Pidvz

Fresh Tomato Sauce

You can truly taste the difference in every bite of this sauce. Crafted completely from scratch (yep, fresh tomatoes only), it’s infused with bold garlic and fragrant basil for a flavor that’s downright irresistible. Whether ladled over pasta or mopped up with warm bread, this hearty tomato sauce is guaranteed to be a family favorite!

  • Prep15 min
  • Cook45 min
  • Total1 hr
  • Yield4 people
  • Calories216

Ingredients Steps Notes

Savor the flavor of the season in this homemade recipe for Fresh Tomato Sauce! Made entirely from scratch (no canned tomatoes here!) and bursting with garlic and basil flavor!

A Family Favorite Sauce

You can literally taste the love and time that goes into this Homemade Fresh Tomato Sauce! This hearty, slightly chunky sauce takes just 1 hour to cook up, yet can be used in so many tasty ways!

The star of the recipe is vine-ripened tomatoes that are paired with ingredients like garlic, basil, and crushed red pepper to create a mouthwatering taste. Its fresh, vibrant flavor is one we all look forward to over pasta, with bread, or served up with meatballs!

This Fresh Tomato Sauce was an instant summertime staple for my family, but one I know we’ll enjoy all year long. Make a batch of this sauce to enjoy in different ways, to skip cooking for a day or two, or freeze a batch for meal prep when planning for busy weeknights!

Ingredients For Fresh Tomato Sauce

Head out to your garden, local vegetable stand, or farmers’ market to grab 3 pounds or about 8 vine-ripe or plum tomatoes. Fresh, local tomatoes will give this sauce the best taste, but if you have to, you can also purchase them from the grocery store.

From there, you’ll need olive oil, garlic paste, tomato paste, and light brown sugar. In addition to sprigs of basil with their stems and leaves separated, use sea salt, ground black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes.

How To Make Fresh Tomato Sauce

  1. Add water to a large pot and bring it to a boil over high heat.
  2. Cut X’s on the bottoms of all the vine-ripened or plum tomatoes using a paring knife.
  3. Transfer the prepped tomatoes to the pot of boiling water. Then cook the tomatoes until the skins start to split.
  4. Strain the tomatoes and then transfer them to a baking sheet. Peel the skin off the tomatoes and discard.
  5. Cut the tomatoes into chunks and discard the cores.
  6. Add olive oil, garlic paste, tomato paste, basil sprigs, sea salt, ground black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes to a large saucepan and cook over low heat. Stir frequently until the garlic begins to brown.
  7. Transfer the tomatoes and any juices into the pot, along with light brown sugar. Stir to combine, then increase the heat to medium-high to bring the mixture to a boil.
  8. Reduce the heat to medium and then allow the sauce to simmer until it thickens, stirring frequently.
  9. Remove this pot from the heat and discard the basil stems. Then add in finely chopped basil leaves.
  10. Sprinkle salt and pepper in the sauce to taste and then enjoy immediately!

How To Serve & Enjoy Fresh Tomato Sauce

  • Pasta – Serve this homemade sauce over a heaping plate of pasta for a classic family favorite! Spaghetti, rigatoni, penne, or even corkscrew pasta would all be great choices.
  • Sandwiches – Elevate your meatball subs or chicken parmesan sandwiches by using this homemade tomato sauce!
  • With Protein – Pair Homemade Fresh Tomato Sauce with Fried Panko Chicken or Homemade Meatballs for a kick of protein! Think spaghetti and meatballs or chicken parmesan on a bed of pasta!
  • Dipping Sauce – Use this tomato sauce as a dip for Mozzarella Sticks, Stuffed Cheese Breadsticks, or Parmesan Garlic Bread!

How To Store Fresh Tomato Sauce

Refrigerator Storage: Allow the Fresh Tomato Sauce to cool and then transfer it into an airtight container or large mason jars. Store the sauce in the fridge and then enjoy it within 3 days; after this, the tomatoes can start to sour.

Freezer Storage: Transfer the completely cooled sauce into a freezer-safe airtight container or large freezer Ziploc bags. Then store the sauce in the freezer to enjoy for up to 3 months. To use, thaw the sauce overnight in the fridge.

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Steps

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat.

  2. Meanwhile, use a paring knife to cut 1-inch X’s on the bottoms of all the .

  3. Add the prepped tomatoes to the pot of boiling water and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the skins start to split.

  4. Strain the tomatoes in a colander and transfer them to a rimmed baking sheet. Peel them and discard the skins.

  5. Cut the tomatoes into chunks, discarding the cores.

  6. In a large saucepan, add the , , , , , , and and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until the garlic begins to brown and become fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes.

  7. Add in the tomatoes and any juices, plus the , and stir to combine. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil.

  8. Reduce heat to medium and let the sauce simmer for 30 minutes until thickened, stirring frequently.

  9. Remove this pot from the heat and discard the basil stems. Add in finely chopped basil leaves.

  10. Add additional salt and pepper to taste and enjoy immediately or allow it to cool before storing in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

Notes

  • Storage Tip: This sauce is best enjoyed within 3 days when stored in the refrigerator—after that, the tomatoes can start to turn a little sour.

  • Cooking Tip: I recommend using a large pot for this recipe since it gives the tomatoes more surface heat and helps them cook down beautifully. A medium pot works too, but you may need to add 5 to 10 extra minutes to the cook time.

  • Flavor Boost: Don’t skip the crushed red pepper flakes! They won’t make the sauce spicy, but they add incredible depth and flavor.

  • Optional Umami: For a richer, more savory flavor (rather than sweet), try adding anchovies at the beginning with the oil.

Nutrition

  • Calories216
  • Carbs22g
  • Protein4g
  • Fat14g
  • Saturated fat2g
  • Fiber5g
  • Sugar13g
  • Sodium665mg

Estimates per serving, when a serving size is listed.

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