Homemade Tomato Sauce: Quick and Easy Recipe

I used to help in our family restaurant, love good food and enjoy thinking up creative ways to cook and use leftovers to avoid food waste.

A Fresh, Healthy and Fast Tomato Sauce Recipe

This is the best tomato sauce for flavour and nutrition. When you make homemade tomato sauce, you can control what goes into it, so you'll know that it's all natural and can make sure you don't add too much salt or fat.

When you learn the secret of how to make this basic recipe, you can begin playing with variations using lemon juice, garlic, spices, herbs, or chili. If you prefer a milder flavour, you can also change the recipe to make a more bland tomato sauce.

There are many recipes for tomato sauce, but this one is beginner's level. It's so easy that you could ask your children to make it while you concentrate on the more difficult food.

Good for Pasta, Mincemeat, Taco Shells and More

This tasty sauce is the perfect accompaniment to meatballs, beef burgers, chicken, or pasta: The lemon juice gives it a fuller flavour, and the tiny amount of sugar reduces the tartness. My family loves it.

Homemade Tomato Sauce Recipe

Supplies

• Small- or medium-sized saucepan
• Wooden or Teflon spoon for stirring
• Chopping board
• Kitchen knife

Ingredients

• Half an onion
• 1 tin of chopped tomatoes, or 1 pound chopped tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• Half teaspoon of sugar
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil or butter
• 1 teaspoon of mixed herbs

Instructions

1. Chop up half an onion into small pieces and fry it in a small saucepan with a teaspoon of oil or butter until golden brown.
2. If you are using tinned tomatoes, add the tin of chopped tomatoes including the juice to the saucepan. Alternatively, add one pound of fresh chopped tomatoes and one tablespoon of water.
3. Add a teaspoonful of lemon juice, a teaspoon of mixed herbs, a sprinkle of salt, and half a teaspoonful of sugar. Optional: Add a crushed clove of garlic and a clove.
4. Bring to a boil and simmer for two or three minutes (for tinned tomatoes) or, if using fresh tomatoes, until the tomatoes are tender (about five minutes).

Tomato Sauce Mixed With Minced Meat

Recipe Variations

You can vary this sauce by adding:

• Oregano, marjoram, coriander leaves, and/or mint, and also by adding a tiny amount of fresh or bottled chili.
• Pinches of powdered coriander and cumin for a more Middle Eastern flavour.

But beware, these herbs and spices have strong flavours that can be quite overpowering, so don't swamp the sauce with them. It is better to add a pinch at a time, stirring and tasting after each one, to make sure the flavours enhance without drowning the taste.

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Rate This Tomato Sauce Recipe

Comments

Martha DeMeo from Little River, South Carolina on June 20, 2020:

Great recipe and so easy.

Diana Grant (author) from United Kingdom on June 11, 2019:

Yes, it's certainly worth a try - tomatoes are particularly nutritious.

Diana Grant (author) from United Kingdom on June 11, 2019:

Bon appetit!

Cynthia Sylvestermouse from United States on May 19, 2019:

I would love to start making my own tomato sauce! Thank you for the recipe and the suggestion.

Rose Jones on May 18, 2019:

Sounds delicious! And so healthy.

Thelma Alberts from Germany on January 29, 2018:

Just the way I make my own homemade tomato sauce. Mostly, I add dried pizza spices as all the Italian spices are together. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

Lisa on July 16, 2017:

Not sure about the lemon and as my husband is diabetic could just leave out the sugar and include other spices?

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on July 30, 2015:

The recipe looks easy enough, and like you mentioned, we'll know what we are eating. Thanks.

Gloria Faye Brown Bates on July 28, 2015:

I never thought about making my own tomato soup! I do, however, make a good homemade vegetable beef soup. I am happy to read this!

Diana Grant (author) from United Kingdom on November 10, 2014:

I've got some stored in my freezer ready for instant access when needed

Wendy Henderson from PA on November 07, 2014:

This looks yummy! Thanks for sharing.

Margaret Schindel from Massachusetts on November 06, 2014:

Diana, this sounds like an easy to make, tasty tomato sauce that would be a great staple to have on hand. I'm sure it tasted better than canned sauce and I like having control over the ingredients. For example, I'd use organic tomatoes. Thanks for sharing!

Diana Grant (author) from United Kingdom on August 02, 2013:

@jptanabe: : Thank you for your message which will be dealt with as soon as possible.

This is an automated reply.

Jennifer P Tanabe from Red Hook, NY on August 02, 2013:

Nice! I usually add to the cans of tomatoes to make tomato sauce. I really should try making it with fresh tomatoes.

Diana Grant (author) from United Kingdom on July 30, 2013:

@SheGetsCreative: : Thank you for your message which will be dealt with as soon as possible.

This is an automated reply.

Angela F from Seattle, WA on July 30, 2013:

Sounds like a great basic recipe to have on hand.

Diana Grant (author) from United Kingdom on July 30, 2013:

@Raymond Eagar: : Thank you for your message which will be dealt with as soon as possible.

This is an automated reply.

Raymond Eagar on July 30, 2013:

I love tomato in all my dishes .

MikeRobbers LM on March 17, 2013:

this tomato sauce looks delicious! thanks for the recipe

ismeedee on March 15, 2013:

A lovely rich tomato sauce base recipe!! I like to add loads of veggies to it!

Joan Haines on September 02, 2012:

You're right that a good blender helps. It does a lot, and not just for tomato sauce. Also for refreshing smoothies, other sauces, etc., etc.

tyler70 on August 10, 2011:

Love the lens. Never made homemade sauce before, but here's a good time to give it a try! I like your recipe and I'll be sure to use it in my next pasta dish(:

anonymous on August 09, 2011:

Lovely sauce recipe, sounds a lot like my own.

poppy mercer from London on January 19, 2011:

I'll try this when my tomato glut comes this summer

Mona from Iowa on January 19, 2011:

Once you make your own tomato sauce I can't imagine anyone ever going back to a can. This lens makes it look easy which hopefully will get more folks to try it. :)