How to Make Pasta Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes

Create your own succulent pasta sauce with fresh, ripe tomatoes.

Adding a sweet, rich tomato sauce to your pasta will make the difference between a dinner to remember and a forgettable meal. Forget the bland, commercialized pasta sauce and make your own flavorful sauce using fresh, ripe tomatoes. The sauce won't take any longer to cook than the dinner you're preparing and your family will be delighted by the flavor you create. Making your own sauce means you control the texture and consistency, so you're sure to get the perfect mix for even your pickiest family members.

Things You'll Need

• 2 pounds fresh tomatoes
• 1 ounce butter
• Large saucepan with lid
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 cup diced mushrooms, optional
• 1/2 cup diced green peppers, optional
• 1/2 cup diced roasted red peppers, optional
• 1/2 cup diced zucchini, optional
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano, optional
• 1/2 teaspoon basil, optional

Instructions

1. Peel, chop and remove all the seeds from the tomatoes. Set them aside.

2. Melt the butter over medium-low heat in the large saucepan.

3. Add the tomatoes and salt to the pot and cover it with the lid. Cook for 5 minutes.

4. Add the sugar and stir until it is thoroughly mixed. Add any fresh vegetables to the saucepan that you have decided to include. You do not have to include any other vegetables, or you may include as many as you like.

5. Cover the saucepan partially with the lid and allow the mixture to continue cooking for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce will thicken and the tomatoes will become very soft to mushy. If a more mushy consistency is desired, allow the sauce to continue cooking and check it at 5 minute intervals until it has reached your preferred texture.

6. Stir in the pepper and any seasonings desired, such as basil or oregano, and serve it over your favorite pasta.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with different tomato varieties, including Roma or beefsteak, to achieve different flavors to your tomato sauce.

• The sauce can be stored in the refrigerator, frozen for up to a year or canned for future use.

• Don't overcook.

References

• HelpWithCooking.com: Tomato sauce - a choice of four original recipes;
• PickYourOwn.org: Spaghetti Sauce

Resources

• JamieOliver.com: The Quickest Tomato Sauce
• Tomato Dirt: Fresh Tomato Spaghetti Sauce
• SimpleItalianCooking.com: Pasta with Fresh Tomato and Garlic Sauce