Homemade Red Tomato Sauce Recipe
This homemade red tomato sauce is a simple yet flavorful way to elevate your dishes, from pasta to pizza. Packed with fresh ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, onions, and a touch of sweetness from shredded carrots, this sauce is a must-have in your kitchen. Plus, it freezes beautifully, so you can make a large batch and store it for later use.
Equipment
- 1 Food Processor
- 1 Stainless steel pot
Ingredients
- 3 28 oz. San Marzano whole tomatoes
- 2 oz. tomato paste
- 8 cloves garlic
- 1 small onion
- 8 baby carrots
- 2 tbsp. salt
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 bunch fresh basil
Instructions
- Prep the Ingredients: Start by cleaning 10 fresh basil leaves. Next, peel and chop the garlic and onion.
- Make the Base: In a food processor, combine the olive oil, garlic, onions, and carrots. Pulse until everything is well processed into a fine mixture. This will form the flavorful base of your sauce.
- Sauté the Mixture: Heat a stainless steel pot over medium-high heat. Add the processed mixture into the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until it becomes fragrant and the onions begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Add the Tomatoes: Remove the pot from heat. Open the cans of San Marzano tomatoes and add them to the pot. Use a flat masher to press down on the tomatoes, breaking them into smaller pieces for a smoother sauce. At this point, add the salt and tomato paste.
- Simmer the Sauce: Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 1.5 hours. Stir occasionally, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken.
- Finish the Sauce: Once the sauce has simmered, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool slightly.
- Store the Sauce: Add the fresh basil leaves to the empty pint-sized containers. Portion the cooled sauce into pint-sized containers for freezing. Be sure to label each container with the date so you can keep track of freshness. This sauce can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
Storage: This sauce is perfect for freezing! Simply thaw when you're ready to use it, and it will taste as fresh as when you made it.
Use the Sauce: This tomato sauce is perfect for pasta, pizza, lasagna, or even as a base for soups and stews.