Freezer Spaghetti Sauce From Fresh Tomatoes
Making your own spaghetti sauce from scratch can be a satisfying and rewarding experience. It's also a great way to use up a surplus of fresh tomatoes from your garden or local farmer's market. However, not everyone has the time or inclination to make sauce from scratch every time they want to enjoy a plate of spaghetti. That's where freezer spaghetti sauce comes in. With a little bit of prep work, you can make a large batch of sauce and freeze it for later use. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of making freezer spaghetti sauce from fresh tomatoes.
Ingredients
Before we get started, let's go over the ingredients you'll need:
- 20-25 fresh tomatoes
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4-5 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon sugar
These ingredients will make enough sauce for about 4-6 servings of spaghetti.
Instructions
Now that we have our ingredients, let's get started:
- Start by washing and quartering your tomatoes. Remove the stem and core, but don't worry about removing the seeds or skin.
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the quartered tomatoes to the pot and stir to combine. Cover the pot and let the mixture simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- After 30 minutes, the tomatoes should have broken down and become soft. Use an immersion blender or transfer the mixture to a blender to puree the sauce until it's smooth.
- Return the pureed sauce to the pot and add the salt, black pepper, oregano, basil, thyme, and sugar. Stir to combine.
- Let the sauce simmer for another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. This will help the flavors meld together and the sauce thicken.
- Once the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency, let it cool to room temperature.
- Divide the sauce into freezer-safe containers or bags. Label each container with the date and contents and freeze for up to 6 months.
Tips
Here are a few tips to help you make the perfect freezer spaghetti sauce:
- Use ripe, in-season tomatoes for the best flavor. If you don't have access to fresh tomatoes, you can use canned tomatoes instead.
- Feel free to adjust the spices to your liking. If you prefer a spicier sauce, add some red pepper flakes. If you like a sweeter sauce, add more sugar.
- Don't overcrowd the pot when you're simmering the sauce. If you need to make a larger batch, divide it into two pots.
- Let the sauce cool to room temperature before freezing. This will prevent the containers from cracking or breaking in the freezer.
Conclusion
Freezer spaghetti sauce from fresh tomatoes is a great way to enjoy the flavor of homemade sauce without the time and effort of making it from scratch every time. With a little bit of prep work, you can have a batch of sauce ready to go in your freezer for whenever you need it. We hope this guide has been helpful in showing you how to make your own freezer spaghetti sauce. Happy cooking!