Set aside that jar of store-bought tomato sauce full of added sugar and switch it up with some Fresh Heirloom Tomato Sauce, using the best of what the season has to offer. Use it on top of some meatballs, in layers of lasagne, as a pizza sauce, or as a regular old pasta sauce. Such an amazing flavor and a great way to preserve the season. Get the kids to help and they will be lapping up those tomatoes in no time.
This recipe has been updated from the original September 2015 version in order to provide a better experience for our readers.
One of the things I love most about shopping at the local farmer's markets is the great bargains that tend to pop up every week.
Last week, my favorite market stand, which tends to be on the pricier side (but everything is so pretty and tasty I keep going back for more), was selling off huge flats of organic heirloom tomatoes for $6. We jumped on the chance to get one, and as we were paying, one of the ladies working there threw in about 10 extra tomatoes and just charged us $5, as they needed to be used up soon.
Enter Big Batch Cooking: Heirloom Tomato Sauce Style.
I made enough heirloom tomato sauce to last a few meals, and have a couple batches in the freezer for when pizza night strikes and fresh tomatoes aren't around.
I like to use these jars because not only can they be used for canning, but they are also pretty when placed on the table, which is nice when entertaining. Plus they are made in Germany.
Why Use Heirloom Tomatoes?
If you have a good farmers market where heirloom tomatoes are available then make sure you try them out. They have a much sweeter more complex flavor than a regular ol' tomato.
BUT if regular ol' vine-ripened tomatoes are all you can get your hands on, then go with them. The sauce will still be amazing, I promise.
Any Other Ideas For Using Heirloom Tomatoes?
If you have some heirlooms left over then be sure to check out these amazing recipes:
If you try out my heirloom tomato sauce I would love to hear all about it sobe sure to leave a comment below.
Fresh Heirloom Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 5 lbs heirloom tomatoes
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 6 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
Instructions
- Peel your tomatoes. Mark the bottom of each tomato with an X with a sharp knife. Pop them into a pot of rapidly boiling water, remove with a slotted spoon, and pop into a bowl of iced water. Allow to cool and then peel - discard the skins
- Chop the tomatoes into chunks, making sure to remove the stems
- In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil and garlic, until the garlic is aromatic. Add the tomatoes and salt, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer, add in the oregano and thyme, and allow the sauce to simmer until nice and thickened. I usually leave it for about 30 minutes, as I like a thick sauce
- Once thickened to your liking, season with some pepper, and remove from the heat. Keep stored in a glass jar in the fridge. Also keeps well in the freezer
Nutrition
Cassie Ulmer says
Made and canned this sauce today!! I tripled the recipe. My hubby loves spaghetti with andoli sausage to spice it up a little. So we will be trying this later this week!!! I kept tasting it through the cooking process and it made my house smell delish!
Donna1 says
Oh yay, I am so glad you tried it. I literally just bought 30 pounds of tomatoes at the markets today to make some more up, as we just finished our batch from last season. It is so handy to have on hand in the cupboard!!
Pam @ Hodge Podge Moments says
Pinned this! I'm still searching for that perfect homemade sauce. Can't wait to try this one out!
Debra says
I LOVe fresh tomato sauce! This sounds so good!
Becky, Cuddle Fairy says
Beautiful recipe! Great tip for removing the skin, thanks for that!! And, thanks so much for linking up with #foodpornthursdays x
Nikki Frank-Hamilton says
This is similar to the sauce I make, but pinning to try yours too! We grow heirloom tomatoes in our garden, this year the yield wasn't great, but I picked up a few more pounds at the farm market. Love having sauce on hand and love heirloom tomatoes, they do make the best sauce! Thanks for the recipe.
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh they are the best hey! Jealous of your home grown heirlooms - we moved into our new place too late in the season to plant this year...next year I am all over it 🙂
Jaclyn says
This sounds delicious and we've been trying to stay away from packaged items! We may have to dare to try to make our own!
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh it is so so easy, I am sure you will do great 🙂
Natasha says
Not only a good recipe but s nice blog and post too.
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Natasha 🙂
Brittany @ Everyday Thoughts says
Wow this sounds fantastic. I love shopping at farmers markets and with little ones cooking in bulk is key to keeping my sanity! Thanks for sharing.
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh I hear ya Brittany! I have two little ones that eat everything in sight. I bulk cook a couple things every weekend, so we always have something in the freezer just in case 🙂
Jenn says
Gotta love a bargain like that! It's it lovely how simple ingredients prepared just as simply make for amazing meals?
Whole Food Bellies says
Totally Jenn, I used to be all about the fancy/exotic ingredients, but I am all for simple these days - they just taste so good!
karissa says
I bet this is really tasty. It looks great!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Karissa! It is pretty delicious 🙂
Seersucker Sass says
I don't cook as much as I should, but I love the idea of making a huge batch of this to be used later on. I love our local farmer's market!
XX, SS || A Little Seersucker Sass
Whole Food Bellies says
Farmers markets are the best hey! I just wished ours served better coffee 🙂
Kate says
I've always wanted to try to make tomato sauce! This recipe looks easy and delish!
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh it is definitely easy Kate!!
Stacey says
I'm headed out the door soon to pick up some heirloom tomatoes to make up a caprese salad for a party tonight! Love farmer's Markets!
Whole Food Bellies says
Yum! Enjoy the party, LOVE caprese salads 🙂
Jeanine says
Oh yum. This looks and sounds just delicious. I would love to try my hand at making this. Delicious.
Whole Food Bellies says
I hope you give it a go Jeanine 🙂
Molly Kumar says
This looks delicious and simple to make too. Tomato sauce are such a tradition at our home with mom cooking tons of it for me 🙂
Whole Food Bellies says
Ooh you are lucky to have someone cooking it for you 🙂 I can't go back to the store-bought stuff anymore!
Logan Can says
This looks and sounds so amazing! I bet my husband would love it!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Logan 🙂
Waagmi says
Wooooooow this is truly give a try recipe, I would love to make it dear!! Thanks for sharing
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks for popping over Waagmi 🙂 I hope you love it, if you give it a try!
Emily Leary says
Sounds and looks absolutely delicious - and so quick to make! I think I'll whip up a batch.
Whole Food Bellies says
Do it Emily 🙂 So easy!
Chris @ SimpleFood365 says
Fresh tomato sauce makes everything you use it in so much better! This recipe looks great!
Whole Food Bellies says
Doesn't it Chris!! I really can't go back to the store-bought stuff anymore, there is nowhere near the depth of flavour you get from the homemade version. We use it in everything!
Natalie Patalie says
This sounds delicious! My mom makes her own tomato sauce in GIANT batches and it lasts quite awhile!
Whole Food Bellies says
Yeah it's great to make big batches and have it on hand for the rest of the year. I made so much in my last batch that I had like three huge pots going at once - house smelled amazing...but I didnt want to look at another tomato for a while 🙂
Danielle says
Yum! I'm growing some pink beefsteaks right now, do you think they'd work well with this sauce?
Whole Food Bellies says
Definitely! I have used a couple different varieties, and every one has ended up delicious. The heirlooms just make it a very sweet version.
Sandra says
Yum! I love tomatoes and actually have several waiting to be processed! I usually just make tomato sauce (plain, like you buy in a can at the store) to use in soup, but I like this recipe! Definitely making it today! Thanks!
Whole Food Bellies says
Fantastic! I hope you enjoy 🙂 Tomatoes are so awesome at the moment!
Annie @ Annie's Noms says
I bet this tastes so amazing! I love having fresh, homemade sauce in the house for quick dinners, I'm going to have to try this!
Whole Food Bellies says
It does indeed 🙂 I am the same, I find it makes those nights when you can't be bothered so much easier when you have something to throw on some pasta!
Kim S says
Omg this is fab!! I LOVE heirloom tomatoes (when I can get a good deal on them, of course). Thanks for the recipe!
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh yes, I only get them when I can get a good deal! When they are still at the $3 a lb stage, I stick with one 🙂