How to Make the Perfect Zucchini Hidden Veggie Pizza Sauce
Italian-American · Easy · 20 min · 8 servings
This vibrant homemade pizza sauce blends zucchini seamlessly into tomatoes creating a thicker more nutritious base that tastes just like the classic version kids already love. Spread it on homemade or store-bought dough and watch the whole pizza disappear.
Why this recipe works
This Zucchini Hidden Veggie Pizza Sauce recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 20 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 45 calories with 2g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 6 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 1 medium zucchini roughly chopped
- 1 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 0.5 teaspoon sugar
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Soften the Zucchini
Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat and add the chopped zucchini and minced garlic. Cook stirring occasionally for 6 to 8 minutes until the zucchini is completely soft and translucent.
Step 2: Add Tomatoes and Season
Pour the crushed tomatoes into the pan with the softened zucchini and stir in the Italian seasoning and sugar. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 5 minutes stirring occasionally.
Step 3: Blend Until Smooth
Remove the pan from heat and use an immersion blender to blend the sauce completely smooth. Alternatively transfer carefully to a countertop blender and blend on high for 30 seconds until no zucchini pieces remain.
Step 4: Cool and Use
Allow the sauce to cool for 10 minutes before spreading on pizza dough. The sauce can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen in portions for up to 3 months.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- zucchini → yellow summer squash for an equally mild hidden flavor
- crushed tomatoes → tomato puree for an even smoother texture
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Skipping the blending step and leaving zucchini chunks that kids will pick out immediately
- Not cooking the zucchini soft enough before blending which leaves a raw vegetable taste
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 45 calories, 2g protein, 8g carbs, 1g fat, 2g fiber.
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