Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe Made With Fresh Tomatoes

There’s nothing quite like the rich and comforting taste of homemade spaghetti sauce, especially when you make it with fresh tomatoes. Whether you grow your own or find them at the local Farmer’s market you can’t beat the flavor of a tomato that has just come off the vine.

Whether you add a slice of a fresh picked tomato to a sandwich or use the tomatoes to make your favorite salsa or sauce the flavor is far superior than a store-bought tomato in the middle of winter. Therefore it is time to take advantage of the summer harvest and use those fresh tomatoes to make the best pasta sauce that you have ever had.

This is the perfect recipe for those who have a small garden with just a few tomato plants or for those who purchased a few fresh veggies from the market. That is because this recipe is a small batch recipe that will provide you enough sauce for a large family meal.

Or divide the sauce and use some of it to coat your favorite pasta and then refrigerate the remainder and use it as a sauce for dipping garlic bread or as the base to a homemade pizza.

You can even make a double batch and freeze the sauce for the next time that you are craving a homemade Italian meal. There is nothing better than pulling out homemade sauce in the middle of winter, knowing that you made it yourself.

What Type of Tomato Makes The Best Spaghetti Sauce

Although you can use any variety of tomato to make homemade spaghetti sauce, there are a few varieties that really are superior. If you are purchasing tomatoes, use paste tomatoes such as Roma, San Marzano, or Amish Paste.

These varieties make the best sauce because they have thicker walls and fewer seeds, making for a richer and thicker sauce. However, if you grow your own tomatoes and all you have are regular slicing tomatoes, that’s okay too – just be ready for a bit more cooking time so that the sauce can thicken.

Peeling Tomatoes Made Easy

Once you have your tomatoes it is time to peel them. This process may seem cumbersome, but it is actually very easy.

Start by filling a large pot with water. You want the pot to be about three-quarters full.

Then place the pot over high heat and bring it to a boil. Once it is at a rapid boil carefully lower your whole tomatoes in the water.

Let them boil for 1 minute. Then immediately transfer them to a bowl of ice water and let them cool until you can safely handle them.

Make a small slit in the skin with a knife, and you’ll see how easily the skins slip off. Once peeled, cut the tomatoes in half and scoop or squeeze out the seeds. Dice them up, and you’re ready to make your sauce.

How To Season Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

The best part about making homemade sauces is that you can adjust the seasoning based on your taste preferences. However, here is a good base of seasonings to get you started:

• Basil
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Thyme
• Salt & Pepper

The ratio of the seasonings can easily be adjusted. However, basil will be the primary seasoning (double the amount of the other seasonings combined).

Although, feel free to taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking.

Choosing Your Sauce Consistency

Just like when making Homemade Salsa, how thick or smooth you want your spaghetti sauce is up to you. If you like it smooth, use an immersion blender or a high-speed blender after cooking to puree the sauce. If you prefer it chunky, just leave it as is.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

* Complete recipe instructions including specific measurements, cook temperatures and times are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to read the entire article for helpful tips and tricks when making this recipe.

Yields: About 4 cups

INGREDIENTS:

• ¼ cup olive oil
• 3 medium sweet onions, diced
• 8 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 large carrot, grated
• 5 lbs fresh paste tomatoes, peeled and seeded
• 2 ½ tablespoons dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 3 dry bay leaves
• 1/2 large carrot, left whole (optional)*

*If you or someone in your family has trouble with the acidity of tomatoes add a half of a large carrot to the sauce. It helps absorb some of the acid, making the sauce taste less bitter and easier on the stomach. Then remove it before serving.

INSTRUCTIONS

Sauté the Onions: Heat a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the olive oil and let it heat up. Then add the diced onions and sauté for about 5 minutes until they start to get tender.

Add Garlic and Carrot: Next, add the minced garlic and grated carrot to the pot. Sauté for another 2-3 minutes until the onions are translucent and tender. Stir constantly so the garlic doesn’t brown too much and turn bitter.

Add the Remaining Ingredients: Add in the peeled and diced tomatoes, basil, thyme, oregano, parsley, salt, pepper, and bay leaves. Stir everything together and bring it to a boil. Make sure to stir the spaghetti sauce frequently to prevent sticking.

Simmer: Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the homemade spaghetti sauce simmer. Stir occasionally and let it cook for about 2 hours, giving the tomatoes time to break down and the sauce to thicken.

Add the Carrot (if using): After 2 hours, add the half of a carrot and continue to simmer until you reach the desired thickness, about 30-60 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and the whole carrot before serving.

Blend if Needed: If you want a thinner sauce, use an immersion blender or transfer the sauce to a high-speed blender (no more than half full) to puree it.

Storing and Serving Suggestions

If you want to make this sauce ahead of time, let it cool and store it in a covered container. It will last in the refrigerator for up to a week or in an air tight container in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Although the traditional way to serve the sauce is over spaghetti noodles, but there are other ways to use the homemade sauce as well:

• Lasagna: Use it as the sauce layer in your lasagna.
• Tomato Soup: Add water and cream to the sauce to make a creamy tomato soup.
• Dipping Sauce: Perfect for garlic bread or homemade garlic knots.
• Pizza Sauce: Use it as the base for pizza or pizza bagels.
• Chicken Penne Alla Vodka: A delicious creamy pasta dish (Recipe: Chicken Penne Alla Vodka)

• Baked Chicken Parmesan: Great for topping baked chicken.
• Italian Sloppy Joes: Mix with cooked Italian sausage, green peppers, and onions for a unique twist on Sloppy Joes.

There you have it! Homemade spaghetti sauce made fresh tomatoes.

ENJOY!

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