Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes

Nothing beats the incredible taste of homemade spaghetti sauce made with fresh, ripe tomatoes! This sauce is perfect for anyone who wants to turn their summer tomato bounty into something absolutely delicious. The best part is it’s packed with healthy ingredients and tastes so much better than anything from a jar.

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Active Time: 15 minutes, Additional Time: 55 minutes, Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes, Serves: 6 people, Yield: 3 cups

Nutrition Profile: Low-Carb, Nut-Free, Dairy-Free, Healthy Immunity, Soy-Free, High-Fiber, Vegan, Vegetarian, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 105 Calories, 5g Fat, 14g Carbs, 3g Protein

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ripe tomatoes: You’ll need 4 pounds, halved crosswise. Pick the ripest, juiciest tomatoes you can find – they’re the star of this sauce! Extra-virgin olive oil: Just 2 tablespoons to get everything sizzling nicely. Garlic cloves: 2 small ones, smashed up to release all that amazing flavor. Crushed red pepper: A quarter teaspoon adds just the right amount of gentle heat. Tomato paste: 2 teaspoons might seem small, but this concentrated goodness really boosts the tomato flavor. Sugar: 1 teaspoon helps balance the natural acidity of the tomatoes. Salt: Half a teaspoon brings out all the delicious flavors. Fresh basil: One sprig adds that perfect Italian touch.

How to Make Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes

Step 1: Squeeze out the seeds from your tomatoes and toss those seeds away. Grate the tomatoes using the large holes of a box grater. The skins will stay behind, so just throw those out too. Put all that beautiful tomato pulp in a medium bowl – you should have about 4 cups of pure tomato goodness!

Step 2: Heat the olive oil, smashed garlic, and crushed red pepper in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir it often and cook until it starts to sizzle, about 2 minutes. Your kitchen will smell amazing! Add the tomato pulp, tomato paste, sugar, salt, and that fresh basil sprig.

Step 3: Turn the heat up to medium-high and bring everything to a boil. Then reduce the heat back to medium and let it simmer. Stir it now and then until the sauce reduces by half, which takes about 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes. Remove the basil sprig before serving.

Easy and Quick Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Version

Want to speed things up? You can use 4 cups of good-quality canned crushed tomatoes instead of grating fresh ones! Skip the grating step completely and just add the canned tomatoes right to your saucepan. You’ll still get that homemade taste in way less time.

Serving Ideas

This sauce is perfect over any pasta shape you love – spaghetti, penne, or rigatoni all work great. It makes a complete meal when you add some crusty garlic bread and a simple green salad. You can also use it for lasagna, eggplant parmesan, or even as a pizza sauce!

Storage

Let the sauce cool completely before storing it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. You can also freeze it for up to six months! To reheat, just warm it gently in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally.

Substitutions

No fresh basil? Dried basil works fine – just use 1 teaspoon instead. Don’t have tomato paste? You can skip it, though the flavor won’t be quite as rich. If you want less heat, just leave out the crushed red pepper completely.

Pro Tips

• Pick the right tomatoes: Use the ripest tomatoes you can find for the best flavor
• Grating trick: Hold the tomato cut-side down when grating to avoid making a mess
• Don’t rush: Let the sauce simmer the full time – that’s what makes it thick and rich
• Taste and adjust: Add a pinch more sugar if your tomatoes are very acidic

FAQs

Are tomatoes good for you?

You bet! Tomatoes are loaded with antioxidants and are an excellent source of vitamin C. They’re also a good source of vitamin K and potassium. All these nutrients support heart health and can help lower blood pressure and stroke risk.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes! This recipe contains no animal products and is completely vegan-friendly. It’s also great for anyone following a vegetarian diet.

Why should I grate the tomatoes?

Grating tomatoes gives you a chunky fresh tomato puree that’s perfect for sauce. Plus, it leaves the skins behind, which is way easier than blanching tomatoes to peel them!

Why do you add tomato paste to fresh tomato sauce?

Tomato paste is super concentrated, so it gives your fresh sauce a boost of umami and sweetness. It makes the tomato flavor much richer and deeper!

Can I make this sauce ahead of time?

Absolutely! This sauce actually tastes even better the next day. Just cool it completely and store it in the fridge for up to a week or freeze it for up to six months.

I’d love to hear how your homemade sauce turns out! Drop a comment below and let me know if you tried any fun variations. Happy cooking, friends!