There’s nothing quite like the taste of homemade spaghetti sauce made from fresh garden tomatoes. Not only does it taste infinitely better than store-bought varieties, but it also allows you to control the ingredients and customize the flavor to your liking. With the summer in full swing and tomatoes ripe for the picking, now is the perfect time to whip up a batch of Tomato-licious DIY spaghetti sauce.
Ingredients:
– 10-12 medium-sized garden tomatoes
– 1 onion, diced
– 4 cloves of garlic, minced
– 1 bell pepper, diced
– 1 carrot, peeled and grated
– 1/4 cup of olive oil
– 1 tablespoon of sugar
– 2 teaspoons of salt
– 1 teaspoon of pepper
– 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
– 1 teaspoon of dried basil
– 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional)
– 1/4 cup of fresh basil, chopped
Instructions:
1. Start by blanching the tomatoes in boiling water for about 1 minute. This will make it easier to peel off the skin. Once blanched, remove the tomatoes from the water and let them cool before peeling and chopping them into small pieces.
2. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, garlic, bell pepper, and carrot, and sauté until the vegetables are soft and fragrant, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes to the pot and stir to combine with the veggies. Let the mixture simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Stir in the sugar, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes (if using). Continue to simmer the sauce for another 15-20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken.
5. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed. Stir in the fresh basil right before serving.
6. Serve the Tomato-licious DIY spaghetti sauce over your favorite pasta and enjoy the fresh, vibrant flavors of summer.
This homemade spaghetti sauce is a labor of love that is well worth the effort. The rich tomato flavor, combined with the aromatic herbs and spices, will elevate any pasta dish to a whole new level. So grab some garden-fresh tomatoes and get cooking – you won’t be disappointed!