Making Homemade Sauce Nonna Rita’s Calabrese Kitchen (Authentic Italian Cooking)

canned tomatoes

🥗Healthier: fresh tomatoes

💰Cheaper: crushed tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes can enhance flavor, while crushed tomatoes are often more affordable.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil offers health benefits, while vegetable oil is budget-friendly.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: maple syrup

Honey provides a natural sweetness, while maple syrup can be less expensive.

fresh basil

🥗Healthier: dried basil

💰Cheaper: basil paste

Dried basil is more convenient, while basil paste is often cheaper.

Cut the tops off the tomatoes and cut them into quarters.

Place the quartered tomatoes into a large pot with a little bit of water.

Cook the tomatoes down until they come to a boil, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

Once cooked down, scoop the tomatoes into a tomato crusher.

Strain out the extra juice before putting the tomatoes into the machine.

Run the skins back through the machine to extract more sauce.

After processing, the tomatoes turn into a sauce.

Put the sauce on the stove and bring it to a boil; add basil and salt.

Jar the sauce and store it upside down to cool before putting it away for the year.

Before using, cook the sauce in a pan with olive oil, garlic, and parsley for a little bit.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: