If you love pizza, you know that the key to a great pie is the sauce. While store-bought pizza sauces are convenient, nothing beats the flavor of a homemade sauce. Plus, making your own pizza sauce allows you to customize it to your liking and control the quality of the ingredients.

But what if you have an abundance of fresh tomatoes or you want to preserve the flavors of summer to enjoy with your homemade pizzas year-round? That’s where canning comes in. Canning your own pizza sauce is a great way to use up an abundance of tomatoes and ensure you always have a flavorful sauce on hand whenever a pizza craving strikes.

Here’s how to make your own pizza sauce and can it for future use:

1. Gather your ingredients: You will need fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, herbs (such as basil and oregano), salt, sugar, and olive oil.

2. Prepare your tomatoes: Start by blanching the tomatoes to remove the skins. To do this, bring a large pot of water to a boil and fill a large bowl with ice water. Score the bottom of each tomato with a small “X” and drop them into the boiling water for 30-60 seconds. Remove the tomatoes with a slotted spoon and place them in the ice water to cool. Once cooled, peel off the skins and roughly chop the tomatoes.

3. Cook the sauce: In a large pot, sauté diced onions and minced garlic in olive oil until softened. Add the chopped tomatoes, herbs, salt, and sugar, and simmer the sauce for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. You can also use a stick blender to puree the sauce to your desired consistency.

4. Prepare your canning equipment: While the sauce is simmering, prepare your canning jars and lids by washing them in hot, soapy water and sterilizing them in boiling water for 10 minutes.

5. Can the sauce: Once the sauce is done, carefully fill the hot, sterilized jars with the hot sauce, leaving about ¼ inch of headspace. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp cloth and place the lids on top. Process the jars in a boiling water bath for the recommended time based on your altitude and jar size.

6. Store your canned sauce: Once the jars have been processed and cooled, check the seals and store the jars in a cool, dark place. The canned pizza sauce will be shelf-stable for up to a year.

Making your own pizza sauce and canning it is a great way to preserve the flavors of fresh, ripe tomatoes to enjoy on your homemade pizzas throughout the year. Plus, it’s a rewarding and satisfying way to put up the bounty of your garden or local farmers market. So, the next time you have an abundance of tomatoes, consider making your own pizza sauce and canning it for future use. Your taste buds will thank you!