• 18 months+
• 5 or 6 adult servings
• vegetarian
• gluten free

Spaghetti is a favorite and fun food for meals, or for a quick snack. It can be cooked ahead of time and served at room temperature, and the noodles can be rinsed in hot water to serve with sauce. Spaghetti is convenient for a toddler, because you can make a large amount and use as needed. Wait until your child is 18 months before serving tomato sauce, because of the acidity and for controlling mess. Miso complements the acidity of tomatoes and creates a hearty umami taste.

You will need

Spaghetti:

• 12 cups water
• 2 teaspoons sesame or olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• 1 (8-ounce) package spaghetti

Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 ½ cups onion, peeled and cut into ½-inch pieces
• 2 cups portobello mushroom, cut into ½-inch pieces
• 1 ½ cups carrots, cut into ½-inch pieces
• 2 cups zucchini, cut into ½-inch pieces
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• 1 (28-ounce) ca
• 2 teaspoons sesame or olive oil
• n diced tomatoes
• ¼ cup miso paste (dark, if available)
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon basil or parsley

Method

Spaghetti

1. Bring water to a boil in pot.
2. Add oil and sea salt and stir to combine.
3. Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package directions until tender.
4. Drain and rinse with cold water.

Sauce

1. Heat oil in a stainless steel or enamel skillet. (Do not cook tomato sauce in cast iron, because the acidity in tomatoes will remove the pan’s seasoning.)
2. Add 1 tablespoon water. Add garlic, onions, mushrooms, carrots, and zucchini and sauté until tender (photo a).
3. Add sea salt, and sauté for 5 minutes, and then add tomatoes. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes (photo b).
4. Use a heat diffuser to keep vegetables from sticking to the bottom of the pot, and to prevent burning.
5. Mix miso with water in a small dish until it has a smooth consistency (photo c).
6. Stir miso into sauce. To retain the Lactobacillus in miso, do not boil sauce after miso has been added. Add herbs and simmer over low heat for
   5 minutes (photo d).

Assemble dish

• Serve sauce over spaghetti.

Variations

• • Substitute other vegetables, such as sugar snap peas, string beans, yellow squash, or celery.

• Add pieces of salmon or white fish, shucked clams, peeled and deveined shrimp, or scallops.

Did you try this recipe? Leave a comment below and tell us what you think!