This Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce is made simple with tons of cut up veggies! Simply leave out the ground beef to make it vegetarian-friendly!
Let’s talk about this Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce!!!
As a mother and a food blogger, I feel it is my duty to post recipes that are misleading and deceptive. And by misleading I mean misleading…..for your kids. This recipe is chock full of veggies. Will your kids notice? Not if you cut the veggies small enough. {What a great mantra to live by!} I hate to admit this, but I love tricking kids into eating their vegetables. It brings a great joy to my heart to see them take big ol’ bites of their dinner and then say “this is good, Aunty Lo!”
Haha! Suckers!
Little do they know, I filled this spaghetti with onions, garlic, zucchini, green bell pepper, carrots and some V8 for kicks. Why not go overboard while you’re at it? {That V8 is like a little extra insurance that they are getting their veggies in…Try it!} Serve this over some whole grain pasta and you my friends have a ridiculously healthy meal.
Those little mouths won’t even know what hit ’em!
You’re welcome 🙂
Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce
This Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce is made simple with tons of cut up veggies! Simply leave out the ground beef to make it vegetarian-friendly!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup carrot grated
- 1 small zucchini diced
- 1/4 green pepper diced
- 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes 1 can
- 1 can tomato paste
- 2 cups V8 juice I used low sodium
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 large bay leaf
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
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SKIP this step if you want it to be vegetarian, if not proceed: In a large skillet {with high sides}, cook ground beef over medium heat, breaking apart as you go. Once beef is cooked thoroughly, drain {and rinse under hot water--only if you're crazy about making low-fat meals...like me :)}
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Wipe out the same pan with a paper towel and heat olive oil over medium heat. Saute onions for 2 minutes. Stir in zucchini, carrot and bell pepper and saute another 5-7 minutes. Stir in garlic until fragrant, another minute or so.
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Mix tomato paste into sauteed vegetables and then pour in remaining ingredients for the sauce. Bring to boil and then reduce to simmer.
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Cover and cook for 30 minutes or longer if need be. The sauce will thicken, so thin out with a little water if you like it runny.
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Serve with hot spaghetti and parmesan cheese.
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Katrina says
Yum! This looks and sounds amazing!
Barbara Bakes says
My kids get more veggies and don’t complain when they’re served like this too. I’ve never tried the V8 in pasta. Great idea.
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite says
I love sneaking veggies into various dishes! I’m actually going away next week on business, and I’m thinking this will be the perfect make-ahead meal for my husband!
Cookin' Canuck says
Great way to sneak in those veggies. I love coming up with recipes made of the ingredients my kids “hate” and hearing them ask for seconds.
Erica at Phoebe Bites says
This looks really delicious! I love all the veggies in there. Will try this weekend. Thanks!
Shayna says
SUPER DELICIOUS! Lo made this for my family and everyone loved it. I’m making it again tonight. My husband is at the store picking up a zucchini as I type. Love you Lo!!
Ess says
It does look mostly good. I’m just concerned that you have it titled “vegetarian spaghetti sauce” nd the first ingredient is ground beef, haha. I’m a vegetarian and you wouldn’t want to serve me this sauce!
Elizabeth Beal says
How much tomato paste? I have a 6oz and a 12oz can in my pantry.