Description
This Spaghetti Sauce With Fresh Garden Tomatoes is a rich, homemade pasta sauce crafted from ripe garden tomatoes, garlic, onions, fresh herbs, and olive oil. Slow-simmered to bring out deep, vibrant summer flavors, this sauce is perfect for serving over your favorite pasta or freezing for future meals.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 lbs fresh ripe garden tomatoes, cored and chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp granulated sugar (optional)
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare Tomatoes: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Score an “X” on the bottom of each tomato, blanch them in the boiling water for 30–60 seconds, then quickly transfer to an ice bath. Peel off the skins and roughly chop the tomatoes to prepare them for cooking.
- Sauté Onions: Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes until softened and translucent, preparing a flavorful base for the sauce.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds to release its aroma, being careful not to burn it for optimal flavor.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar (if using), dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to the pot. Stir thoroughly to mix all ingredients well.
- Simmer Sauce: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered for 60–90 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the flavors deepen beautifully.
- Add Fresh Herbs: Stir in the chopped fresh basil and parsley during the last 5 minutes of cooking to preserve their bright, fresh flavor in the sauce.
- Blend if Desired: For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to blend to your preferred consistency, or skip this step if you prefer a chunkier texture.
- Serve or Store: Serve the sauce warm over cooked spaghetti or your favorite pasta. Alternatively, allow the sauce to cool completely before storing it in airtight containers for future use.
Notes
- Using Roma tomatoes results in a thicker sauce with less watery consistency.
- Freeze the cooled sauce in airtight containers for up to 3 months to enjoy later.
- For a hearty meat sauce, add cooked ground beef or Italian sausage during the simmering stage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
