If you’re looking to stock up your pantry with a delicious and versatile staple, a homemade canning recipe for pasta sauce is a perfect choice. Not only is it a fantastic way to preserve fresh tomatoes and herbs, but it also allows you to customize the taste and heat level to your liking. With a little bit of effort, you can create a flavorful and savory sauce that will elevate any pasta dish to restaurant quality.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can experiment with different ingredients and techniques to create custom variations. Whether you prefer a smooth and creamy sauce or one with a chunky texture, there’s a canning recipe for pasta sauce out there that’s perfect for you. And because it’s canned, you can enjoy your homemade sauce all year round.
Before we delve into the specifics of the canning recipe, let’s gather a few essential pieces of equipment. You’ll need a large pot or Dutch oven for simmering the sauce, a blender or food processor for pureeing it, canning jars and lids, and a boiling water canner or pressure canner for preserving the sauce.
Ingredients:
- 6 pounds ripe tomatoes, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup dry red wine (optional)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
Equipment:
- Large pot or Dutch oven
- Blender or food processor
- Canning jars and lids
- Boiling water canner or pressure canner
How To Make:
- In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, combine the chopped tomatoes, onion, garlic, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, tomato paste, and crushed tomatoes.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft and the sauce has thickened.
- If desired, add the red wine and cook for an additional 10 minutes to reduce the alcohol.
- Stir in the sugar, salt, black pepper, oregano, and basil.
- Puree the sauce using a blender or food processor until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Pour the sauce into the prepared canning jars, leaving about 1 inch of headspace at the top.
- Process the jars in a boiling water canner for 30 minutes or in a pressure canner according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Tips and Possible Variations:
- For a smoother sauce, peel the tomatoes before chopping them.
- Add other vegetables to the sauce, such as carrots, celery, or zucchini.
- Adjust the heat level by adding more or less red pepper flakes.
No matter how you choose to customize it, a canning recipe for pasta sauce is a versatile and delicious staple that will add flavor and convenience to your kitchen. It’s a perfect way to preserve the flavors of summer and enjoy them all year round.
So next time you’re looking for a project that combines flavor and practicality, give a canning recipe for pasta sauce a try. You won’t be disappointed!