This Homemade Tomato Sauce is loaded with rich tomato flavor. It’s easy to make, and you’ll have fresh tomato sauce to transform into spaghetti sauce, tomato soup, or anything you want!
Making Homemade Tomato Sauce is easier than you think! This recipe takes about 40 minutes.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- onion
- carrots
- celery stalks
- olive oil
- garlic cloves
- canned crushed tomatoes
- fresh basil
- fresh flat-leaf parsley
- salt and pepper
(Note: Full recipe is at the bottom of the post)
How to Make Tomato Sauce
- Add onion, carrots, and celery in a food processor and pulse to blend into small pieces.
- Add oil to a large saucepan over medium heat and saute the onion, celery, and carrots until soft.
- Create a well in the center of the softened vegetables and add the remaining olive oil, followed by the garlic. Allow the garlic to brown slightly, but don’t let it burn.
- Add the tomatoes and herbs and mix well.
- Add salt and pepper to taste, bring to a boil, reduce to low, and simmer for 30 minutes.
Tips And Tricks
- You can also use fresh tomatoes in place of canned ones. Cut 4 pounds of tomatoes into quarters and coat them with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast at 400°F for 30-35 minutes, but don’t allow them to burn. Transfer the roasted tomatoes to a blender and puree until smooth.
- Feel free to replace fresh herbs with dried ones if you need to.
- If the sauce tastes bitter, use baking soda to neutralize it. Add a pinch of baking soda at a time, tasting after each addition, as needed. A pinch of sugar can also correct a bitter-tasting sauce.
- For a thicker tomato sauce, let it simmer uncovered until the sauce reaches the desired consistency. You can also add tomato paste to make it thicker and richer.
Best Tomato for Homemade Tomato Sauce
You can use any type of tomatoes, but Roma tomatoes will give you the best results due to the meaty texture and little seeds. It will develop the best flavor once boiled down.
To save time, you can use canned crushed tomatoes or whole tomatoes.
How to Thicken Tomato Sauce?
By far the easiest way to thicken your sauce is to boil out some of the liquid! Simmer the sauce on low heat for anywhere from an extra 5 to 20 minutes. Make sure to keep an eye on it and to stir it frequently, so that it doesn’t burn. This method doesn’t alter your recipe in any way, so is a great option if you have the extra time.
How To Store Homemade Tomato Sauce
Transfer the cooled tomato sauce to airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Can I Freeze Tomato Sauce?
Yes. Place the sauce into freezer-safe containers and store it in the freezer for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before using.
Ways to Use Homemade Tomato Sauce
This Homemade Tomato Sauce can be used to make spaghetti or marinara sauce or added to pasta dishes like lasagna. Use it to make barbecue sauce, pizza sauce, or a delicious pot of homemade tomato soup!
Homemade Tomato Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion peeled and quartered
- 2 medium carrots peeled and cut into chunks
- 2 celery stalks cleaned and cut into chunks
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 56 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 handful fresh basil chopped
- 1 handful fresh flat-leaf parsley chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the onion, carrots, and celery in a food processor and chop them into small pieces.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and saute the onion, celery, and carrots until they’re soft and all the moisture has been released.
- Create a well in the center of the softened vegetables and add the remaining olive oil, followed by the garlic. Allow the garlic to brown slightly, but don’t let it burn.
- Add the tomatoes and herbs and mix well.
- Add salt and pepper to taste, bring to a boil, reduce to low, and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Transfer the cooled sauce to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
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