Pasta With Tomato and Hidden Vegetable Sauce

This smooth sauce is a great way to get kids to eat more vegetables but it has plenty of flavor for adults too. Try adding cooked shrimp or chicken or spice it up with a chopped red chili pepper if you wish. From Good Food August 2011.

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1  teaspoon olive oil
• 1  onion, chopped
• 2  sticks celery, chopped
• 2  carrots, chopped
• 1  leek, chopped
• 2  bell peppers, deseeded and chopped
• 2 (14 ounce)  cans chopped tomatoes with garlic
• 1  tablespoon  superfine sugar
• 1  tablespoon  balsamic vinegar
• 11  ounces pasta, shapes
•  parmesan cheese, shavings to serve

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large non stick saucepan and gently cook the onion, celery, carrots and leek until soft - about 20 minutes
2. Add the peppers and cook for 10 mins more then tip in the tomatoes, sugar and vinegar. Simmer for at least 20 mins - the longer the better.
3. Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Meanwhile blitz the sauce with a hand blender until smooth, season and return to the heat to keep warm while the pasta cooks.
4. Drain the pasta and toss through the sauce. Serve in bowls topped with shavings of parmesan.