My number one recipe, when time is limited! Main ingredients? Carrots & oregano! It is ready in less than 30 minutes. Give it a try and I am sure, you will love it!!!
I enjoy this dish since my childhood and as a mom of two little kids, this recipe is my number one, when time is limited. We all want to feed our family with healthy food and avoid fast food, isn't it?
Ingredients & substitutions
Onion: go with your personal preference and use red or white onion. Make sure to dice or mince it before you begin.
Carrots: Peel and cut carrots into slices. Then mince in a food processor.
Garlic: you can use 1-3 garlic cloves, depending on your preferences.
Tomato paste: 1 tablespoon of tomato paste always gives a deeper color and flavor to the dish.
Tomatoes: you can either use fresh or canned tomatoes, but let's admit that nothing beats fresh ingredients. Chop or mince the tomatoes before using them.
Parsley and seasoning : help to balance each other out. They bring out the flavor in the veggies too.
How to peel tomatoes
Removing the skin of the tomatoes leaves them with a nice texture and taste for pasta sauces and other dishes as well.
Fill a large pot with plenty of water and bring to a boil.
Remove the stem and cut an "X" in the bottom of each tomato. Cut just deep enough to penetrate the skin of the tomato.
Prepare a bowl with plenty of ice cubes and water.
Lower heat from water that is boiling and place the tomatoes inside. Let them sit for approximately 15 to 30 seconds.
Remove the tomatoes with a slotted spoon and place in the ice bath.
When cool enough, peel the skin. It should remove very easily.
If you go with fresh tomatoes, prepare this step a day before. It will be a time saver.
How to make Carrot Sauce
Prepare the ingredients. Peel and chop the tomatoes, mince onion, garlic and carrots, chop parsley and oregano (if fresh).
Cook the pasta according to package instructions and save 300 ml of pasta water.
Make the sauce. In a medium sized pot heat olive oil, sauté onion, garlic and carrots. Add tomato paste and chopped tomatoes. Next add pasta water, vegetable cube and seasoning. Lower heat to medium and cook for approximately 15 to 20 minutes or until liquids are evaporated. Add 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and mix.
Serve & enjoy. Serve with desired pasta type and enjoy!
Tip for Carrot Sauce
If you prepare a larger amount of the sauce, add the sauce in an airtight container and store in the freezer. When you want to use it, remove from the freezer a night before and let defrost naturally. Add the sauce in a pot and simmer until warm enough to enjoy with pasta. Consume within 3 to 4 months.
Recipe
Servings: 4-6
Preparation time: 25 mins
Cooking time: 20 mins
Ingredients (to serve with 500 gr. Pasta)
1 onion, minced
3 carrots, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. tomato paste
200 gr. chopped flesh tomatoes
1 tbsp. parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp. oregano, fresh or dried
1 vegetable cube
4 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
300 ml water (from pasta water)
salt & pepper
Serve with:
Parmesan cheese
Feta cheese
Garnish with:
fresh basil leaves
parsley leaves or
oregano
Method
In the food processor add onion, garlic and carrots and beat until minced.
Place a medium saucepan over high heat and add 2 tbsp. olive oil.
In the meantime prepare pasta according to package instructions.
Add minced onion, garlic and carrots and sauté.
Add tomato paste, mix for 30 seconds and add the chopped flesh tomatoes.
Next, add 300 ml from the pasta water, add vegetable cube, oregano, parsley, salt, pepper and mix.
Lower heat to medium and cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until liquids are evaporated.
Add 2 tbsp. olive oil and mix.
Add pasta in the sauce and mix.
Serve with desired cheese & garniture and enjoy!
If you make this recipe, I'd love to see pictures or video of your creation on socialmedia. Hashtag them #sweetandsaltyfeelings and tag @sweetandsalty_feelings Follow along on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest. Also, subscribe to thenewsletter and stay up to date for upcoming recipes!