Veggie-Packed Marinara Sauce
A smooth or chunky tomato sauce loaded with hidden carrot, onion, and garlic. No added sugar, gentle for little ones, and great over pasta for the whole family.
Ingredients
Contains optional added salt for older eaters. Skip it for babies under 12 months.
- 15 ml olive oil1.01 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 each garlic, minced
- 1 medium carrot, grated
- 800 g crushed tomatoes1.76 lb crushed tomatoes
- 2.5 ml dried oregano0.51 tsp dried oregano
- 2.5 ml dried basil0.51 tsp dried basil
- 15 ml tomato paste1.01 tbsp tomato paste
- 120 ml water8.12 tbsp water
- 15 ml butter1.01 tbsp butter
- salt (to taste), for older eaters only
- black pepper (to taste), for older eaters only
Steps
Sauté the Vegetables
- Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat until it shimmers.
- Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and grated carrot, then cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
Simmer the Sauce
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, and tomato paste until everything is well combined.
- Lower the heat and simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
- If the sauce gets too thick, stir in a little water to loosen it to your preferred consistency.
Blend and Finish
- Optional: For a smooth, kid-friendly texture, blend the sauce with an immersion blender until silky.
- Stir in the butter until melted for a mellow, creamy finish, then serve warm over pasta.
- For over-1s and adults, add a pinch of salt and black pepper to taste at the very end.
Nutrition
- Calories
- 87
- Protein
- 3g
- Fat
- 3g
- Carbs
- 14g
Tips by age
Blend the sauce completely smooth and thin with a little water until pourable. Serve a thin layer on soft, well-cooked pasta or as a dip on a preloaded spoon.
Choking safety: Ensure the sauce is fully smooth with no veg pieces. Cook any pasta very soft and serve in mashable shapes.
Blend smooth or leave lightly chunky, then toss with soft small pasta shapes your baby can pick up. Skip the added salt and pepper at this stage.
Choking safety: Keep any chunks small and soft, and cut pasta to bite-size pieces to avoid large mouthfuls.
Serve as written over bite-size pasta, leaving the sauce chunky if your toddler is comfortable with texture. Add a tiny pinch of salt only if you choose.
Choking safety: Cut pasta into bite-size pieces and keep vegetable pieces soft and small.
Want the full library?
Unlock all 1,300+ recipes, the meal planner, allergen tracking, and more in the Lil' Noms app.
Unlock all in the app