If you’re a fan of homemade pizza, you know that the secret to a great pie lies in the sauce. While store-bought pizza sauce can be convenient, there’s something special about making your own. And if you have an abundance of fresh tomatoes from your garden or local farmers’ market, making your own pizza sauce is a great way to preserve the flavors of summer and enjoy them all year round.

Making your own pizza sauce is not only simple, but it’s also a great way to control the ingredients and customize the flavors to your liking. Plus, by making a large batch, you can preserve the sauce for future use.

Here’s a simple recipe for homemade pizza sauce that you can easily preserve and enjoy anytime:

Ingredients:
– 6-8 pounds of ripe tomatoes
– 1 large onion, chopped
– 4 cloves of garlic, minced
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 1 teaspoon dried oregano
– 1 teaspoon dried basil
– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
1. Prepare the tomatoes by removing the stems and cutting a small “X” at the bottom of each tomato. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and blanch the tomatoes for about 30 seconds. Remove them from the boiling water and immediately transfer them to a bowl of ice water. This will make it easier to peel the skins off the tomatoes. Once cooled, peel the skins off and chop the tomatoes into chunks, discarding the cores.

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

3. Add the chopped tomatoes to the pot and bring the mixture to a simmer. Allow it to cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have broken down and the sauce has thickened.

4. Using an immersion blender, blend the sauce until smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can transfer the sauce to a regular blender and blend in batches.

5. Add the dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper to the sauce and stir to combine. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings as needed.

6. Once the sauce is ready, you can either use it immediately on a homemade pizza or preserve it for future use. To preserve the pizza sauce, ladle it into sterilized jars, leaving about 1/2 inch of headspace. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp cloth and seal with lids.

7. Process the jars in a boiling water canner for 35 minutes. Once processed, remove the jars from the canner and allow them to cool completely. Check the seal of the jars and store them in a cool, dark place for up to a year.

Making your own homemade pizza sauce for preservation is not only a great way to enjoy the flavors of summer all year round, but it’s also a satisfying and rewarding process. With just a few simple ingredients and some time, you can create a delicious and versatile sauce that will elevate your homemade pizzas to a whole new level. Plus, having a pantry stocked with homemade pizza sauce means you’ll always be ready for a pizza night at a moment’s notice. So, roll up your sleeves, grab some fresh tomatoes, and get ready to preserve the flavors of summer in a jar of homemade pizza sauce.