Indulge with Bibi

Mommy and Baby Life in Vancouver

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Sweet Tomato Sauce for Baby

A bowl of tomato sauce on the counter shown with a pan filled with tomatoes and other vegetables.

This is the perfect sweet tomato sauce to expose little ones to new flavors! Super easy to make and only using a handful of ingredients, kids and adults alike will love it!

Sweet Without Added Sugar

I came up with this sweet tomato sauce recipe when i was looking to introduce Bibi to new flavors and veggies. After some trials and errors we finally came up with a recipe that’s only only great for kids but it’s also tasty for adults as well. What’s more, this tomato sauce has a natural sweet flavour without added sugar.

The great thing about this recipe is that you can choose how thick and chunky you want it. 

Want a chunky tomato sauce? Leave it as is! The bits of bell pepper, celery and onion will make an appearance in your sauce giving it some consistency. 

Want a thin, creamy tomato sauce? Take your sauce to a food processor and pulse for a couple minutes until you achieve the creaminess you are looking for. This is a good option for younger children like toddlers and infants who are familiar with eating solid foods but don’t have teeth to break down large amounts of fiber.

How to Make a Tomato Sauce Baby Will Love: 

For me there are 2 secrets: 

  1. Chopping the onion really small and cooking it with the garlic until it gets a butter-like consistency: The more you cook the onion the more mellow the flavor making it a great way to introduce it to babies
  2. Add some sweet bell pepper: here is my second secret, store bought tomato sauces usually add some sugar to balance the tartness from the tomatoes. However, a sweet bell pepper can also balance it without the need to use refined sugar (bonus: extra veggie!). 
Oil in a pan.
Heat the avocado oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. 
Chopped onions in a pan.
Add the onion and garlic and cook until onion becomes translucent, around 6 minutes. If the onion begins to brown add 2 Tbsp water.
Onions cooked until translucent.
Cook until onion becomes translucent.
Tomatos cooking on a pan with onions and garlic.
Add tomatoes. Add water a little at a time as needed. Some tomatoes are juicier than others so add as much water as required to keep the tomatoes cooking without drying out.
Tomato sauce in a pan.
Tomato sauce in a pan with celery.
Once tomatoes have broken down, add the celery and cook for 2 minutes.
Tomato sauce in a pan with peppers added.
Incorporate the sweet bell pepper and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Finished cooking tomato sauce with mixed vegetables.
Remove from heat and let it cool down completely. Once it’s at room temperature transfer to a food processor and pulse until creamy.

How to serve sweet tomato sauce

I love how versatile this recipe is! When I’m introducing new flavors to little ones I prefer they taste it in the pure form, giving them a tiny teaspoon of the sauce. 

You can also serve it with: 

  • Pasta like spaghetti, rotini, etc.
  • Ground beef to make a bolognese sauce
  • Spread over toast
  • A baked rice dish
  • Some Mexican dinner
  • Give your burgers an Italian twist spreading a bit of tomato sauce on top of your patty.
  • Anywhere you would use tomato!

Can you freeze toddler friendly sauce?

Yes, yes and a million times yes! I love a good freezer friendly recipe and this one is definitely it! Just place in an airtight container or ziplock bag and freeze for up to 3 months. 

Once you are ready to serve it just take it from the freezer to the refrigerator overnight or if you are in a hurry thaw in your microwave for a couple minutes at a time. 

This sauce has saved me on multiple occasions when Bibi refused to eat veggies, the soft texture is so approachable for her so we serve it with a little bit of pasta, which she can eat so much of. It’s delicious and healthy, and super easy to put together. I hope you and your LO will enjoy it as well.

XOXO,
Mimi

Yield: 24 tablespoons

Sweet Tomato Sauce for Baby

Sweet Tomato Sauce for Baby

This is the perfect sweet tomato sauce to expose little ones to new flavors and eat more veggies! Super easy to make and only using a handful of ingredients, kids and adults alike will love it! Sweet and tangy with no sugar added.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 Roma tomatoes, quartered
  • 1 Sweet bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 Celery stalk, chopped
  • 1 Garlic clove, minced
  • 1/2 Tsp avocado oil
  • 1/4 to 1/2 Cup water

Instructions

  1. Heat the avocado oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until onion becomes translucent, around 6 minutes. If the onion begins to brown add 2 Tbsp water.
  2. Add tomatoes. Add water a little at a time as needed. Some tomatoes are juicier than others so add as much water as required to keep the tomatoes cooking without drying out.
  3. Once tomatoes have broken down, add the celery and cook for 2 minutes, incorporate the sweet bell pepper and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Remove from heat and let it cool down completely.
  5. Once it's at room temperature transfer to a food processor and pulse until creamy.

Notes

You can portion it out and freeze for later.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 5Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 0g

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