If you find yourself with an abundance of tomatoes in your garden but don’t have the time to can or preserve them, making a homemade spaghetti sauce with frozen tomatoes is a great way to use up those tomatoes before they go bad. Not only is this sauce delicious and versatile, but it’s also a great way to enjoy the fresh flavors of summer all year round.

To make DIY spaghetti sauce with frozen tomatoes, you’ll need the following ingredients:

– 10-12 ripe tomatoes, cored and diced
– 1 onion, diced
– 3 cloves of garlic, minced
– 1 bell pepper, diced
– 2 tablespoons of olive oil
– 1 teaspoon of salt
– 1 teaspoon of sugar
– 1 teaspoon of dried basil
– 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
– 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
– 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional)
– 1/4 cup of tomato paste

Here’s how to make the sauce:

1. Start by blanching the tomatoes to remove the skins. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and prepare a bowl of ice water. Score an X on the bottom of each tomato and drop them into the boiling water for about 30 seconds. Remove them with a slotted spoon and immediately transfer them to the ice water to cool. Once cooled, peel off the skins and roughly chop the tomatoes.

2. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and bell pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.

3. Add the chopped tomatoes, salt, sugar, basil, oregano, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to the pot. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a simmer. Let the sauce cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. After 30 minutes, use an immersion blender to blend the sauce until smooth. Alternatively, you can transfer the sauce to a blender and blend in batches.

5. Stir in the tomato paste and continue to simmer the sauce for another 15-20 minutes, or until it has thickened to your desired consistency.

6. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings as needed. You can add more salt, sugar, or herbs to suit your personal preference.

7. Once the sauce is done, let it cool completely before transferring it to freezer-safe containers. You can store the sauce in the freezer for up to 6 months.

This DIY spaghetti sauce with frozen tomatoes is perfect for pasta dishes, pizzas, or as a dipping sauce for bread. It’s a simple and delicious way to preserve the flavors of summer and enjoy homemade meals all year round. Give it a try the next time you have an abundance of tomatoes on hand!