Best easy peasy kids veggie pasta bake
This pasta bake is another favorite amongst my children, and the best part is its full of plants and is super quick to prepare. In fact it can be on the table within 45 minutes, WIN WIN!!! My kids, like most don’t really enjoy eating vegetables, so when I cook for them, I try my hardest to make it tasty for young palates. Tomato pasta always seems to be a favorites with children so I wanted to find a way to get some extra plants inside. The trick to this is, grating the vegetables into the tomato sauce. Go ahead, try it for your kids.
Ingredients you will need:
- Wholewheat pasta
- Tinned tomatoes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 brown onion (finely diced)
- 3 garlic gloves (minced)
- 2 carrots (grated)
- 1 courgette (grated
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- Mixed herbs
- Pinch of sea salt flakes
- Vegan cheese (optional)
Method:
Step 1. Pre heat oven to 180c
Bring to the boil a large saucepan of water for your pasta of choice. Once boiled add your pasta and cook for 5 minutes less than the packet says as the pasta will continue to cook in the oven. Once cooked keep aside and keep one cup of the pasta cooking liquid. Leave to one side until needed.
Step 2. Finely dice your onion and set aside, move onto mincing your garlic gloves. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to a pan that will be for your sauce. Once hot add your onion, cook for around 5 minutes until a nice golden colour. Add your garlic for around 1 minute, being careful not to let it burn. Season with the salt and mixed herbs, mix well.
Step 3. Lets add a tin of tomatoes to the onions and herbs, stir well and let simmer for 5 minutes. In which time you can begin to grate your carrots and courgette. Add your grated veg to the tomato sauce, stir and then add your tablespoon of maple syrup. Lower the heat to medium low and let cook for 10 minutes.
Step 4. Mix your cooked pasta into your tomato sauce, adding a splash of the pasta cooking liquid to the tomato sauce and pasta. Stir well and add to oven proof baking tray. If desired grate over some vegan cheese (my children love the cheese melted on top) pop into your pre heated oven and cook for around 15 minutes.
Let the best pasta bake cool for 5 minutes and serve up to your little loves 😊