In my kitchen, wasting food is a crime, especially when it comes to the cherry tomatoes. This veggie deserves to shine, not get spoiled. If you ever find yourself with excess tomatoes at home and don’t know what to do, do not fear – I have a recipe that will transform the extra tomatoes into the most delicious and mouth-watering homemade tomato sauce you will ever taste. You can literally use it on everything: pasta, stews, pizza, breakfast tortillas, sandwiches—you name it! So – No tomatoes left behind!
What you need?
- Cherry tomatoes: Any variety of tomatoes will do, but cherry tomatoes are my favorite to roast because they are incredibly sweet and flavorful.
- Onion: A sauce without onion? Unthinkable! It adds a sweet, rich flavor that makes everything taste better.
- Garlic: Roasted garlic is magical, even for those who usually avoid it. So give it a try folks – you won’t regret it.
- Basil: Fresh basil leaves are a must. They always go perfectly with tomatoes.
- Salt and pepper: A pinch of salt and pepper to taste.
- Olive oil: The glue that holds it all together. Also, intensifies the flavours and helps roast these veggies to perfection.
- Optional: One chili pepper for those who like it spicy! But I wouldn’t recommend more than 1 chilly pepper on approximately 1 pound of tomatoes. Since my kids also eat the sauce, I go without it this time.
Useful kitchen tools
- Dutch oven: The queen of my kitchen! This will make your sauce even more flavorful. If you want to learn a bit more about the Dutch oven and how amazing of a kitchen tool it is, read my post 9 Reasons why you need a Dutch oven in your kitchen.
- Good baking sheet: For roasting those veggies to perfection and be easy to clean.
Best Homemade Tomato Sauce
Course: SidesDifficulty: Medium5
minutes40
minutes30
minutes1
hour15
minutesEnjoy a delicious tomato sauce while feeling great about saving those extra tomatoes from waste
Ingredients
1 pound of whole cherry tomatoes
1 small onion cut in quarters
4-5 whole peeled garlic cloves
Handful of fresh basil leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
a pinch of brown sugar to taste
Olive oil as needed
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- While the oven is heating up, give those tomatoes a good wash and dry them with a kitchen towel.
- Peel the onion and cut it into quarters. Peel the garlic cloves as well.
- Spread the tomatoes out in a baking pan, then add the onion quarters and garlic cloves.
- Drizzle generously with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss a few basil leaves on top for an extra burst of flavor.
- Roast the veggies for about 40 minutes, but keep an eye on them towards the end to make sure they don't burn.
- Once they're beautifully roasted, take them out of the oven and let them cool for at least 30 minutes.
- Toss everything, including the flavorful juices and basil leaves, into a blender. Blend until smooth. Feel free to add some extra fresh basil for a more intense flavor—I'm a basil fanatic, so I always add more.
Heat a Dutch oven (or a saucepan) on medium heat, drizzle with olive oil, and add the mixture to cook for 5 minutes. Add a pinch of brown sugar to reduce acidity. Lower the heat to low-medium and continue to cook, occasionally stirring, for another 25-30 minutes.- Let it rest for 30 minutes or until completely cooled.
- Pour the sauce into a jar, making sure it’s completely cool before sealing.
Recipe Video
How to use the homemade tomato sauce
This sauce is your new best friend. Add it to Bolognese (my husband swears it’s a game-changer), stews, pizzas, as a dipping sauce, and more. Unleash your creativity!
Freezing and Storing:
- Freezing: Pour the sauce into plastic bags, label with the date, and freeze for up to 4-5 months.
- Storing: I recommend keeping it in mason jars. It’s practical for gradual use and looks beautiful.
- Gift Idea: Add a cute bow to a mason jar and you’ve got a thoughtful gift for a friend.
Enjoy every delicious spoonful and feel good about not letting those tomatoes go to waste! Welcome to the zero-food-waste zone!
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out and share a photo on Instagram with a hashtag #chickinapron.com. I would also be happy to learn about any variations or substitutions you used. Your feedback and creativity absolutely inspire me! Thank you!
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