If you are in the midst of harvesting season and you have an overabundance of garden tomatoes here’s a great way to use the tomatoes in your garden through the colder seasons.
Homemade Tomato Sauce From Garden Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 0-12 large ripe tomatoes (about 5-6 pounds)
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- 1 Med Onion finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 tsp Sugar (to balance acidity)
- 2-3 fresh basil leaves or 1 teaspoon dried basil (optional)
- 1 bay leaf (optional)
Instructions
- Wash the tomatoes thoroughly and remove the cores with a knife.
- Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil.
- Prepare an ice bath in a large bowl by filling it with ice and cold water.
- Score the bottom of each tomato with a small "X" using a sharp knife.
- Place the tomatoes in the boiling water for about 30 seconds to 1 minute until you see the skins start to peel away.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the blanched tomatoes to the ice bath to cool quickly.
- Once cooled, peel off the tomato skins. They should come off easily. Discard the skins.
Dice the Tomatoes
- Cut the peeled tomatoes into quarters and remove the seeds and excess juice. You want to keep the flesh for the sauce.
Cook the Sauce
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot or saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the finely chopped onions and cook for 3-5 minutes until they become translucent and fragrant.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute or until it's aromatic.
- Add the diced tomatoes to the pot, along with salt, black pepper, and sugar (if using). You can also add basil leaves and a bay leaf at this stage for added flavor.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low.
Simmer and Reduce
- Allow the sauce to simmer uncovered for 1 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. The longer you simmer, the thicker and richer the sauce will become.
Remove Herbs (if used)
- If you added basil leaves or a bay leaf, remove them from the sauce once the cooking is done.
Blend (Optional)
- If you prefer a smoother texture, use an immersion blender or transfer the sauce to a blender and puree until it reaches your desired consistency.
Adjust Seasoning
Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed, adding more salt, pepper, or sugar according to your preference.
- Store or Use
Let the sauce cool completely before storing it in jars or containers. You can refrigerate it for a few days or freeze it for longer storage.
Notes
If you are harvesting in the fall and have a bunch of tomatoes you need to do something with here’s a great way to store and use your tomatoes through the colder seasons. If you have herbs from your garden you can also add those into your recipes. Having the base sauce recipe means you can make it into whatever you want it to be. Play around with a few flavors and find the one that works best for you!
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