Pizza is a beloved dish enjoyed by people all over the world. While store-bought pizza sauce can be convenient, nothing beats the fresh and delicious taste of homemade pizza sauce. Not only is homemade pizza sauce easy to make, but it can also be canned for long-term storage, allowing you to enjoy the taste of summer all year round.
Making homemade pizza sauce is a great way to use up an abundance of tomatoes from the garden or a farmers’ market haul. It’s a simple process that involves cooking down the tomatoes with aromatic herbs and spices to create a rich and flavorful sauce.
To begin, you’ll need a large pot, fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and an assortment of herbs such as oregano, basil, and thyme. The first step is to blanch the tomatoes in boiling water for a few minutes, then transfer them to an ice bath to shock and loosen the skins. Once the skins are removed, the tomatoes can be roughly chopped and added to the pot with the onions and garlic.
After simmering for a couple of hours, the mixture is ready to be pureed until smooth. This is the point where you can customize the sauce to your liking by adjusting the seasoning and consistency. Once you’re happy with the flavor, it’s time to can the sauce for future use.
Canning homemade pizza sauce is a great way to preserve the taste of summer and ensure that you have delicious sauce on hand whenever the craving for homemade pizza strikes. To can the sauce, you’ll need sterilized jars and lids, a water bath canner, and a jar lifter. The hot tomato sauce is poured into the jars, leaving the appropriate headspace as directed in the canning recipe. The lids are then fitted and the jars are processed in a boiling water bath for the designated time.
The benefits of canning homemade pizza sauce go beyond the convenience of having it readily available. It’s also a great way to reduce food waste by using up excess produce. Additionally, you have full control over the ingredients, ensuring that your sauce is free of artificial preservatives and additives.
Not only can homemade pizza sauce be used for pizza, but it can also be used as a flavorful base for pasta dishes, stews, and soups. The possibilities are endless, making it a versatile pantry staple.
In conclusion, canning homemade pizza sauce is a simple and rewarding process that allows you to savor the taste of summer all year long. With a few key ingredients and some basic canning equipment, you can whip up a batch of delicious sauce that will elevate your homemade pizza to the next level. So, roll up your sleeves, grab some tomatoes, and get ready to savor the satisfaction of homemade pizza sauce.