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Pasta with marinara sauce is a go-to dish for so many busy mums, including myself. This classic combination is quick, simple and kids adore it! The leftovers even make for a stress-free school lunch the next day. I know it can be tempting during hectic weeks to reach for a shop-bought jar, but I promise you that my tasty Homemade Marinara recipe is easy and fast to make. It is filled to the brim with fresh veggies, which can be sneakily blended to a smooth consistency so fussy eaters won't notice. My girls love it, and I am sure your little ones will too! Find this recipe and loads more tasty sauces in the Lunchbox Made Easy recipe book.
This sauce is perfect for a mid-week school lunch. Why not batch cook and store in your 3oz portion pot as part of our lunch set. On the school morning, heat up the sauce, cook the pasta and store in your food flask for a healthy warm meal for your child.Â
Cook time:Â 30 minutes
Makes: 4 adult portions
Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil1 onion, finely chopped
100g cauliflower, roughly chopped
100g yellow pepper, roughly chopped
100g sweet potato, peeled and roughly chopped
100g butternut squash, peeled and roughly chopped
2 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
Salt and pepper (omit salt for baby)
Handful of basil, finely chopped
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Method:
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the chopped vegetables and cook for 10 minutes with the lid on until the vegetables are soft.
- Add in the tinned tomatoes and season with salt and pepper if using. Simmer on a medium to low heat for a further 20 minutes. Place the lid back on during this time but leave it ajar so that some heat escapes.
- Stir in the basil and simmer for a further 3-4 minutes.
- Place the sauce in a blender or food processor and blend to your desired consistency.
- Serve straight away with pasta or store in your portion pots and freeze for future use.
Weaning and StorageÂ
6-7 months - Smooth and slightly thicker puree, no lumps
7-8 months - Thicker puree with increased texture
8-9 months - Minced and mashed with soft lumps.
9-12 months – Minced and finely chopped.
Check out how I made this recipe below. For more videos like this, check out my YouTube channel.
At Mummy Cooks, we have a wealth of advise on feeding the family .We cover everything from meal prep and slow cooker recipes to moving baby on to family foods and preparing food safely. So whether you're looking for quick and easy meal ideas or want to learn about healthy eating, we've got you covered - Feeding the Family Advise page
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