Homemade Italian Spaghetti Sauce With Fresh Tomatoes
There's nothing quite like the smell of fresh Italian spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove. Making your own sauce from scratch can seem intimidating, but with a few simple ingredients and some patience, you can create a delicious sauce that will rival any restaurant. In this article, we'll show you how to make homemade Italian spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes.
Ingredients
The first step in making homemade Italian spaghetti sauce is gathering all of your ingredients. Here's what you'll need:
- 5-6 large ripe tomatoes, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
Now that you have all of your ingredients, it's time to start making your sauce. Follow these simple steps:
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- Add the chopped tomatoes, salt, sugar, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once the sauce has thickened and the tomatoes have broken down, use an immersion blender or transfer the sauce to a blender and puree until smooth.
- Stir in the chopped basil and let the sauce simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes.
Tips
Here are a few tips to ensure your homemade Italian spaghetti sauce turns out perfectly:
- Use ripe tomatoes: The key to a delicious sauce is using ripe, juicy tomatoes. If your tomatoes aren't quite ripe, you can place them in a paper bag with an apple or banana to speed up the ripening process.
- Cook the onions and garlic first: Cooking the onions and garlic before adding the tomatoes helps to deepen the flavor of the sauce.
- Let the sauce simmer: Simmering the sauce for at least 30 minutes allows the flavors to meld together and the tomatoes to break down.
- Puree the sauce: Using an immersion blender or transferring the sauce to a blender and pureeing it will give you a smooth, velvety sauce.
- Adjust the seasoning: Taste the sauce as it cooks and adjust the seasoning as needed. If it's too acidic, add a pinch of sugar. If it's too thick, add a splash of water or broth.
Serving Suggestions
Now that you have your homemade Italian spaghetti sauce, it's time to serve it up! Here are a few serving suggestions:
- Toss the sauce with your favorite pasta and top with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Use the sauce as a base for homemade pizza.
- Serve the sauce with meatballs or Italian sausage.
Conclusion
Homemade Italian spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes is a delicious and comforting dish that's perfect for any occasion. With just a few simple ingredients and some patience, you can create a sauce that's bursting with flavor. So grab some ripe tomatoes and get cooking!