If you have an abundance of fresh tomatoes from your garden or local farmer’s market, making a delicious homemade freezer spaghetti sauce is a great way to preserve the flavors of summer for the colder months. This recipe is packed with flavor and can be made in large batches to stock your freezer with a convenient and healthy meal option.
To start, you’ll need a large quantity of ripe, juicy tomatoes. If you have a variety of tomato types, such as roma, cherry, and beefsteak, even better! Each type will bring its own unique flavor to the sauce.
Ingredients:
– 10 lbs of fresh tomatoes, chopped
– 1 large onion, diced
– 4 cloves of garlic, minced
– 1 bell pepper, diced
– 1 carrot, grated
– 2 tbsp olive oil
– 2 tsp dried oregano
– 2 tsp dried basil
– 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
– 2 tsp salt
– 1/2 tsp black pepper
– 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
– 1/4 cup tomato paste
Instructions:
1. Start by preparing your fresh tomatoes. Score an “X” on the bottom of each tomato and blanch them in boiling water for about 30 seconds. Remove the tomatoes from the water and allow them to cool before peeling off the skins. Once peeled, chop the tomatoes into small pieces and set them aside.
2. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, garlic, bell pepper, and grated carrot. Sauté the vegetables until they are softened and the onions are translucent.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes to the pot, along with the dried oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir the mixture well and allow it to simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. After the tomatoes have cooked down and become saucy, add the balsamic vinegar and tomato paste to the pot. Continue to let the sauce simmer for another 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Once the sauce has reached your desired consistency and flavor, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool.
6. Once cooled, ladle the sauce into freezer-safe containers or quart-sized resealable plastic bags. Be sure to leave some room at the top of each container or bag, as the sauce will expand as it freezes.
7. Label the containers with the date and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
This delicious homemade freezer spaghetti sauce is bursting with the fresh flavors of summer tomatoes and will add a pop of freshness to any pasta dish. Plus, knowing that it’s made with wholesome, all-natural ingredients will make your meals even more enjoyable. So, when the winter blues set in, you can simply defrost a container of this sauce and toss it with some hot pasta for a taste of summer, no matter the season. Enjoy!