Tomato Sauce with Hidden Veggies Recipe
A rich and flavorful tomato sauce packed with hidden vegetables and enhanced with a creamy vegan parmesan alternative. This sauce is perfect for pasta or as a versatile base for various dishes, offering a nutritious twist on a classic favorite.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 6 cups of sauce, serving 6-8 people 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
Tomato Sauce
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 bell peppers, diced
- 3 stalks of celery, diced
- 4–5 large carrots, diced
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Italian seasonings
- ½ tsp sea salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- ½ cup dry red wine (optional)
- 2 (28 oz) cans whole peeled tomatoes and their juices
Vegan Parmesan (Optional)
- ¼ cup raw cashews
- 2 tbsp hemp seeds
- 1.5 tbsp nutritional yeast
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ⅛ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Sauté the Vegetables: Heat a large pan with high sides over medium heat and warm the olive oil. Add the diced onion, bell peppers, celery, carrots, and minced garlic. Sprinkle in the Italian seasonings, ½ tsp sea salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened.
- Add Tomato Paste and Wine: Stir in the tomato paste and let it cook down for about 3 minutes. Then pour in the red wine, if using, and let it cook for another 3-4 minutes to reduce slightly and develop flavor.
- Simmer with Tomatoes: Add the whole peeled tomatoes along with their juices to the pan, breaking the tomatoes up slightly with a spoon. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for at least 40 minutes to deepen the flavors and reduce the sauce.
- Make Vegan Parmesan: While the sauce simmers, combine raw cashews, hemp seeds, nutritional yeast, sea salt, and garlic powder in a blender. Pulse until you get a fine crumbly texture; avoid over blending into a paste. Set aside this vegan parmesan in a small bowl.
- Blend the Sauce: Carefully transfer the sauce ingredients into a Vitamix or high-speed blender, blending until the sauce is super smooth. You may need to do this in batches depending on your blender size.
- Reheat and Serve: Pour the blended sauce back into your hot pan to warm it through. Cook your preferred pasta or prepare your chosen protein, vegetables, or spaghetti squash to serve alongside the sauce. Mix and enjoy with a sprinkle of the homemade vegan parmesan if desired.
Notes
- The red wine is optional but adds depth and complexity to the flavor.
- Use a high-sided pan to avoid splatters during simmering.
- The vegan parmesan is optional but adds a cheesy, nutty flavor and texture.
- This sauce pairs well with pasta, grilled vegetables, proteins, or even spaghetti squash.
- Simmering the sauce for at least 40 minutes enhances the flavor by allowing it to thicken and blend.
Keywords: tomato sauce, hidden vegetables, vegan parmesan, healthy pasta sauce, Italian sauce, vegetable sauce, dairy-free sauce
Find it online: https://nayabaker.com/tomato-sauce-with-hidden-veggies-recipe/
