Healthy Garden Tomato Sauce
This how to make garden tomato sauce is a fresh, healthy, and vegan sauce made from garden tomatoes. It's packed with nutrients, easy to prepare, and perfect for any meal!
Ingredients
- 5 pounds cored whole tomatoes, fresh or frozen
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3/4 teaspoon dried basil or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
- 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
- 1 ¾ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1-2 teaspoons sugar (optional)
Instructions
- If using fresh tomatoes, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Score a small X in the bottom of each tomato, then blanch in the boiling water for 30 seconds to 2 minutes until skins loosen. Transfer to an ice water bath, then peel. For frozen tomatoes, rub skins off under warm water and thaw as needed.
- Dice the peeled tomatoes, reserving any juice to use in the sauce.
- Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and cook until softened and golden, about 4-6 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add the tomatoes, their juice, herbs, salt, pepper, and sugar (if using) to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Let it cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until thickened to your desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust salt, pepper, and sugar to match your preference. Serve immediately or store for later use.
Notes
Pro tip: If you’re missing any of these, substitutions such as canned tomatoes (for fresh) or dried herbs (instead of fresh) can work in a pinch, though the flavor will vary slightly.