Freezer-Friendly Hidden Vegetable Tomato Sauce
In short: A big pot of tomato sauce with carrots, zucchini and peppers cooked down and blended smooth, then frozen flat in portions for fast dinners. It takes about 1 h 20 min in total and makes 10 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 55 min
- Total
- 1 h 20 min
- Servings
- 10
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 105 kcal
This is a sauce for people who want to feed children vegetables without a fight. Onions, carrots, celery, zucchini and pepper cook down with tomatoes, then blend into something that tastes of plain tomato sauce but carries a lot more nutrition. The recipe makes about ten portions, and freezing it flat in bags saves space and thaws quickly. Use it on pasta, pizza, polenta, stuffed vegetables or as the base for soups.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Cook the onions, carrots and celery for 10 minutes, stirring often, until softened.
- Add the zucchini and pepper and cook for 6 minutes until they begin to soften. Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the tomatoes, water, oregano, basil, bay leaves, salt and pepper. If using whole tomatoes, crush them with a spoon against the side of the pot.
- Bring to a simmer, then cook partly covered over low heat for 40 minutes, stirring now and then, until the vegetables are very soft and the sauce is thick.
- Remove the bay leaves. Blend with an immersion blender until completely smooth, or work in batches in a blender, holding the lid down with a towel.
- Taste for salt. Cool the sauce completely, then ladle 250 to 500 ml (1 to 2 cups) portions into freezer bags, press out the air and freeze flat for up to 4 months.
- To use, thaw in the fridge overnight, or warm from frozen in a saucepan over low heat with a splash of water until bubbling.
Tips
- If the sauce tastes sharp, stir in a teaspoon of sugar or an extra grated carrot. Do not add sugar until the tomatoes have cooked down.
- Leave the sauce a little chunky for sandwiches and pizza, or add a handful of red lentils with the water for more protein.
Questions and answers
Can I use fresh tomatoes?
Yes. Use about 2 kg (4.4 lb) of ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes longer. Canned tomatoes give a more consistent result out of season.
Why freeze the sauce flat?
Flat bags stack neatly, freeze quickly and thaw in about an hour in cold water. They also avoid the risk of cracked jars or containers.
Will children notice the vegetables?
Blended well, the sauce tastes like a regular tomato sauce. The zucchini and carrot add sweetness, so you will not need much sugar.
How long does it take to make Freezer-Friendly Hidden Vegetable Tomato Sauce?
About 1 h 20 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 55 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Freezer-Friendly Hidden Vegetable Tomato Sauce?
About 105 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 15 g of carbohydrates and 4 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 105 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 15 g |
| Fat | 4 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 9 g |
| Sodium | 520 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
