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Meat Sauce with Hidden Vegetables

Rich and hearty, deeply savory, and brimming with hidden goodness, Meat Sauce with Hidden Vegetables is a clever and delicious way to incorporate extra nutrients into your meals. Finely diced vegetables blend seamlessly into a robust tomato-based sauce, creating a flavorful and nourishing dish that even picky eaters will love.

  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef, lamb, or chicken
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and finely diced
  • 2 stalks celery, finely diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
  • 1 medium zucchini, finely diced
  • 8 ounces cremini or button mushrooms, finely chopped
  • 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
  • 6 ounces canned tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (2-inch) piece Parmesan cheese rind (optional)
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Sauté diced onion until softened, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add garlic, carrots, and celery, cooking for another 5-7 minutes until slightly softened.
  4. Stir in red bell pepper, zucchini, and mushrooms, cooking until tender-crisp.
  5. Push vegetables to the side and add ground meat to the pot, cooking until browned.
  6. Drain excess grease if necessary.
  7. (Optional) Blend vegetables using an immersion blender for a smoother sauce.
  8. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
  9. Add bay leaves and Parmesan rind (if using).
  10. Simmer on low heat for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
  11. Remove bay leaves and Parmesan rind before serving.
  12. Stir in fresh parsley (optional) and serve over pasta or desired dish.

Notes

This sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months. Use it for pasta, lasagna, stuffed peppers, or even as a pizza topping.

  • Author: Camilia
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Simmering
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 280
  • Sugar: 9g
  • Sodium: 540mg
  • Fat: 14g
  • Saturated Fat: 4g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 22g
  • Fiber: 5g
  • Protein: 18g
  • Cholesterol: 45mg

Keywords: Meat sauce, hidden vegetables, pasta sauce, healthy sauce, family-friendly