There’s nothing quite like the taste of homemade pizza sauce. It’s rich, flavorful, and adds the perfect touch to any pizza. Plus, when you make it yourself, you have complete control over the ingredients and can customize it to suit your taste preferences.
If you love making pizza at home, then canning homemade pizza sauce is a game-changer. You can enjoy the taste of fresh, homemade pizza sauce anytime, without having to go through the trouble of making it from scratch every time. Plus, it’s a great way to preserve your summer tomatoes and enjoy them all year round.
Making and canning homemade pizza sauce is easier than you might think. With a few simple ingredients and the right equipment, you can have a pantry stocked with delicious, homemade pizza sauce in no time. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started.
Start with fresh, ripe tomatoes. The quality of your tomatoes will directly affect the taste of your sauce, so it’s best to use tomatoes at the peak of ripeness. You can use any variety of tomatoes, but Roma or San Marzano tomatoes are popular choices for pizza sauce due to their low moisture content and intense flavor.
Once you have your tomatoes, you’ll need to peel and seed them. This can be a bit time-consuming, but it’s a necessary step to ensure a smooth, flavorful sauce. To peel the tomatoes, simply cut a small “X” in the bottom of each tomato, blanch them in boiling water for about 30 seconds, then transfer them to an ice bath. The skins should easily peel off. To seed the tomatoes, cut them in half and use your fingers to remove the seeds and excess moisture.
Next, it’s time to cook the sauce. In a large pot, sauté some garlic and onions in olive oil until they’re soft and fragrant. Then, add your peeled and seeded tomatoes, along with some fresh herbs like basil, oregano, and thyme. Simmer the sauce for about an hour, stirring occasionally, until it’s thick and flavorful.
Once your sauce is ready, it’s time to can it. Canning is a simple and effective way to preserve your sauce for long-term storage. To can your pizza sauce, you’ll need clean, sterilized canning jars, new lids, and a water bath canner. Ladle the hot sauce into the jars, leaving about 1/2 inch of headspace. Wipe the rims of the jars clean, place the lids on top, and screw on the bands just until they’re fingertip tight.
Place the jars in the canner, making sure they’re fully submerged in the boiling water. Process the jars for about 35 minutes, then carefully remove them from the canner and let them cool on a towel. As the jars cool, you should hear a satisfying “pop” as the lids seal. This is the sound of success – it means your pizza sauce is safely preserved and ready to enjoy whenever you want.
Canning homemade pizza sauce is a great way to enjoy the taste of fresh, homemade pizza sauce all year round. Plus, it’s a fun and rewarding way to preserve the flavors of summer and enjoy them even when the weather turns cold. So, next time you have an abundance of ripe tomatoes, consider making a batch of homemade pizza sauce and canning it for later use. You’ll thank yourself when you’re enjoying delicious, homemade pizza in the dead of winter.