Tomato Pasta Sauce & Your 5-A-Day Veggies

A simple-to-make pasta sauce can contain all of your 5-a-day veggies, especially when you get creative.

I am a huge fan of pasta sauce.

• it's easy to cook - leave it to simmer for maximum flavour.

• it's cheap - meat/veggie protein + tomato and onion and whatever veggies you have in the fridge, pantry or freezer.it's quick - you can have it on the table in under 30 minutes.

• it also freezes & defrosts well, so is worth making a larger batch

All you have to do is add 3 more veggies you and your family enjoy or can easily hide in the tomatoey goodness.

I generally use a food processor to whiz up the veggies, as there's isn't always time to chop, and add things like: carrots, cabbage, beans, legumes (lentils thicken the sauce nicely), capsicum, mushrooms, sweet potato, green beans, cauliflower, broccoli, whatever you like!

Ingredients:

200g pasta & pot of water 400g lean meat or vegetable protein (eg. tofu, legumes)
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 bottle tomato puree (often called sugo or passata on the jar)
1 onion, chopped garlic to taste
salt, oregano, basil to taste
200ml red wine, optional

Method:
Heat pan on the stove and add a small amount of olive oil.
When the oil is hot add the chopped onion, and veggies until they soften, then and add the meat to brown.

Add canned tomatoes, garlic, tomato puree & wine.
Add herbs & simmer until liquid has reduced.

Cook a handful of pasta per person or have this sauce in a wrap, burrito-style.

Combine & enjoy! :)

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