• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Your Guardian Chef

  • Home
  • About me: Laura Tobin
  • Video Gourmet Journey
  • Recipes
  • Mediterranean cuisine
  • Holiday Rental
    • Contact Me
You are here: Home / Recipes / Canned & Jams / Italian Tomato Sauce Recipe With Fresh Tomatoes

Italian Tomato Sauce Recipe With Fresh Tomatoes

Last modified on 26th September 2019. Originally posted on 22nd September 2019 10 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
Italian tomato sauce made from fresh tomatoes is usually very simple, I only add some basil and preserve it in glass jars for the winter. I can add the seasoning after depending on the recipe I want to make. However, I never add a lot of flavours, I like a simple tomato sauce recipe, I just add some garlic and basil leaves.

Italian tomato sauce made from fresh tomatoes is usually very simple, I only add some basil and preserve it in glass jars for the winter. I can add seasoning afterwards depending on the recipe I want to make. However, I never add a lot of flavours, I like a simple tomato sauce recipe, flavoured with just garlic and basil leaves.
pasta with simple Italian tomato sauce

Table Of Contents
  • What tomatoes are good for tomato sauce
  • The Italian tradition of making tomato sauce
  • Do you have to peel tomatoes to make sauce?
  • How to peel a tomato
  • Cleaning and boiling the tomatoes
  • Grinding the tomatoes
  • Making tomato sauce or preserving it
  • Preparing the sauce and filling the jars
  • Sterilizing the jars
  • How long will preserved fresh tomato sauce keep?
  • What jars to use
  • Tips for making the best tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes
  • How I use my Italian Tomato Sauce Recipe With Fresh Tomatoes
  • Tomato Sauce Recipe With Fresh Tomatoes
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Boiling the tomatoes
  • Grinding the tomatoes
  • Preparing the sauce and filling the jars
  • Video
  • Notes
  • Tips for making the best tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes
  • Nutrition
  • CANNED RECIPES YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

What tomatoes are good for tomato sauce

To make the classic Italian tomato sauce recipe with fresh tomatoes you need to use long tomatoes, the best are the San Marzano growing in the South of Italy specifically around the Etna in Sicily or the Vesuvio in Naples.

There are 3 natural factors that make those tomatoes so tasty and sweet:  the sun, the sea being close by and the volcanic earth where they grow. That is why, even if tomatoes are not originally from Italy, in these Italian regions they achieve a perfection of flavour.

If you cannot find San Marzano, Roma tomato or any general long tomato will do.

This year I planted tomatoes in my garden and if you want to know more about planting tomatoes you can read detailed articles from my friend Beth: How to start a garden

10 kilos of fresh tomatoes for tomato sauce

The Italian tradition of making tomato sauce

For many Italians, making canned tomato sauce is a yearly event, an excuse to get family or friends together.

I invited Eliana De Matteis to make the sauce together, it is fun and we had plenty of time for a good chat.

My cousin in Italy, for example, invites a couple of friends over and the garden transforms into a canning tomato factories where jars get sterilized in barrels.

If you want to know more, you can read the article here:

THE TRADITION OF CANNING TOMATOES SAUCE IN A BARREL

homemade canned tomatoes sauce in a barrel the sauce

Do you have to peel tomatoes to make sauce?

There is no skin in the tomato sauce but you don’t necessarily have to peel them as there are grinder machines that will do that for you.

In this recipe, I use a KitchenAid vegetable grinder and you can find out more about it on my page review. I use it also to make gnocchi and jam. Though it is expensive.

Another cheaper option is the manual grinder that you can find in any kitchen shop. It is perfect for small quantities, but if you need a grinder and plan to use it regularly you may want to invest in an electrical one.

Kitchenaid grainder

How to peel a tomato

If you really do not want to spend any money or you are cooking in a remote place with no utensils, there is a simple way to peel a tomato.

  1. Pour boiling water over the tomatoes
  2. Leave the tomatoes in hot water for 5 minutes
  3. Take them out with a ladle
  4. Make a cut with a pointed knife
  5. The entire peel will come off easily

To make the sauce (only recommend for small quantities)  boil the peeled tomatoes for 1 hour, they will eventually break apart. You can make the sauce just by mixing it with a wooden spoon or a fork.

How to peel a tomato

Cleaning and boiling the tomatoes

  1. Wash them thoroughly in cold water
  2. Cut them in half removing any green or any damaged parts
  3. If you don’t have a grinder, peel the tomatoes as described above and remove the seeds
  4. Cover, and let them boil until the tomatoes become soft

Clean and boil the tomatoes

Grinding the tomatoes

  1. Drain the water
  2. Grind the tomatoes through the grinder
  3. The skins will be removed automatically…but it can be messy!
  4. Reprocess the skins twice as there is still a lot of pulp in the skins
  5. When all the pulp is gone, the skins will look dry

Grinding the tomatoes

Making tomato sauce or preserving it

At this point, the tomato sauce recipe made with fresh tomatoes is ready to use for your recipes. You can make a simple tomato sauce for pasta as it shows in the video and you can find the recipe here.

I always like to prepare a large amount so that I can it and use it during the entire winter until the next summer season yields more fresh tomatoes.

It is very easy and really worth the effort, although you really need to follow all the procedures below to make sure the jars are sealed, properly sterilized and a vacuum created inside the jar to preserve the sauce.

Canned tomato sauce

Preparing the sauce and filling the jars

  1. Prepare the jars by sterilizing them. I just wash them in the dishwasher at high temperature and use new silicon sealers
  2. In the meantime boil the tomato sauce for 1 hour
  3. Put a basil leaf in each jar and fill it with the sauce
  4. Seal it tight

How to prepare the jars

Sterilizing the jars

There is one more step to take if you want to preserve your tomato sauce for the winter, sterilizing the jars.

  1. Once the jars are filled and sealed, place them in a large pan
  2. Put some tea towels or dish cloths around them so that they do not bang against each other
  3. Fill the pan with water until the jars are covered and boil the jars for 1 hour
  4. Leave the jars in the water and let them cool down until the next day

sterilizing the jars

How long will preserved fresh tomato sauce keep?

It will keep for years but I like to use it within the year. It is very important that you leave the jars in the water to cool down, as that is when the vacuum forms inside the jars.

When you open the jars you will notice that it is difficult to open, that is why there is a little tongue on the silicon seal. You pull the tongue to fill the vacuum with air so that you can open the jar.

If the jar is difficult to open, you know the vacuum has been created and the tomato sauce has been preserved.

Once the jar is open, it is recommended to use the sauce within a few days and store it in the fridge.

Pull the tongue

What jars to use

I like to use jars with a silicone seal so that I can better control if the food is still preserved in a vacuum.

I also like to use different dimensions so if I need only a small amount of sauce I can open the small jars.

Always remember to label the jars with the date and the contents.

Tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes in jars

Tips for making the best tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes

  • Use long tomatoes, San Marzano are the best if you can find them
  • Make it an annual event and invite friends and family to help
  • There is no skin in the tomato sauce but you don’t necessarily have to peel them as there are grinder machines that will do that for you.
  • If you don’t have a grinder you can peel the tomatoes by immersing them in hot water for 5 minutes. The skin will then come off very easily.
  • Remove the green or damaged part of the tomatoes before pre-boiling them.
  • Drain the pre-boiled tomatoes before grinding them, otherwise, the sauce will be too watery.
  • When you grind them, make sure no skin falls back into the pan with the sauce.
  • Re-process the discarded skin at least twice as there will still be plenty of tomato pulp to be recovered.
  • To can the tomato sauce follow exactly all the procedures to make sure the jars are sealed, properly sterilized and a vacuum created inside the jar to preserve the sauce.
  • You need to sterilize the glass jars before using them. The easiest way is to wash them in the dishwasher at a high temperature. Otherwise, you can just boil them
  • While you can reuse the glass jars, every year you should buy new silicon sealers.
  • Make sure the jars are covered with water when you boil them. If the water goes below the level of the jars, add more but it has to be boiling water.
  • Once you boil the jars filled with tomato sauce, it is very important you leave the jars in the water to cool down as that is when the vacuum that preserves the sauce forms inside the jars.
  • Once the jar is open, it is recommended to use the sauce within a few days and store it in the fridge.
  • Use jars of different dimensions so that if you only need a small amount of sauce you can open a small jar.
  • Always remember to label the jars with the date and the contents.

Canning tomatoes with friends

How I use my Italian Tomato Sauce Recipe With Fresh Tomatoes

Because there is no seasoning in the tomato sauce jars, I can use these sauces for any recipes. The most common is a simple tomato sauce recipe that I make in this video.

I also use it for bolognese sauce, lasagna or pasta with eggplants sauce.

Simple Tomato Sauce Recipe

If you are making the Tomato Sauce Recipe With Fresh Tomatoes, leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.

Tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes in jars
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Tomato Sauce Recipe With Fresh Tomatoes

Italian tomato sauce made from fresh tomatoes is usually very simple, I only add some basil and preserve it in glass jars for the winter. I can add the seasoning after depending on the recipe I want to make. However, I never add a lot of flavours, I like a simple tomato sauce recipe, flavoured with garlic and basil leaves.
Prep Time40 mins
Cook Time2 hrs
resting1 d
Course: Canned & Jam
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: canned tomato sauce, fresh tomato sauce, tomato sauce
Servings: 6 jars
Calories: 1797kcal
Author: Laura Tobin

Ingredients

  • 22 lbs fresh long tomatoes
  • 10 fresh basil leaves
US Customary - Metric
Love this recipe?Follow @YGuardianChef on Pinterest

Instructions

Boiling the tomatoes

  • Buy a crate of matured long tomatoes.
  • Washed them thoroughly in cold water.
  • Cut them in half removing the green and any damaged parts
  • Cover, and let it boil until the tomatoes become soft

Grinding the tomatoes

  • Drain the water
  • Grind the tomatoes through the grinder
  • The skins will be removed automatically...but it can be messy!
  • Reprocess the skins twice as there is still a lot of pulp in the skins
  • When all the pulp is gone, the skins will look dry

Preparing the sauce and filling the jars

    Video

    Liked this video?Check out My YouTube Channel!

    Notes

    Tips for making the best tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes

    • Use long tomatoes, San Marzano are the best if you can find them
    • Make it a yearly event and invite friends and family to help
    • There is no skin in the tomato sauce but you don't necessarily have to peel them as there are grinder machines that will do that for you.
    • If you don't have a grinder you can peel the tomatoes by immersing them in hot water for 5 minutes. The skin will then come out very easily.
    • Remove the green or any damaged part of the tomatoes before pre-boiling them.
    • Drain the pre-boiled tomatoes before grinding them otherwise, the sauce will be too watery.
    • When you grind them, make sure no skin falls back into the pan with the sauce.
    • Re-process the discharged skin at least twice, there is still plenty of tomato pulp to be recovered.
    • To can the tomato sauce follow exactly all the procedures to make sure the jars are sealed, properly sterilized and a vacuum created inside the jar to preserve the sauce.
    • You need to sterilize the glass jars before using them. The easiest way is to wash them in the dishwasher at a high temperature. Otherwise, you can just boil them
    • While you can reuse the glass jars, every year you should buy new silicon sealers.
    • Make sure the water in the barrel completely covers the jars
    • Put a weight to prevent the jars from floating
    • Once you boil the jars filled with tomato sauce, it is very important you leave the jars in the water to cool down, that is when the vacuum that preserves the sauce forms inside the jars.
    • Once the jar is open, it is recommended to use the sauce within a few days and store it in the fridge.
    • Use jars of different dimensions so if you need only a small amount of sauce you can open the small jars.
    • Always remember to label the jars with the date and the content.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Tomato Sauce Recipe With Fresh Tomatoes
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 1797 Calories from Fat 180
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 20g31%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Sodium 499mg22%
    Potassium 23650mg676%
    Carbohydrates 388g129%
    Fiber 120g500%
    Sugar 262g291%
    Protein 88g176%
    Vitamin A 83336IU1667%
    Vitamin C 1367mg1657%
    Calcium 998mg100%
    Iron 27mg150%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    GET NEW RECIPES SENT TO YOUR INBOXSign up to our newsletter Your Guardian Chef!

    CANNED RECIPES YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

    For more canned recipes, check out the category: Canned & Jams

    Also check the recipes below:

    Apricot jam without pectin
    This apricot jam is sieved therefore smoother and creamy. Beside spreading it on a fresh slice of bread, it can be used for many cakes and biscuits recipes. This is an apricot jam without pectin which is a natural thickening agent. Totally natural it is great for breakfast over a fresh slice if homemade bread #yourguardianche #jam #preserves
    Check out this recipe
    homemade apricot jam without pectin
    Caramelized Peach Jam
    As I don’t want the peach season to come to an end, I make jam so we can enjoy them for the rest of the year. Though this is not a normal jam, it is a caramelized one.
    Check out this recipe
    Quince Paste Recipe
    This is a typical winter recipe for many Mediterranean countries. You can eat it as a candy, on a piece of bread or like they do in Spain with Manchego cheese. It will last for 3 months 
    Check out this recipe
    Cut in slices and let them dry
    The Tradition of Canning Tomato Sauce in a Barrel
    Canning tomato sauce is an old Italian tradition, an occasion to get family and friends together.
    With such a large quantity to make, you need a barrel! A low cost and low waste methodology everyone can follow.
    Check out this recipe
    homemade canned tomatoes sauce in a barrel

    Filed Under: Canned & Jams, Mediterranean Kitchen, Mediterranean Vegetables & Fruits, Recipes Tagged With: canning, Italian, Kitchen organize, Mediterranean, vegan, vegetable

    Previous Post: « Easy Aubergine Caviar
    Next Post: Simple Tomato Sauce Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Beth

      25th September 2019 at 2:44 pm

      5 stars
      This is a great tutorial Laura! Even as an accomplished home canner I’ve learned some stuff! I love that you run the skins through multiple times! I always thought to myself that I was loosing a lot of pulp! Also that you par boil and then run them through the juicer!

      Reply
      • Laura

        25th September 2019 at 5:17 pm

        Thank you Beth, and thank you for helping to grow the tomatoes

        Reply
    2. Chef Mireille

      30th September 2019 at 1:28 am

      5 stars
      My mom has a very good Italian friend and when her mother was alive, this was an annual event. Whenever tomato sauce is needed, a trip to the garage is the farthest to go for the whole year of cooking. There was also a spicy eggplant condiment that she made. You are making me think of her as she was such a sweet lady.

      Reply
      • Laura

        30th September 2019 at 5:35 am

        Thank you for sharing this wonderful story

        Reply
    3. Julie

      30th September 2019 at 3:50 pm

      5 stars
      Pasta with fresh tomato sauce is one of my favorite meals! What a great easy dinner idea. Can’t wait to try it.

      Reply
      • Laura

        1st October 2019 at 5:56 am

        Thanks, it is great and simple

        Reply
    4. Lesli Schwartz

      30th September 2019 at 9:14 pm

      5 stars
      There is really no comparison to making a fresh tomato sauce and jarred sauce. It takes time and patience but you’ll never look back. This is one of those recipes!

      Reply
      • Laura

        1st October 2019 at 5:55 am

        thanks, so true

        Reply
    5. Michelle

      1st October 2019 at 7:34 pm

      5 stars
      How I would love to try your homemade tomato sauce! There is nothing like homemade Italian tomato sauce. It is truly a labor of love. Thank you for all your detailed tips and steps for how to do this on our own. I feel less intimidated now.

      Reply
      • Laura

        3rd October 2019 at 5:27 am

        Thank you Michelle, it is true love

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    Hello, welcome to my blog and thank you for stopping by. I am Laura and as an Italian living in France, I will share with you traditional European Mediterranean recipes. Cooking and eating together with family and friends are everlasting memories. I want to help you to make many more. Read More…

    view of the garden from the living room

    Holiday Rental

    Follow me

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Mediterranean Seafood

    Salmon Tartare Starter
    Chayote squash recipe with mussels and Begonia on a plate with a spoon
    Warm Octopus Salad “Legs” and Potato
    Pasta zucchini with shrimp served on a plate
    Stuffed Calamari Recipe
    Baked Salmon Fillet In Oven With steamed zucchini
    Pasta With Black Ink Cuttlefish Recipe
    linguine with clams
    Shrimp tomato pasta
    Calamari Squid
    Cod salmon fish pie
    Halibut Baked With Potatoes And Onions
    Homemade Paella Seafood and Sausage
    shrimp crab broth
    Swordfish recipes roasted wheel
    fresh swordfish facts cuts and recipes

    See More;

    Mediterranean Vegetables

    Chayote squash recipe with mussels and Begonia on a plate with a spoon
    Fresh tomato soup Salmorejo
    Roast Pumpkin Soup with edible flowers served in a squash
    Pasta alla Norma on a serving dish with a fork taking some pasta
    Italian zucchini frittata sucked up on a serving plate
    Simple Tomato Sauce Recipe
    Tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes in jars
    socca chip dipping into aubergine caviar
    Fried zucchini flowers layed on a serving dish
    Roasted butternut squash on a serving dish with butter and parmesan
    Healthy Eggplant Parmesan
    Pasta with truffle served on a plate truffle on the side and serving dish in the background
    Deep Fried Eggplant Balls
    Stuffed Round Courgettes
    Easy Ratatouille Recipe Baked
    Italian potato salad in a bowl

    See More;

    Mediterranean Menu Idea

    Porcini mushroom risotto served in a Parmesan bowl
    Baked rice pilaf served on a plate
    homamade panini bread recipe
    6 savoury pies recipes
    Fried pizza with tomato sauce and mozzarella
    Pasta a frittata Italian fried pasta
    How to make Italian Gnocchi
    Mediterranean picnic with horses

    See More;

    Footer

    brands I have worked with

    Copyright © 2019 · yourguardianchef.com ·   | Privacy | Terms

    295shares