Written by Elizabeth of Guilty Kitchen.
When fall hits and you know you’ve got more tomatoes than anyone could ever eat fresh, no matter how many tomato and bocconcini salads, or BLTs, or tomato soup you serve, you know it’s time to think about canning or freezing. There is just always going to be an abundance of tomatoes when you grow your own.
Another thing in abundance at the end of the warmer weather is fresh herbs, waiting to be used up before the weather turns bleak and gray. What better way to combine tomatoes and herbs than making your own tomato sauce to freeze for later use in the doldrums of winter when you could really use that fresh, vibrant taste of homegrown?
This recipe has specifically been developed for freezing only, as tomato sauce with oil should not be canned using the boiling water method. No matter what you may have read elsewhere, the boiling water method does not reach a high enough temperature to safely can tomato sauce with oil, and a pressure canner should be used instead.
Yes, you can safely can tomatoes using this method with the addition of an acid such as lemon juice, as Marisa has done in this home canned tomatoes tutorial. Many varieties of tomatoes these days are low in acid and the addition of oils, other vegetables and garlic, can lower the acid content even more, which is where the lemon juice comes in.
So if you’ve never canned before, this recipe is for you! Yes, you can still use up those tomatoes and enjoy homemade tomato sauce year round – just from the freezer instead of the pantry. Let’s get started!
Photo by Elizabeth Nyland
What I want to create with my tomatoes is a lovely, full bodied tomato sauce. More of a recreation of the store bought variety of ready-made sauces than plain ol’ tomatoes. What could be better than popping open a can of your own homemade tomato sauce, heating it up and having a fully cooked, spiced and seasoned sauce ready to go on those busy winter weeknights?
This sauce is easy to make, freezes beautifully and will be ready for dinner in less time than you can say “spaghetti sauce.”
Tomato Sauce for Freezing
Yield: Approximately 3 1/2 quarts
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cooking Time: 1-2 hours
- 15 lb. Roma tomatoes
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup fresh herbs or 1/3 cup dried herbs (such as marjoram, basil, oregano, etc.)
- 1 Large sweet onion
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- Fresh cracked pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup red wine
Photo by Elizabeth Nyland
1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and keep at a simmer.
2. Create an ice bath either in a sink or in a large bowl.
3. Score the bottom of each tomato with a small “X”, careful not to cut in too deep.
4. Throw four or five tomatoes into the pot at the same time, allow to cook for 30-60 seconds and remove to ice bath. Continue until all tomatoes are cooked and then cooled.
5. Peel the skin off each tomato and discard.
6. Remove the seeds from all the tomatoes and chop roughly. Add the flesh to a large bowl and set aside.
7. In another large pot, pour in olive oil and heat on medium. When hot, add in garlic and onions and stir for about five minutes.
8. Pour in all tomatoes and herbs and bring back up to a simmer. Lower the heat to low and allow to cook down for one or two hours, stirring occasionally. The tomatoes should reduce by 2/3 before they are done.
9. When tomatoes have reduced by half, add in the red wine and continue to cook until completely reduced.
10. Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
11. Prep jars or containers to freeze in by washing with hot soapy water (or running through a dishwasher) and drying them.
12. Pour sauce into jars, filling about 3/4 of the way up for jars with a mouth smaller than the jar. For jars with straight sides, fill to with a 1/2″ of the top.
13. Allow to cool to room temperature with lids off on the counter. Transfer to the freezer and place lids on once completely frozen.
Photo by Elizabeth Nyland
What is your favorite way to use up all those tomatoes?
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Amazing! Just yesterday I came here wondering if I could freeze my tomatoes somehow rather than can them! I will do this today- Thanks! LOVE this site btw!
This sauce recipe looks delicious, but another suggestion for *quick* freezing is from Mark Bittman: “If you have ripe tomatoes, core, quarter, and throw them in a bag; as they thaw the skins will slip off, a bonus.” I wouldn’t keep for a whole year or use them for anything where they need to hold their shape, but I tried it this summer and used some of the tomatoes for sauce later – it worked fine and I was pleased!
Is there a No. 9 step missing?
Trudy Garvey’s last post: Week 15- September 25- 2010 – Salad Fixins
Oops! Thanks for pointing that out, Trudy. It’s been corrected.
I like to use tomatoes is so many ways: on BLT’s, in salads, in pastas tossed with spinach, even as a snack on their own. However, when I need to use up many before they spoil, I make a sauce to freeze. At some point, I’d really like to try other methods for storing them, but since I’m so new to preserving anything, I don’t like to get too far a head of my capabilities. This post is definitely making me crave some spaghetti too! I hope to try out your recipe soon!
Looks great! It’s nice having fresh tomato sauce all year long
How important is the wine in this recipe? Never have it in the house and would prefer not to use it. Can I just leave it out?
The wine is for a more full bodied flavour. It’s not crucial to the recipe, it’s just there for flavour. Feel free to leave it out!
Elizabeth’s last post: Canning 101 – Tomato Sauce on Simple bites
This is a sure winner, love preserving of any type & like it even better if the recipe is simple as.. Thanks for sharing.
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Etuko sato’s last post: Spring is a season of the herb of Japan
Great recipe.I will try on cooking now
van025′s last post: Lip plumper
Would I use this just as described in the recipe for spaghetti sauce or do I need to add something to it after thawing it out & before using it? Thanks!
Hi Erin,
No, nothing needs to be added when defrosted, though feel free to add whatever you like! I find it perfect just as it is.
Elizabeth’s last post: {Guest Post: Natalie of Perry’s Plate} Avocado and Bacon Salad with Avocado Dressing
Is the wine necessary? I have red wine vinegar. Can it replace the wine?
No the wine is an optional flavour enhancer, the vinegar will not work very well. I would just leave it out entirely.
Elizabeth’s last post: {Guest Post: Stephanie of Global Dish} Rustic Plum and Peach Pie
Great! Thanks for getting back to me quickly.
Will other kinds of tomatoes work? In our area, we get lots of heirloom tomatoes and beefsteak tomatoes from our CSA, but not the Roma variety.
Hi Amy! Yes, other varieties will work just fine, I chose to use Roma’s because of their rich flavour and inexpensive price (usually), especially when in season. Heirloom are beautiful and rich in flavour and will work just fine (beefsteak too).
Elizabeth’s last post: Whole Wheat Peach Pancakes
hey i found your site seems interesting.. i d like to know can i use freezer bags for frezing my tomatoe sauces .. this is my first attemp at vegie garden.. i might of over did it in tomatoes i have 26 tomato plants and have froze some after washing them but now have roma ones to freze n like ur idea.. i like my cabernat franc wine )red( can i use this for sauce.. so you can email i will try a couple large freezer bags for first part of sauce tys again … from fred the newbie gardener n storing veggies lol
Hi Fred! Thank you for your kind words.
Yes freezer bags will work fins and might make it easier to store. Any red wine will work fine for the sauce as well. Good luck with all those tomatoes!
Elizabeth’s last post: Chocolate Zucchini Bread
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