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    Home » All Recipes

    Author: Donna | Published: Mar 16, 2022 | Modified: Mar 16, 2022

    Fresh Heirloom Tomato Sauce

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    Heirloom Tomato Sauce in a large jar with fresh garlic and thyme scattered

    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.

    Overhead shot of homemade tomato sauce in a glass jar with some fresh herbs in the background

    This sauce is just perfect when paired with these Spanish Meatballs.

    Jump to:
    • Fresh Heirloom Tomato Sauce
    • What Type Of Tomatoes To Use
    • Batch Cooking and Freezing
    • More Heirloom Tomato Recipes
    • Recipe

    Fresh Heirloom Tomato Sauce

    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.

    Coming to the end of the season it is always possible to get big boxes of gorgeous tomatoes for next to nothing.

    The perfect time to buy up and get to making some homemade tomato sauce.

    This will last for 4 days in the fridge if stored correctly, and at least 6 months in the freezer if stored correctly.

    Big California produce box containing lots of fresh heirloom tomatoes

    What Type Of Tomatoes To Use

    If heirloom tomatoes are available to you for a reasonable price, then I highly suggest you try them out for this recipe.

    They have a much more complex, sweet flavor than a regular tomato, and just make the most amazing tomato sauce.

    If you can only get your hands on regular tomatoes then don't worry, they can still be used.

    Paired with lots of garlic you can't go wrong!

    The sauce will still be amazing, I promise.

    homemade heirloom tomato sauce in a large glass just with a bowl of fresh tomatoes in the background, and a bunch of fresh herbs on the side
    Made with fresh herbs and lots of garlic, this heirloom tomato sauce is just bursting with flavor.

    Batch Cooking and Freezing

    If you are going to go to the effort of making homemade tomato sauce, then you may as well double or triple the recipe and make a huge batch.

    This sauce will last in the freezer for at least 6 months (sometimes longer depending on the method of storage).

    It comes in handy for pulling out of the freezer and enjoying on:

    • pizza
    • pasta
    • meatballs
    • casseroles
    • soups
    • lasagne
    • on cannelloni (check out this Mushroom and Herbed Ricotta Cannelloni)

    Especially handy when fresh tomatoes aren't available.

    A great way to preserve the season.

    fresh tomato sauce on top of some meatballs and pasta in a white bowl and topped with grated cheese and basil
    Use your fresh heirloom tomato sauce on top of baked meatballs for a delicious meal.

    More Heirloom Tomato Recipes

    I tend to go a little bit crazy when heirlooms are in season.

    The variety of colors and the intensity of the flavor just make them the best and prettiest addition to so many recipes.

    If you have some leftover heirlooms then be sure to check out these amazing recipes:

    • Creamy Roasted Heirloom Tomato Soup
    • Zesty Heirloom Tomato and Nectarine Salad
    • Summer Stone Fruit and Spinach Strawberry Pecan Salad
    • Heirloom Tomato Salad

    If you try out my heirloom tomato sauce I would love to hear all about it so be sure to leave a comment below.

    Do I have to peel the tomatoes first?

    Sometimes the skin on an heirloom tomato can be especially thick and can add bitterness to the sauce when cooked.
    I prefer to peel tomatoes when they have this thick skin.
    However it is not necessary, and the sauce will still work if you skip this step.

    Should I add sugar to my tomato sauce?

    In traditional tomato sauce recipes using regular tomatoes, it is common to add a pinch of sugar whilst cooking to cut through the acidity.
    I find that heirloom tomatoes tend to be sweet enough and do not need added sugar.
    However, feel free to add it if preferred.

    Happy Eating

    xx

    Recipe

    Overhead shot of homemade tomato sauce in a glass jar with some fresh herbs in the background

    Fresh Heirloom Tomato Sauce

    Whole Food Bellies
    Fresh Heirloom Tomato Sauce is the most versatile tomato sauce around. Use it on top of some meatballs, in layers of lasagne, as a pizza sauce, or as a regular old pasta sauce. So delicious and so easy
    4.13 from 32 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 35 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 6 serves
    Calories 167 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 5 lbs (about 2kgs) heirloom tomatoes or vine ripened tomatoes
    • ⅓ cup olive oil
    • 6 cloves of garlic minced
    • 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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

    Notes

    Storage
    Store in the fridge for 3-4 days.
    Store in the freezer for up to 6 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 167kcalCarbohydrates: 15.3gProtein: 3.4gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 1.7gSodium: 90mgFiber: 4.5gSugar: 9.6g
    Keyword heirloom tomato sauce, homemade tomato sauce, tomato sauce
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment HERE and let us know how it was!

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nikki Frank-Hamilton says

      September 14, 2015 at 6:32 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 22, 2015 at 2:38 am

        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 🙂

        Reply
    2. Jaclyn says

      September 13, 2015 at 1:21 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:12 pm

        Oh it is so so easy, I am sure you will do great 🙂

        Reply
    3. Natasha says

      September 13, 2015 at 6:10 am

      Not only a good recipe but s nice blog and post too.

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:12 pm

        Thanks Natasha 🙂

        Reply
    4. Brittany @ Everyday Thoughts says

      September 13, 2015 at 3:48 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:13 pm

        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 🙂

        Reply
    5. Jenn says

      September 12, 2015 at 6:57 pm

      Gotta love a bargain like that! It's it lovely how simple ingredients prepared just as simply make for amazing meals?

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:14 pm

        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!

        Reply
    6. karissa says

      September 12, 2015 at 5:46 pm

      I bet this is really tasty. It looks great!

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:15 pm

        Thanks Karissa! It is pretty delicious 🙂

        Reply
    7. Seersucker Sass says

      September 12, 2015 at 5:41 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:20 pm

        Farmers markets are the best hey! I just wished ours served better coffee 🙂

        Reply
    8. Kate says

      September 12, 2015 at 4:08 pm

      I've always wanted to try to make tomato sauce! This recipe looks easy and delish!

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:15 pm

        Oh it is definitely easy Kate!!

        Reply
    9. Stacey says

      September 12, 2015 at 3:57 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:20 pm

        Yum! Enjoy the party, LOVE caprese salads 🙂

        Reply
    10. Jeanine says

      September 12, 2015 at 2:09 pm

      Oh yum. This looks and sounds just delicious. I would love to try my hand at making this. Delicious.

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:15 pm

        I hope you give it a go Jeanine 🙂

        Reply
    11. Molly Kumar says

      September 12, 2015 at 6:50 am

      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 🙂

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:16 pm

        Ooh you are lucky to have someone cooking it for you 🙂 I can't go back to the store-bought stuff anymore!

        Reply
    12. Logan Can says

      September 12, 2015 at 1:18 am

      This looks and sounds so amazing! I bet my husband would love it!

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:16 pm

        Thanks Logan 🙂

        Reply
    13. Waagmi says

      September 11, 2015 at 10:17 pm

      Wooooooow this is truly give a try recipe, I would love to make it dear!! Thanks for sharing

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:17 pm

        Thanks for popping over Waagmi 🙂 I hope you love it, if you give it a try!

        Reply
    14. Emily Leary says

      September 11, 2015 at 8:32 pm

      Sounds and looks absolutely delicious - and so quick to make! I think I'll whip up a batch.

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:17 pm

        Do it Emily 🙂 So easy!

        Reply
    15. Chris @ SimpleFood365 says

      September 11, 2015 at 7:07 pm

      Fresh tomato sauce makes everything you use it in so much better! This recipe looks great!

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:18 pm

        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!

        Reply
    16. Natalie Patalie says

      September 10, 2015 at 10:37 pm

      This sounds delicious! My mom makes her own tomato sauce in GIANT batches and it lasts quite awhile!

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 11, 2015 at 3:52 pm

        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 🙂

        Reply
    17. Danielle says

      September 10, 2015 at 7:56 pm

      Yum! I'm growing some pink beefsteaks right now, do you think they'd work well with this sauce?

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 11, 2015 at 3:48 pm

        Definitely! I have used a couple different varieties, and every one has ended up delicious. The heirlooms just make it a very sweet version.

        Reply
    18. Sandra says

      September 10, 2015 at 3:16 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 11, 2015 at 3:49 pm

        Fantastic! I hope you enjoy 🙂 Tomatoes are so awesome at the moment!

        Reply
    19. Annie @ Annie's Noms says

      September 10, 2015 at 3:03 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 11, 2015 at 3:51 pm

        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!

        Reply
    20. Kim S says

      September 10, 2015 at 3:02 pm

      Omg this is fab!! I LOVE heirloom tomatoes (when I can get a good deal on them, of course). Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        September 11, 2015 at 3:50 pm

        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 🙂

        Reply
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    Hello and welcome, I'm Donna!

    I am so glad you are here!

    Since I have a part-time job, 3 little kids, and a love of good food (as do you I assume), I have learned how to get the most out of the kitchen in the smallest amount of time.

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