Fresh Marinara Sauce for Freezer

Don't you just love the taste of fresh tomatoes, basil and garlic (optional)?  Making your own Marinara Sauce is easy, and you can enjoy that fresh flavor year round.  A few simple ingredients, food processor and freezer bags will be needed.  The bonus is you know exactly what is in your sauce for your creations long past the season.

Oh yes, it's so easy peasy!

Only 3 ingredients needed.

1)  Wash your tomatoes and basil.

Chopped Basil

2) In a large pot, boil water about half way full

3) Make an ice water bath in a large bowl

4) cut basil into ribbons ( I find using scissors the easiest method)

Once the water comes to a boil, drop in the tomatoes and leave about 1 minute.  You may see the skin split open at this point.

Remove the tomatoes and plunge into the ice water bath for another 1-2 minutes.  The skin will now peel off very easily.  I find this step somehow therapeutic.  Slice the tomatoes in half, remove the core and put into food processor with basil, minced garlic (optinal) and pulse just two or three pulses.  Too much processing and you will be left with tomato juice.  Pour into freezer bags and place in freezer for use later.

Hot water bath

Peeled orbs of mouth watering deliciousness !

   

I will use the marinara sauce in recipes long after the tomato vines are just a memory, but the flavor will be as fresh as the day it was made.