Making a delicious homemade tomato sauce or pasta sauce is always a super fun Italian tradition to do with your family or even alone.
It can be a fun way to relax your mind and get the things that have been bothering you recently out of your head.
Why Tomato Puree Is a Great Base for Homemade Sauce
But, that sauce always starts with a tomato paste.
Some people go without tomato paste. Personally I like it because it enhances the flavor of the sauce and makes it thicker while giving it more flavor.
The only downside is that peeling the tomato skins and then making your own tomato puree can be a pain as it takes a really long time. So, it is good to get that part out of the way.
Today, I will be showing you how to make homemade tomato puree.
Step 1: The process consists of first getting ripe and fresh tomatoes. A good type of tomato would be Roma because they have fewer seeds, but any tomato works.
Step 2: The next thing you want to do is wash and cut your tomatoes, cut them into either quarters or halves, depending on how big they are.
Step 3: Cook the tomatoes in a pot over medium hea. Youu can add water to help them simmer down but is not mandatory.
Step 4: Cook them for about 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally or until they are soft and mushy. Let them simmer until the puree has reached your desired thickness, if you want thick purée cook for a longer time.
If you do not have the time or do not want to make your own tomato puree you can always buy puree at the grocery store.
Now that you have all this tomato puree you’re going to need to store it somehow. The best way to store it for a longer shelf life would be to freeze it.
To freeze it, you want to let it cool completely until it reaches room temperature, this will prevent condensation when storing. Then you are going to want to choose your storage container.
- Plastic containers: Make sure these are freezer-safe-containers so they do not crack.
- Freezer bags: They take up less space and can be laid down flat.
- Ice cube trays: If you want smaller portions then this would be an easy way to store your puree since you can just pop it out of the tray.
Make sure if you are using either the bags or the containers to seal them tightly so they do not get freezer burn. When freezing puree, it can be stored in the freezer for up to 3-6 months. Make sure to thaw it out before using it either overnight or in the microwave.
How to Use Your Homemade Tomato Puree
Now I am going to be showing you how to make the best sauce to make with this tomato puree. You can either make pizza sauce, marinara sauce or pasta sauce.
Step 1: Start by putting your pot over medium heat, and drizzle the bottom with a 1/2 cup of olive oil. Then add in 2 cups and 1/4 a cup of a diced onion along with 2 tablespoons of minced garlic and let that simmer until onions are translucent. Add in salt and pepper.
Step 2: Add in two tablespoons of tomato paste along with 3 28 ounce cans of crushed tomatoes and 3 cups of water. Bring this to a boil and bring the heat down to a simmer then simmer partially covered for 1-4 hours on low heat.
Step 3: The longer you cook the sauce the thicker it will be. Make sure to stir every 20 minutes to prevent the bottom from burning. Add the basil at the end for a fresh flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers:
Q: How should you store this tomato sauce?
A: The best way or easiest way, to store this tomato sauce would be in an airtight container or glass jars. You could also freeze the sauce for long-term storage.
Q: When is the best season for tomatoes?
A: The summer harvest for tomatoes is the best. Right in the middle of summer is when the tomatoes will be the most ripe and tastiest, May through October.
Q: Is it better to use homegrown tomatoes than store bought ones?
A: Whatever your preference is, a lot of people say that homegrown garden tomatoes that they grow in their gardens make the sauce more fresh but some people say they can’t tell the difference.
Q: Are bloody Marys made with tomato sauce?
A: No, Bloody Marys are typically made with tomato juice then mixed with vodka and spices, not tomato sauce.
