Allow us to introduce you to your new favorite pasta sauce. It is a hidden vegetable pasta sauce, which is a clever way to add more vegetables to a classic dish you know and love. Don’t worry, though, the flavor is exactly what you’d expect from a traditional marinara. This sauce contains zucchini, bell peppers, leeks, carrots, garlic, and onions, and you blend the vegetables into a smooth base, so they disappear into the sauce. Even though the sauce contains a generous mix of vegetables, the dominant flavor is from the tomato sauce and Italian herbs.

To build that familiar marinara flavor, you slowly cook the vegetables until they are soft and aromatic. The classic combination of garlic and onion creates the savory foundation, while carrots and bell peppers add a hint of natural sweetness, complementing the acidity of the canned tomato sauce. Zucchini and leeks add body and mild flavor without overpowering the sauce. Once everything is tender, blend the mixture until completely smooth. You want to create a sauce with a velvety texture, so you are not biting into big pieces of vegetables while enjoying your pasta.

What you are left with is remarkably like a traditional marinara sauce—rich, balanced, and tomato-forward. This is a great sauce to enjoy if you feel like you do not consume enough vegetables on a regular basis. It is also a great way to sneak more vegetables into your children’s meals. It’s the comforting character of a familiar pasta dish with an added nutritional flair.