Homemade Tomato Sauce for Baby
Baby-Led Weaning: How to Make Homemade Tomato Sauce – The Secret to Rich Flavor! & Baby Tomato Pasta Recipe
Let’s make a delicious baby tomato pasta using our homemade tomato sauce! I’ll share a simple trick to balance the tanginess and bring out a deep flavor. This sauce is perfect for baby-led weaning meals, and the accompanying menu includes tomato pasta, steamed mackerel, broccoli cheese topping, and steamed cabbage.
Key Ingredients
- 2 ripe tomatoes
- 30g onion
- 5g minced garlic
- 15ml olive oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
The essential ingredients for a healthy homemade tomato sauce for your baby are fresh tomatoes, sweet onion, fragrant garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. You can enhance the flavor and nutrition by adding a little bit of other vegetables you have on hand. I started with 2 large tomatoes, which yields enough sauce for about 1.5 to 2 servings for baby meals or snacks. Making a larger batch and freezing it is incredibly convenient for future use in various dishes!
Step 2
I decided to add some leftover shiitake mushrooms, broccoli, and bell peppers from my fridge. Using up these small bits of vegetables not only reduces food waste but also enriches the sauce’s taste and texture. Of course, if you don’t have these ingredients, you can simply omit them!
Step 3
First, let’s remove the skins and seeds from the tomatoes. This step makes the sauce much smoother and easier for your baby to eat. After removing the skin and seeds, the tomatoes weighed about 270g. You can chop the tomatoes into large pieces, as they will break down during cooking. If your baby is sensitive to textures, you can also blend the tomatoes beforehand.
Step 4
Finely mince the onion. Have your minced garlic ready. Garlic adds great flavor, but be mindful of the amount to ensure it’s not too strong for your baby.
Step 5
Finely chop any additional vegetables you’re using. I prepared about 30g. Dicing the vegetables finely helps them integrate well into the sauce during cooking.
Step 6
Now, let’s get cooking and make this delicious tomato sauce!
Step 7
Heat your pan over medium-low heat and add about 1 tablespoon (15ml) of olive oil. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, being careful not to burn it. You want a gentle, aromatic sizzle.
Step 8
Once the sharp aroma of garlic mellows into a pleasant, toasty scent, add the minced onion and sauté further. Cook until the onion becomes translucent.
Step 9
Here’s the secret tip for a flavorful homemade tomato sauce: sauté the garlic and onion until they develop a nice golden-brown color! This slow cooking process unlocks a deep, rich flavor in the sauce and naturally mellows the tomatoes’ tartness.
Step 10
Once the garlic and onion are nicely browned and fragrant, add all your prepared additional vegetables and sauté them together. If you’re not using any extra veggies, you can skip this step.
Step 11
Continue sautéing until the vegetables have softened and their moisture has reduced, shrinking to about half their original volume. This concentrates their natural sweetness.
Step 12
Now it’s time to add the tomatoes! Increase the heat to medium once the tomatoes are in the pan. This will help speed up the cooking process. Mash the tomatoes gently as you stir and cook them.
Step 13
As the tomatoes cook, they’ll release their natural juices. Keep cooking and stirring to evaporate this liquid, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Step 14
The tomatoes will gradually break down and form a sauce-like consistency. Continue cooking until you reach your desired thickness. Once it’s just right, turn off the heat. Your homemade baby tomato sauce is ready!
Step 15
Now, let’s make a special tomato pasta for your baby using this delicious sauce! While about 80g of sauce is typical for an adult serving, adjust the amount for your baby. I used about 20g, which was a bit much for my little one. If you’re serving it with other dishes, use less sauce. If your baby eats a lot or it’s the main dish, 20g might be suitable.
Step 16
Add your baby’s pasta to boiling water and cook according to the package directions. The recommended time was 7 minutes, but I cooked it for an extra 30 seconds to make it even softer for my baby. (Hehe!)
Step 17
Once the pasta is cooked, drain the water and add a generous amount of your homemade tomato sauce. Lightly sauté everything together to ensure the pasta and sauce are well combined.
Step 18
With the sauce and pasta beautifully mixed, your baby’s tomato pasta made with homemade tomato sauce is complete!
Step 19
Tomatoes have a natural sweetness and umami, so this dish is delicious for babies without any added seasoning. The deep flavor achieved by sautéing the garlic and onions really elevates the tomato sauce. If your baby isn’t fond of the tanginess of tomatoes, try topping the finished pasta with a little baby cheese – the combination of tomato and cheese is always a winner! The generously made tomato sauce can also be used in risottos, egg dishes like steamed eggs or frittatas, and more. Making a batch and keeping it frozen will make meal prep much easier!
