Homemade Tomato Sauce

So, I finally harvested a few tomatoes...and while some were awesome, others were so so...some not so ripe, some split from all of the rain, others munched on a bit...So, I decided to make a basic tomato sauce and freeze it for use later.

I started by washing and cleaning up the tomatoes, chunking up the larger ones. I popped them in a non stick sauce pot over medium heat. I added olive oil, bay leaves, dried basil, fennel seeds, dried italian herb mix, salt, pepper, about 2 tbs sugar. **The amount of sugar is related to the acidity and ripeness of the tomatoes.

Let the tomatoes cook all the way down and reduce in order to concentrate the flavors...this is particularly helpful if you have had a lot of rain and your tomatoes are a bit watery. When it is reduced to this point, it is ready to take off the heat.

Now, since I don't take the time to seed or peel my tomatoes, I run the whole mix through the food mill. What you are left with is a smooth, well flavored sauce that can serve as the base of more complex sauces and soups.

For more information on growing and harvesting tomatoes, check out Gardener to Farmer, my gardening blog.

Comments

[The Beer Wench]

Mmmm I am an Italian food fiend. Love love love pasta and pizza and anything with tomato goodness! This sauce looks so good my keyboard is sparking because of my drool!!!

I want some!!! Puhhhhlease!