Homemade Canned Pizza Sauce: A Step-by-Step Guide

There is nothing quite like homemade pizza sauce. It’s packed with fresh flavors and can elevate any homemade pizza to a whole new level. And the best part is, you can make a big batch and can it to have on hand whenever a pizza craving strikes.

Making your own canned pizza sauce may seem daunting, but it’s actually quite simple and the results are well worth the effort. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making and canning your own delicious pizza sauce.

Ingredients:

– 12 pounds of ripe tomatoes
– 1/4 cup olive oil
– 2 onions, chopped
– 6 cloves of garlic, minced
– 2 teaspoons salt
– 2 teaspoons sugar
– 2 teaspoons dried oregano
– 2 teaspoons dried basil
– 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
– 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions:

1. Start by preparing your tomatoes. Score the bottom of each tomato with a small “X” and drop them into boiling water for about 30 seconds. Then, transfer them to an ice bath to cool before peeling off the skins. Once peeled, core the tomatoes and roughly chop them.

2. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook until they are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Then, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.

3. Add the chopped tomatoes to the pot along with the salt, sugar, oregano, basil, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 2 hours, or until the sauce has thickened.

4. Once the sauce is ready, remove it from the heat and let it cool slightly. Then, use an immersion blender to puree the sauce until it is smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can use a regular blender or a food mill.

5. While the sauce is cooling, prepare your canning jars and lids by sterilizing them in boiling water. Once the jars are sterilized, fill them with the hot pizza sauce, leaving about 1/2 inch of headspace at the top.

6. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp cloth to remove any residue. Then, place the lids on the jars and screw on the bands until they are fingertip tight.

7. Process the filled jars in a boiling water canner for 35 minutes, adjusting for altitude if necessary. Once the processing time is up, carefully remove the jars from the canner and let them cool on a towel on the counter.

8. After the jars have cooled completely, check the seals by pressing down on the center of each lid. If the lid doesn’t move, the jar is sealed. If any of the jars didn’t seal, you can refrigerate the sauce and use it within a few days.

And that’s it! You now have delicious homemade canned pizza sauce ready to be used whenever the pizza craving strikes. The flavor of this sauce is so much fresher and vibrant than any store-bought variety, and you’ll love having it on hand for all of your pizza-making adventures. Enjoy!