Fresh tomato sauce is one of the simplest ways to use a large garden harvest. Ripe tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs can become a flexible sauce for pasta, vegetables, chicken, or other meals.
For the best flavor, start with fully ripe tomatoes and adjust the cooking time to the variety. Meaty paste tomatoes usually thicken faster than very juicy slicing types.
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 pounds ripe tomatoes
- 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or oregano, optional
Choose Tomatoes With Good Flavor
Any ripe tomato can be used, but paste types have less water and often make a thicker sauce. San Marzano tomato is a traditional paste-style choice for sauces.
Prepare the Tomatoes
Wash the tomatoes and remove stems and damaged areas. Peeling is optional for a fresh sauce. If you prefer a smoother texture, score the skins, briefly blanch the tomatoes in boiling water, cool them, and slip the skins off before chopping.
USDA MyPlate counts fresh, canned, and cooked tomatoes as vegetables and includes them as part of a varied vegetable intake; its vegetable guidance provides serving examples for tomatoes and other produce.
Cook the Sauce
Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook briefly without browning it. Add the chopped tomatoes, season lightly, and simmer uncovered until the sauce reaches the thickness you prefer. Stir occasionally so the bottom does not scorch.
Finish With Fresh Herbs
Add tender herbs near the end of cooking so their flavor stays fresh. If you grow your own basil, our guide to growing an Italian herb garden covers basil, oregano, parsley, and other useful kitchen herbs.
Use Fresh Sauce Promptly
This recipe is intended as a fresh cooked sauce, not as a tested canning formula. Refrigerate leftovers promptly and use a tested preservation recipe if you plan to can tomato sauce for shelf storage.
If you want to grow more sauce ingredients in limited space, our container vegetable gardening guide can help you plan tomatoes, peppers, and herbs for patios and balconies.