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Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce for Kids Recipe

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4.3 from 6 reviews

This Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce for Kids is a delicious and nutrient-packed way to sneak wholesome vegetables into a family-favorite meal. Roasting a colorful array of fresh vegetables and blending them into a smooth sauce creates a naturally sweet and flavorful base that even picky eaters will love. Perfect for introducing more veggies into your kids’ diets without sacrificing taste, this recipe is simple to make and pairs wonderfully with any pasta.

Ingredients

Vegetables

  • 1 head garlic, unpeeled
  • 2 large carrots
  • 1 small yellow squash
  • 1 small zucchini
  • 1 medium red bell pepper
  • 6-8 fresh Roma tomatoes
  • 1/2 medium onion
  • 4-6 oz white mushrooms

Seasonings and Oils

  • 2 tbsp olive oil, plus more for garlic
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Heat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup. Use two pans if yours is small.
  2. Prepare Garlic: Slice approximately 1/4 inch off the top of the garlic head to expose the cloves. Lightly drizzle with olive oil and wrap tightly in foil. Set this aside to roast alongside the veggies.
  3. Cut Vegetables: Chop the carrots, yellow squash, and zucchini into even-sized sticks; quarter the squash lengthwise then halve crosswise for uniform pieces. Halve the red bell pepper and remove seeds, halving tomatoes from top to bottom, and cutting large mushrooms in half. Leave the onion halved without further chopping.
  4. Toss Vegetables with Seasonings: Place all the cut vegetables on the prepared baking sheet(s). Drizzle with olive oil and evenly sprinkle dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Toss everything gently to ensure even coating of oil and spices.
  5. Roast Vegetables and Garlic: Add the foil-wrapped garlic on the pan with the vegetables and roast in the oven for 35-45 minutes, stirring once halfway through. If using two pans, rotate their position midway for even roasting. Roast until all vegetables are tender and caramelized.
  6. Blend Into Sauce: Transfer the roasted veggies to a high-speed blender. Unwrap the roasted garlic and squeeze the softened cloves out of their peels into the blender. Blend until smooth, adding a little water or broth if the sauce is too thick to achieve the desired consistency.
  7. Serve: Pour the hidden veggie sauce over your favorite cooked pasta and enjoy a healthy meal that kids love!

Notes

  • You can substitute fresh herbs if preferred, but dried herbs provide intense flavor after roasting.
  • If kids prefer a chunkier sauce, blend less or pulse to retain some texture.
  • Adding a splash of vegetable broth instead of water can enhance flavor without thinning the sauce too much.
  • Use any pasta shape your children enjoy for best acceptance.
  • Leftover sauce can be refrigerated up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Find it online: https://yumntasty.com/hidden-veggie-pasta-sauce-for-kids-recipe/