Description
This homemade tomato sauce is a great alternative to store bought sauce that can be filled with sugar and additives. If you’re looking for a fresh and flavorful sauce that can be batch made and frozen this recipe is for you!
Ingredients
- Fresh garden tomatoes (about 3 pounds)
- Olive oil
- Garlic cloves, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Diced sweet onion (optional)
- Fresh basil (optional)
- Oregano (optional)
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Paprika (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the tomatoes: If you’re using fresh tomatoes be sure to remove the stems and slice off the tops.
- Cook the sauce: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Add the whole tomatoes and cook, breaking them down with a spoon as they soften, this takes anywhere from 20-30 minutes.
- Season: Add salt, pepper, onion and red pepper flakes if using. Let the sauce simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Thicken: Fresh tomatoes can be very juicy, to help thicken my sauce and add additional flavor I add 4 oz of tomato paste and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to the sauce. Stir and let simmer for a final 10 minutes.
- Blend (optional): For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to blend the sauce to your desired consistency. I skip this step as I like a chunkier sauce with pasta.
- Finish and store: Stir in fresh basil if using, and adjust seasoning to taste. Let the sauce cool before dividing it into portions for freezing or immediate use.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner