There’s nothing quite like the taste of homemade pizza sauce. Whether you like it spicy, sweet, or tangy, making your own pizza sauce allows you to customize the flavor to your liking. Plus, when you make a big batch, you can easily can it and have delicious sauce on hand whenever you need it.
One of the best things about homemade pizza sauce is that it’s incredibly versatile. You can use it as a base for traditional pizzas, calzones, and stromboli, or even as a dipping sauce for breadsticks and mozzarella sticks. And because it’s made with fresh, high-quality ingredients, it tastes infinitely better than store-bought options.
To make a delicious homemade pizza sauce for canning, start with ripe, juicy tomatoes. You can either use fresh tomatoes from the garden or farmers’ market, or canned tomatoes if they’re not in season. If using fresh tomatoes, you’ll need to blanch and peel them first, then chop them coarsely. If using canned tomatoes, choose whole peeled tomatoes for the best flavor.
In addition to tomatoes, you’ll need onion, garlic, olive oil, salt, sugar, and herbs such as basil, oregano, and thyme. You can also add red pepper flakes for a bit of heat, or a splash of red wine for extra depth of flavor.
To make the sauce, start by sautéing the onions and garlic in olive oil until they’re soft and translucent. Then add the tomatoes and any additional ingredients, and let the sauce simmer for at least 30 minutes, or until it’s thick and flavorful. Be sure to taste and adjust the seasoning as needed before proceeding to canning.
To can the sauce, you’ll need sterilized jars and lids, as well as a water bath canner. Pack the hot sauce into the jars, leaving 1/2-inch of headspace, then wipe the rims clean and seal with the lids. Process the jars in the water bath canner for the recommended amount of time, then let them cool and check the seals before storing.
Homemade pizza sauce can be safely canned for up to a year, and it makes a wonderful gift for friends and family. Just be sure to label the jars with the date and any special ingredients used, so you can keep track of how long they’ve been stored.
In conclusion, making your own homemade pizza sauce for canning is a fun and rewarding process. It allows you to enjoy the taste of fresh, flavorful sauce year-round, and it’s a great way to use up an abundance of tomatoes from the garden. So grab your pots and pans, and get ready to enjoy the best pizza sauce you’ve ever tasted!