Carrot Pasta Sauce (Kid Friendly Pasta Sauce)
on Nov 27, 2023
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Here’s a carrot pasta sauce that’ll fool you into thinking you are having mac n cheese! Silky smooth, creamy and luscious but without any cheese. Such a delicious way to add veggies to kid friendly meals.
Hey luscious, creamy, awesomeness! I’ve been making a carrot pasta sauce for years. Not because its a way to sneak vegetables into the kids’ food (which it is!) but also because it’s delicious. Like truly tasty!
Looking for more Kids Recipes? Please try out Millet Pancakes, Veggie Pancakes, Ragi Crepes, Green Muffins and homemade Tomato Ketchup
That’s why it’s a lunch box favourite and dinner favourite for all us. For the adults, I add some chilli flakes or chilli crisp but even without it, I can eat a bowlful!
Why it’s Kid Friendly?
I’ve rarely met a kid who doesn’t enjoy pasta. This carrot pasta sauce uses carrots, cashews and a little cream as a base. Good fats and veggies. And they don’t even realise that this has no cheese in it. Cheese isn’t bad at all. But the thing is, this sauce is made with other good things.
Everything You Need for Carrot Pasta Sauce
Richa’s Top Tips to make the best Carrot Sauce for Pasta
- This is a naturally vegan pasta sauce if you skip the cream and is gluten free. I didn’t design it that way but it totally works if you follow certain dietary restrictions
- Carrots can be prepared quickly in a grater or food processor. It doesn’t matter how they are cut, but just make sure its small so they cook fast. Big chunks will take much longer to cook
- Carrot should be completely tender for a really smooth sauce
- Cream is optional but I love adding a little. It makes the sauce tastier and fat is good for kids in general
- Other ingredients you can add are bacon, cheese, tomato, zucchini etc to the sauce
This recipe has been tried and tested and given a big thumbs up by my kids and their school friends! It eats really well even later which makes it perfect for lunchboxes.
Watch the Recipe Video
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Carrot Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tsp Olive oil, divided
- 2 Garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 large Carrot, grated approx 1 cup
- 6-7 Cashews
- 3/4 cup Water
- 1/2 tsp Oregano
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 2 tbsp Cream
- 100 grams dry Pasta, any short pasta like fusilli, penne, macaroni
Instructions
- Heat a teaspoon of oil in a pan and add garlic and carrots. Saute for a minute. Add cashews and water. Bring to a boil. Then reduce the flame to low, cover and cook for 10 minutes till the carrot and cashews are tender.
- Cool completely and blend to a smooth paste.
- While the carrots are cooking, boil pasta in salted water according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Heat the remaining oil and add the carrot sauce, along with oregano and salt. Cook for 2-3 minutes and add cream.
- Mix well and add pasta. Toss pasta in sauce and simmer for 2-3 minutes to warm the pasta through. Add a little water if required to adjust the consistency of the sauce. Serve hot.
Video
Notes
- This is a naturally vegan pasta sauce if you skip the cream and is gluten free. I didn’t design it that way but it totally works if you follow certain dietary restrictions
- Carrots can be prepared quickly in a grater or food processor. It doesn’t matter how they are cut, but just make sure its small so they cook fast. Big chunks will take much longer to cook
- Carrot should be completely tender for a really smooth sauce
- Cream is optional but I love adding a little. It makes the sauce tastier and fat is good for kids in general
- Other ingredients you can add are bacon, cheese, tomato, zucchini etc to the sauce
Hi, I made the sauce but it turned out a bit sweet. Any way to change that? Also I had to skip the cashews since my kids school doesn’t allow for nuts. What can I substitute for the cashews or can I continue to skip it?
Hey Rowena, the sweetness must be because of the carrots. cashews add more creaminess to the sauce which may be replaced with 1 tablespoon of fresh cream.
Love the recipe.. was looking for a healthier alternative for pasta sauce – and this was it.. I did without cream. And even without cream – it was really creamy and thick and carrots added that extra sweetness to the creamy pasta which was great and delicious. A good and healthy alternative to pasta sauce for your child’s tiffin.
Yaaaay! Thanks Syeda, so so happy your kids loved the recipe.