From Rebecca Wilson’s ‘What Mummy Makes’
3-MINUTE PASTA SAUCE (Egg Free, Vegetarian, Vegan*, Dairy Free*)
Pushed for time and need a super-quick meal with minimal effort? Try this smokey tomato and herb pasta sauce – ready in just 3 minutes! This is perfect for lunch or dinner, and is even a winner in packed lunch boxes, served hot or cold.
NB – Whenever you see a * next to the letters in the symbols, this indicates that recipes can be adapted to suit this dietary requirement. Please take care and look for the substitutions listed in the ingredients. This is especially important for parents looking to introduce cow’s milk and other milk products like oat or soya (soy) milk.
Serves: 1 adult and 1 little
Takes: 5 minutes
Ingredients
125g (41/2oz) dried quick-cook penne
large handful of frozen peas or broccoli, chopped into small florets
11/2 tbsp tomato purée (paste)
1 tsp garlic purée (paste), or 1 garlic clove, crushed
1⁄2 tsp mixed dried herbs
1 tsp smoked paprika
50g (13/4oz) grated Cheddar or 1 heaped tbsp nutritional yeast*
freshly ground blackpepper
a few basil leaves, to garnish (optional)
Method:
Bring a pan of water to the boil and add the pasta and peas or broccoli. Cook for 5 minutes or according to the pasta packet instructions.
Meanwhile, in a medium microwavable bowl, combine the tomato purée, garlic purée, grated cheese, mixed herbs, smoked paprika and a pinch of black pepper. Stir well.
Add 2 ladlefuls of the pasta cooking water – about 150ml (5fl oz) – and give it a good mix. If you have a microwave, give it a blast for 2 minutes, as this will give a silkier finish. However, you can skip this step if you don’t have one – it’ll still be yummy!
Once the pasta and veg are cooked, drain and stir through the sauce quickly while the pasta is still piping hot. Serve with an extra grating of cheese, and a few basil leaves, to garnish.
TOP TIP
Use nutritional yeast as a dairy free substitute for cheese. Although it won’t melt like dairy cheese, it will add a savoury cheesy taste to your meal, as well as adding extra protein, vitamins and minerals to the dish.
Find more recipes like this in ‘What Mummy Makes’
By Rebecca Wilson
Cooking one meal for the whole family
‘What Mummy Makes’ promotes the joys and benefits of sharing family meals, where baby learns how to eat by watching parents, carers and older children at the table. Eating together encourages babies and children to try a more varied diet, which can help reduce fussiness, and instils a healthy eating routine so mealtimes are less of a struggle. And importantly for busy parents, cooking one meal for the whole family means less stress, time and effort spent in the kitchen.
130+ simple, fresh and nutritious recipes
What Mummy Makes guides parents through the first few weeks of weaning, including advice for first tastes and how to move onto next steps. It’s filled with over 130 simple, fresh and nutritious recipes that use everyday ingredients, and each one is nutritionally balanced. With new and exclusive recipes, the book also features popular favourites loved by the @WhatMummyMakes community. Tried and tested, Rebecca’s healthy dishes can be whipped up in a matter of moments, and all of the recipes in the book are ready in under 30 minutes. With clear, easy to follow instructions and beautiful photography, the book shows you how to serve meals for little ones to enjoy safely.
Breakfasts, lunches, main meals, snacks and treats
From breakfasts, lunches and main meals, to snacks and treats, there are plenty of inspiring dishes to try. Delicious recipes include Carrot Cake Porridge and Sheet Pan Pancakes, Cheesy Broccoli Orzo, Spinach and Ricotta Puff Parcels, and One-Pan Lemon Salmon with Courgette and Potato Wedges. There are baby-friendly versions of family classics like Chilli Con Carne, curry, stir-fry and fajitas, and mouth-watering snacks and puddings, including Carrot and Apple Soft Oaty Bars and Creamy Mango and Raspberry Ice Lollies.
Make your life a little easier with ‘What Mummy Makes’
Rebecca’s recipes make life a little easier, from top tips for essential ingredients to stock up on to make quick, nutritious meals in a flash, to dishes you can prep and freeze to get ahead, and food for fussy eaters. There is also plenty of expert, nutritionist approved advice to help guide parents and carers, including foods to avoid when weaning, nutritional food profiles, and how to incorporate milk feeds.
What Mummy Makes by Rebecca Wilson is published by Penguin Random House, 23 July 2020.
RRP $29.99
