How to Make Sauce from Fresh Roma Tomatoes (Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce)

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Whether you are growing fresh tomatoes in your garden or have picked up a good supply of Roma tomatoes from your local farmers market, you will love making your own homemade tomato sauce.

This easy recipe will have you well on your way to making your own spaghetti sauce as well as a pizza sauce or pasta sauce that you can use in many recipes.

There is nothing quite as delicious as a homemade sauce in my opinion and I think you will agree after trying this easy homemade tomato sauce.

What You’ll Need to Make Sauce from Fresh Roma Tomatoes

If this is your first time making your own homemade tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes, you will be amazed by the simplicity. Once you gather your ingredients and supplies, you will be well on your way to making a delicious homemade sauce using Roma tomatoes.

There are many different methods and variations on how to make your own homemade tomato sauce. Feel free to add or take away some ingredients to create the best homemade sauce to suit your tastes.

The basic ingredients you will need to make this homemade tomato sauce are fairly common. In fact, you may already have them in your pantry. The most important part of this easy recipe is the Roma tomatoes. Be sure to use the best tomatoes you can get your hands on!

Whether they are from your own garden or a farmers market, the better the tomatoes, the better the sauce. 

You will also need olive oil, a large onion, minced garlic from garlic cloves or pre-diced, and some seasonings that you can find below in the recipe card.

If you want to speed up the process and make a smooth tomato sauce you can use an immersion blender, food processor, or a food mill to break the tomatoes down quickly.

How to Make Sauce from Fresh Roma Tomatoes

Select the best ripe tomatoes that you can find to begin making this recipe. Start with a large pot of water. Bring the water to a boil. Meanwhile, get an ice bath ready in a large bowl while waiting for it to come to a boil.

Blanch the whole tomatoes in boiling water for 30-60 seconds. Next, immediately transfer them to the cold water bath. After the tomatoes have cooled enough for handling you can begin the next step. Remove the tomato skins from the top to the bottom of each tomato.

Add the olive oil, onion, and garlic to a dutch oven and cook for about 7 minutes or until the onions become almost translucent. Stirring to keep them from burning to the bottom of the dutch oven.

You can chop the tomatoes into small chunks with a paring knife to speed up the process for a smooth sauce or place them into your dutch oven and use a potato masher to begin the process or a food mill. To break the tomatoes down, even more, you can use a food processor or immersion blender to make quick work of it. You can also use a slotted spoon to press the tomatoes against the side of the dutch oven to break them up.

Add in the rest of the seasonings and bring to a boil. Reduce the temperature and cook on medium heat for 90 minutes and then lower the heat and cook for an additional 30 minutes or until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. To thicken the sauce you can add tomato paste, I usually use San Marzano tomato paste.

Tips for Making the Best Homemade Tomato Sauce

Remember to stir occasionally while cooking. This isn’t a recipe that requires you to hover over the dutch oven so it can be easy to overlook. Feel free to leave the sauce cooking but don’t stray too far from the kitchen.

It is best to keep an eye on the sauce and do your best to prevent it from sticking to the bottom. I often forget to stir when making homemade sauce because usually I can leave it be for 20-30 minutes before tending to it. This is of course when I am not in a rush and cooking on low instead of medium heat. Usually multi-tasking and getting some cleaning done.

I like to start a sauce in the morning and let it cook slowly all day. This is how my grandmother used to do it when I was a kid. So doing it this way reminds me of her and it makes my home smell amazing. Plus, I have been known to dip a piece of bread in the sauce for a quick snack throughout the day just like when grandma was making her homemade sauce.

Variations on Making this Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce

If you don’t have a garden or farmers market nearby to pick up the best tomatoes, you can make this homemade tomato sauce from canned plum tomatoes. I like to use DiNapoli San Marzano Style Plum Tomatoes when I am making easy recipes that I want to be done as fast as possible.

This is also my go-to when it isn’t tomato season and the local grocery store doesn’t have the best tomatoes. I only use juicy tomatoes that look fresh, not the ones that seem like they were ready to throw away last week. This is pretty typical in the winter months.

For a little extra flavor, you can add in parmesan cheese or even fresh mozzarella if you are serving immediately. This adds a nice flavor to the sauce, thickens it up a bit, and goes really well with pasta.

How to Store this Homemade Tomato Sauce

I like to make as much homemade tomato sauce as I can at once. This is especially true when using garden tomatoes. This process takes some time so it is always nice to have the hard part done. Now, the next time you are craving a homemade tomato sauce, the time-consuming part will be done.

If you are canning your homemade tomato sauce you can add in lemon juice to help preserve it. If you want to store the sauce and use it throughout the week be sure to use airtight containers. Also, be sure to refrigerate the tomato sauce until ready to use unless you are canning.

You can also store the sauce in freezer bags which will keep for about 6 months. Whenever I make homemade tomato sauce, I always make more than I need. This is a great way to save time in the future when you want a quick meal but still want to enjoy the delicious flavors of fresh Roma tomatoes.

Recipes to Pair with this Sauce from Fresh Roma Tomatoes

Learn How to Make Lasagna with Zucchini Layers using this homemade sauce made from fresh tomatoes. You could also pair this homemade sauce drizzled over pasta served alongside this chewy Italian bread with a perfectly crispy crust.

This garlic bread recipe also shares how to make a garlic butter sauce that is perfect for dunking.

If you have a hearty supply of Roma tomatoes and want to make more homemade recipes check these out. This low-carb roasted tomato basil soup is a must-try. If you are following a low-carb diet, this recipe also includes instructions on how to make a low-carb grilled cheese that is perfect for the keto diet.

I hope you enjoyed learning how to make Roma tomato sauce and will sign up for the free newsletter so that you won’t miss future Roma tomato recipes. Although I enjoy sharing how to make tomato sauce from Roma tomatoes, I share all kinds of recipes but I am so excited to share what to do with Roma tomatoes when you have an abundance.

There is nothing quite as delicious as fresh pasta sauce with Roma tomatoes so I hope you enjoyed learning how to make tomato sauce from scratch.

How to Make Sauce from Fresh Roma Tomatoes (Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce)

How to Make Sauce from Fresh Roma Tomatoes (Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce)

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Ingredients

• 7 Lbs of Tomatoes
• 4 Tablespoons of Minced Garlic
• 1 Large Onion
• 4 Teaspoons of Garlic Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper
• 1 Bayleaf
• 1 Tablespoon of Salt
• 1 Teaspoon of Pepper
• 3 Teaspoons of Basil
• 1 Teaspoon of Oregano
• 7 Ounces Puree (If needed)

Instructions

Start with a large pot of water. Bring the water to a boil and get an ice bath ready in a large bowl while waiting for it to come to a boil.

Blanch the whole tomatoes in boiling water for 30-60 seconds and then immediately transfer them to the cold water bath. After the tomatoes have cooled enough for handling, remove the tomato skins from the top to the bottom of each tomato. 

Add the olive oil, onion, and garlic to a dutch oven and cook for about 7 minutes or until the onions become almost translucent. Stirring to keep them from burning to the bottom of the dutch oven. 

You can chop the tomatoes into small chunks with a paring knife to speed up the process for a smooth sauce or place them into your dutch oven and use a potato masher to begin the process or a food mill. To break the tomatoes down, even more, you can use a food processor or immersion blender to make quick work of it. You can also use a slotted spoon to press the tomatoes against the side of the dutch oven to break them up. 

Add in the rest of the seasonings and bring to a boil. Reduce the temperature and cook on medium heat for 90 minutes and then lower the heat and cook for an additional 30 minutes or until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. Remove Bay Leaf. To thicken the sauce you can add tomato paste if needed or a little bit of water for a thinner sauce.

About Thirty Something Super Mom

Melissa

Thirty Something Super Mom | Website

My journey started after a Crohn's disease diagnosis, inspiring a commitment to well-being. This site shares my distinctive approach to healthy living with my collection of nutritious recipes that boast authentic flavors, mimicking the indulgence of traditional dishes. I love sharing guilt free recipes for low carb, keto, gluten-free, paleo, and the specific carbohydrate diet. I also share tips on natural living, including homemade cleaners and cleaning hacks. I also share my experience as a veterinary technician and pet groomer, to integrate pet health tips, homemade dog food recipes, and grooming insights to ensure your pets thrive.