Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Easy With Fresh Tomatoes
Spaghetti sauce is a staple in many households, but the store-bought versions can be loaded with preservatives, high in sodium, and lacking in flavor. Making homemade spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes is a healthier and tastier alternative. It might seem intimidating to make your own spaghetti sauce, but it’s actually quite easy. With a little bit of preparation and patience, you can have a delicious and healthy homemade spaghetti sauce that your family will love.
Ingredients
The ingredients for homemade spaghetti sauce are simple and can be easily found at your local grocery store. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 5-6 large fresh tomatoes
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Preparation
Before starting to make the sauce, it’s important to prepare the tomatoes. To do this, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cut a small X on the bottom of each tomato and carefully drop them into the boiling water. Let them boil for 30 seconds to a minute, or until the skin starts to peel away. Remove the tomatoes from the pot and place them in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Once cooled, peel off the skin and discard it. Cut the tomatoes in half and remove the seeds and core.
Next, heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic and cook until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add the peeled and seeded tomatoes, salt, sugar, dried basil, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 45 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally.
After an hour, the sauce should be thick and the tomatoes should have broken down. Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce until it’s smooth. If you don't have an immersion blender, you can use a regular blender, but be careful not to fill it too full or it might explode when blending hot liquids.
Serving Suggestions
Homemade spaghetti sauce can be served over your favorite pasta, such as spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine. It can also be used as a base for other Italian dishes, such as lasagna or pizza. Garnish with fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese for added flavor.
Storage
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen sauce in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Conclusion
Homemade spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes is a healthy and delicious alternative to store-bought versions. With a little bit of preparation and patience, you can have a flavorful and versatile sauce that can be used in a variety of Italian dishes.