Freezer Tomato Sauce - Extending the Tomato Season

This recipe will allow you to preserve the goodness of vine-ripened tomatoes by turning them into a well-seasoned sauce for the freezer. Such a sauce is a great starting point for easy, delicious winter meals. And because it's not canned, but just spooned into freezer containers, you can make it with a minimum of time and effort. Choose containers of various sizes, ones you will be able to use up when thawed. One-cup containers hold enough sauce for a pizza topping. Pint and quart sizes are ideal for storing sauce for pasta dishes; a pint container makes two servings, while a quart will serve four.

Freezer Tomato Sauce

Makes 8 Cups

5 pounds ripe tomatoes (about 12 medium-sized)

3 tablespoons salad oil

2 large onions

4 cloves garlic

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon paprika

3/4 teaspoon pepper

3/4 teaspoon dry rosemary

1/4 teaspoon crushed anise seeds

1 tablespoon dry basil

1 tablespoon oregano leaves

1 tablespoon sugar

3/4 cup dry red wine

1. Peel and core 5 pounds ripe tomatoes; cut into eighths and set aside.

2. Heat 3 tablespoons salad oil in a 6-quart pan over medium heat; add 2 large onions, finely chopped, and 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed.

3. Cook until onions are soft (about 10 minutes). Add tomatoes, 1 teaspoon each salt and paprika, 3/4 each pepper and dry rosemary, 1/4 teaspoon crushed anise seeds, 1 tablespoon each dry basil, oregano leaves, and sugar, and 3/4 cup dry red wine.

4. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up tomatoes. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour; stir several times.

5. Uncover and boil over medium-high heat, stirring often to prevent sticking, until reduced to 8 cups (about 50 more minutes).

6. Let cool, then ladle into rigid plastic or glass cup, pint, or quart containers; leave at least 1/2 inch headspace for cup and pint containers, 1 inch for quarts.

7. Cover and freeze at 0*F or lower for up to 9 months.

Be sure to visit our web site for more wonderful recipes, cooking tips, and general food creation ideas.

Users Reading this article are also interested in:
Top Searches on Sauce Recipes:
Pasta Tomato Sauce Recipe Pasta Tomato Sauce
About The Author,
I am the editor of a website devoted to all aspects of food and the creation of great food. You can find recipes, articles, cooking terms, and numerous other food related topics by directing yourself to my website, http://www.foodcreate.com . If you have recipes to share, comments, or questions, email me at info@foodcreate.com .