghetti sauce
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Step 1Dump 1 can of the tomatoes into a large saucepan.
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Step 2Dump the other can in a food processor or blender. Add the onion, squash, carrot, bell pepper and celery. Process until veggies are smooth(or mostly smooth). Add to the saucepan with tomatoes.
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Step 3Add olive oil, sugar, garlic and pepper. Heat over med. heat until bubbling, reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook at least 30 min.(I like to let it simmer a lot longer, or even put it in the crockpot for several hours).
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Step 4Add the minced herbs and salt. Simmer for 5-10 more minutes. Serve over pasta.
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Step 5Notes: This can easily be a meat sauce...just brown 1/2-1lb. of ground meat, drain and add to sauce. *fresh herbs have even more antioxidants than a lot of veggies, so including them increases the nutrition of the sauce even more. If you don't have fresh herbs, you can use dried(2t. of basil and 2T of parsley.), and add them when you add the garlic and pepper.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
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