Canning Homemade Spaghetti Sauce From Scratch
There is nothing like a homemade spaghetti sauce. It is the perfect way to add flavor to your pasta dishes. With the right ingredients, you can make a delicious, healthy and preservative-free sauce that will last for months.
Ingredients
To make your own homemade spaghetti sauce, you will need:
- 10 lbs. of fresh, ripe tomatoes
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- 6 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of salt
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- 1 tablespoon of dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon of dried basil
- 1 tablespoon of dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
Make sure to use fresh and ripe tomatoes for the best flavor. You can also add other vegetables like carrots or celery for more depth of flavor. But for a traditional spaghetti sauce, stick to these basic ingredients.
Instructions
Here are the steps to make homemade spaghetti sauce:
- Wash the tomatoes and remove the stems. Cut them into quarters and place them in a large pot.
- Place the pot on medium heat and cook the tomatoes for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. This will help to soften them and release their juices.
- Once the tomatoes have cooked down, remove them from the heat and let them cool for a few minutes. Then, pass them through a food mill or a sieve to remove the seeds and skins.
- Return the tomato puree to the pot and add the chopped onion, green pepper, garlic, olive oil, salt, sugar, oregano, basil, parsley, and black pepper.
- Stir everything together and bring the sauce to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally. This will help to thicken the sauce and blend the flavors.
- After 2 hours, the sauce should be thick and flavorful. If it's too thick, you can add some water to thin it out. If it's too thin, you can let it simmer for a bit longer.
- Once the sauce is ready, it's time to can it.
Canning
Canning is a great way to preserve your homemade spaghetti sauce for later use. Here's how to do it:
- Wash your canning jars and lids in hot, soapy water and rinse them well.
- Place the jars in a large pot of boiling water and boil them for 10 minutes to sterilize them.
- Remove the jars from the water and fill them with the hot spaghetti sauce, leaving about 1/2 inch of headspace at the top.
- Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp cloth to remove any sauce or debris.
- Place the lids on the jars and tighten the bands firmly, but not too tight.
- Place the jars back in the pot of boiling water and process them for 35 minutes.
- Remove the jars from the water and let them cool for 24 hours.
- Check the seals on the jars to make sure they are tight. If any of the jars did not seal properly, you can store them in the refrigerator and use them within a few days.
Conclusion
Making homemade spaghetti sauce from scratch is a great way to add flavor to your pasta dishes. With the right ingredients and a little bit of patience, you can create a delicious and healthy sauce that will last for months. Canning your sauce is also a great way to preserve it for later use. Just make sure to follow the instructions carefully to ensure that your sauce stays fresh and safe to eat.