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An overhead photo of hidden vegetable pasta with sausages.

Crumbed, Sausage and hidden Veggie Pasta

This hidden veggie pasta is a great way to get your kids eating vegetables, without them even knowing it ;)

Course Main Course
Cuisine Not Specific
Keyword hidden vegetable recipe, hidden veggie pasta sauce, sausage pasta
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 744 kcal
Author Nicolas

Ingredients

  • 500 g of penne pasta
  • 4 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 kg of pork sausages sliced about an inch thick
  • 1 medium carrot chopped
  • 1 onion peeled and chopped
  • 1/2 a stick of celery chopped
  • 1/4 of a zucchini sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled and chopped
  • 3-4 sprigs of thyme leaves stripped
  • 400 g of tinned plum tomatoes
  • 125 g of jarred roasted red peppers/capsicums
  • 3-4 sprigs of basil leaves picked
  • 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
  • A pinch of sugar
  • 50 g of breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon of butter
  • 30 g of parmesan cheese grated
  • Salt and pepper for seasoning

Instructions

  1. Put about 5 litres of water and 2 teaspoons of salt in a pot and bring to the boil.
  2. Once boiling, add your pasta and cook for 9-10 minutes until cooked through.
  3. Meanwhile, pre-heat a large pan on the stove. Once it is nice and hot, add half of your olive oil and then add your sausages (make sure you can hear the sizzle once they hit the pan). Toss/stir them around occasionally and fry for about 5 minutes.
  4. Once those sausages have some nice color, transfer them to a bowl and set aside.
  5. Get a cup and scoop out some of the pasta water in the pot. Once your pasta is cooked, drain it in a colander. Return the pasta to the pot and set aside.
  6. Get the pan back on the heat, then add the other half of your olive oil. Add your carrots and fry for 1-2 minutes. Then add your onion and celery and cook for another minute. Finally, add your zucchini, garlic and thyme leaves and cook for one more minute.
  7. Once the vegetables are tender, transfer them in a blender (a nutribullet also works well) along with your tinned tomatoes, jarred peppers, basil, tomato paste, sugar, a pinch of salt and pepper and a splash of water (75mls). Blend for about 1 minute or until smooth.
  8. Return the sauce and your sausages back in your pan, and then bring to a boil. Once the sauce is boiling lower the heat and simmer for a few minutes, ensuring that the sausages are cooked through. Don't forget to taste it and season accordingly.
  9. Get a small pot or pan on medium-high heat. Add you butter, once the butter is melted and bubbling and your breadcrumbs. Toast them until they have gone darker and more golden brown in color. Keep an eye on them though, you don't want to burn them. Turn the heat off, remove from the pan and set aside.
  10. Add the sauce to the pot of pasta. Mix together until well combined. Add some of the pasta water you scooped out earlier to stop the pasta from going dry.
  11. Transfer onto a large platter. Finish by sprinkling your toasted breadcrumbs over the top. Serve the parmesan cheese on the side so people can help themselves and enjoy.

Recipe Notes

  • Use any pasta you want, spaghetti, linguini, spiral pasta, orzo etc.
Nutrition Facts
Crumbed, Sausage and hidden Veggie Pasta
Amount Per Serving
Calories 744 Calories from Fat 420
% Daily Value*
Fat 46.7g72%
Saturated Fat 14.2g89%
Cholesterol 157mg52%
Sodium 1098mg48%
Potassium 720mg21%
Carbohydrates 45.7g15%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 4.4g5%
Protein 34.7g69%
Calcium 80mg8%
Iron 5.4mg30%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.