Magic Tomato Sauce
Posted: | Categories: Recipes | Tags:gluten-free kid-friendly pasta summer
Magic Tomato Sauce
Melissa Ben-Ishay
Savory Recipes
File this under “easy-mom-dinner-hacks.” This ultra-smooth sauce is a crowd-pleaser in my house and is packed with delicious, nutritious veggies. The preparation is similar to the magic meat sauce, but comes together in a flash for meatless meals—and you don't need to be fussy with how you cut everything, because it all gets blended at the end. It's a great way to use up any extra veggies you have before they go bad! Use this in place of store-bought sauce (but don’t stop buying them; you need the jars!) for pasta night, lasagna, pizza, you name it. Your kids will love it!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 carrot, cut into coins
- 1 orange or red pepper, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 tomatoes (I used one Roma and one from the farmer’s market), diced OR 2 pints cherry tomatoes, chopped
- 1/4 cup tomato paste (optional)
- 1/2 - 1 teaspoon salt, to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 cups vegetable broth
Directions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the onion, carrot, and bell pepper to the pan and cook until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the tomatoes and garlic.
- Add the tomato paste (if using) and spices, and cook until it becomes a deeper red to caramelize the tomato flavor.
- Stir in the broth and cover the pan. Let cook until all of the veggies are soft and cooked through.
- Carefully transfer the mixture to a blender and pulse until smooth. Serve with your favorite pasta.
