Hidden Veg Tomato Sauce

Like most other kids B likes Ketchup. To be honest he would have it with every meal.  The only down side seems to be the amount of salt and sugar in it. What we have been doing is making our own tomato sauce.  Now in fairness this is not a ketchup, it is actually a pasta/Bolognese type sauce that I give him.  Yes it is a fib and yes he still gets ketchup - just less of it.

A couple of things to watch out for - when you are buying crushed tomato or passata check the labels - lots of these products have a lot of salt in them already.  There are a few that are salt free - I go for them.  I also try to minimise the amount of tomato puree I use but that is more of a flavour and salt thing

I don't have a lot of measurements/weights for this one as I tend to put in what ever i can get my hands on.  if you add root veg you will be best to at least part cook them first.

Equipment:

Chopping boards

Big pan

Some kind of blender

Kid safe activities (if you want your kiddo to participate)

Washing the veg

passing the veg

Helping blend (if you have an enclosed blender)

Ingredients:

Onions 

Garlic

Spinach

Crushed Tomatos/Passata

Tomato Puree

Bell Peppers

Mushrooms

Egg Plant

Zucchini

Carrot

Leak

Celery

Basil (fresh or dried)

Oregano (fresh or dried)

Worcestershire sauce

Soy sauce

Salt

Pepper

Sugar

Method:

Get large pot good and hot and add a little butter or oil and then sauté off any of the harder veggies.  I do onions, carrot, leek, peppers and at the end garlic. When I sauté I add in a little salt, pepper and a small sprinkle of sugar.  If you do this you need to watch it carefully.  

If things are drying out add a little hot water Garlic burns really easily so you want the heat slightly lower for this and you need to keep stirring.  It doesn't matter if it browns but you want it to start to soften a bit

Add in your crushed tomato/passata.  I make a big batch so use 2 cans/jars/packets. Stir it all up and taste.  Re season and then add softer and leafier veg

Add in a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce and if you feel it needs it a dash of soy sauce - but not too much as it is heavily salted

Add in your herbs and leave to simmer, stirring occasionally for about 40 minutes.  You want the sauce to become thick like rich pasta sauce 

Throughout the simmer taste and adjust your flavouring - watch out for the salt.  You may need a pinch of sugar to even out any bitterness

Allow to cool when at the desired texture and then blend to desired consistency

I batch cook this and place into different containers.  You can always add more veg for a chunky pasta sauce on a lazy night, use as pizza sauce, put on meatloaf, use as a dipping sauce or add other ingredients like cream/cheese to change it up