I don’t sneak vegetables in my kids’ food.
One of the reasons you won’t find any vegetables masqueraded in my meatloaf or disguised in the dinners I make is because I’m too lazy to go to the trouble to cook, puree and find ways to surreptitiously incorporate them into recipes. But most importantly, I want my kids knowing that vegetables ROCK and will help their little bodies grow everyday. You can read more about my thoughts on all this (and strategies to help make your kids great eaters) in my new book, but trust me, if you simply make good stuff for your children and tell them repeatedly enough that they’re going to get bigger, stronger and smarter from that handful of bell peppers or broccoli, I bet that sooner or later they’ll take it to heart and dig in! I watch Chloe do this everyday as she eats her veggies while acting out making big muscles, trying to surpass her big brother. I know first hand it’s not easy, but the work and persistence pays off.
If you’re the parent of a picky or challenging eater, this Veggie Heavy Pizza Sauce is for you. It’s basically a variety of cooked and pureed vegetables, but it tastes just like the sauce you get in your favorite pizzeria. While it is right at home on top of a crisp pizza dough, it’s also perfect on pasta, rice or even quinoa. I find it so versatile in fact, that I usually make a double batch and freeze what I don’t need so I can easily reheat it for dinner next week. Or next month.
So don’t sneak! Tell your kids that not only is this is the most tangy, tasty sauce ever, it also happens to be entirely made from veggies! (O.K., tomatoes are actually a fruit, but that’s a matter for another time.) Knowledge is power my friends, and I say that it also happens to be delicious!
Veggie Heavy Pizza Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 red, orange or yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 medium carrot
- 1 stalk celery
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes, drained
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the bell peppers, carrots, celery, onions, garlic and salt. Saute until veggies are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 more minute, stirring constantly.
- Add the tomatoes, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat, puree with an immersion hand blender (or in a regular blender) until almost smooth.
- Return sauce to the heat and simmer until thick, 10-20 minutes. The longer you simmer this sauce the thicker and more flavorful it will become. You can simmer up to 2 hours.
I’m all for veggies in sauce. I shred all kinds of stuff into my sauce and just purée it afterwards. As far as meatloaf and veggies, I put veggies in there but I don’t technically hide them. I drain a can of petite dice tomatoes, shred a couple of carrots, or I add a thawed and drained (very well) box of chopped spinach.
Yummy
Yes! About 6 cups of diced tomatoes!
can i use tomatoes instead of canned tomatoes, if so how many will i need?
[…] them an option of only choosing 1 or 2 veggies to add.) You can also add veggie purees into the pizza sauce (see # […]
I was able to make 2 large pizzas with this sauce! It will keep in the fridge for about 5 days, and in the freezer for about 2 months!
This looks delicious. I wonder about the yield- four cups seems like a lot when pizza muffins and pizza balls call for just half a cup each. Unless it’s meant to be a fridge staple- How long will it stay good for in the fridge? Thanks!
This was amazing!!!
[…] don’t think my family would even notice how many veggies are in this pizza […]
It should be fine to simmer for 4 hours! Just make sure it is at a low simmer so it doesn’t burn or anything!
Just made this….turend out great! I plan to use tonight as pasta sauce, not pizza. Is it ok if it simmers longer than 2 hours, like 4? I worked from home today, but also snuck in some cooking. Not eating for 4 more hours. Also making broccoli salad for lunches.
I’ve had a hankerin’ for pizza. Plus my surplus tomato supply would make some pretty terrific sauce!
I love all the veggies you snuck in – perfect for any age!
Oh, this sounds like a great recipe for wee ones and grown-up kids too!
I just bought your book this morning! I can’t wait to try all the recipes for my son and… Me! 🙂
Last night my son continued to refuse his dinner while saying “I just want to be small mommy. I just want to be tiny.” He didn’t want to eat his dinner and be strong! AHHH. I will keep trying.