Veena Azmanov

Cake Artist and Food Enthusiast

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Quick Homemade Tomato Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes

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Homemade Tomato Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes

With fresh tomatoes in abundance, why not make a homemade tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes. It’s fresh, natural, wholesome and most delicious. This simple, easy and effortless recipe makes fresh tomato sauce in less than 20 minutes and here’s a little trick I often use to get that nice bright red color in my tomato sauce.

An image optimized for social sharing for this homemade tomato sauce made with fresh tomatoes with a little trick on how to get a deep bright red color.

Homemade Tomato Sauce with Fresh Tomato, Quick tomato sauce in 20 mins, Fresh tomato sauce recipe,

The best way to make a good tomato sauce is to use good Italian tomatoes, they are sweet and have a beautiful red color which makes a big difference to the sauce. Now we are not in Italy!! So it means we probably have to use canned Italian tomatoes.

Now I do use canned tomatoes when I have to but when fresh is an option!! Of course, I want to use fresh!! I do get absolutely delicious fresh tomatoes here. I make my homemade tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes and you will see I still manage to get a rich red color and sweetness to my sauce. Want to know the little secret? It’s in the recipe below. The caramelize sugar!! You must try it.

An image optimized for social sharing for this homemade tomato sauce made with fresh tomatoes with a little trick on how to get a deep bright red color.

Homemade Tomato Sauce with Fresh Tomato, Quick tomato sauce in 20 mins, Fresh tomato sauce recipe,

Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin)

  • Tomatoes – I love picking red ripe but still firm tomatoes. They cook down beautifully. You can even roast the tomatoes in the oven at 160 C for an hour to get a nice roasted/smoky flavor for the sauce. If you like cherry tomatoes you must try my recipe – Cherry Tomato Olive and Basil Pasta 
  • Garlic – I think you absolutely need garlic and its’ just a small amount but adds so much flavor. If you like roasted garlic, save a few for your tomato sauce. It adds a lovely sweet garlicky flavor.
  • Bay leaves – adds an earthy flavor but if you don’t fancy you can just leave it out.
  • Thyme and Oregano – I do love fresh herbs but I don’t always have these fresh on hand but if you do have fresh? by all means, fresh is the way to go.
  • Brown Sugar – The main purpose of the brown sugar here is to caramelize it so it adds a touch of brown to the red. You know what happens to red when you add a touch of brown? It’s deeps the red. We are using the same principle here. Just adding a dash of brown to the red so make sure just caramelize not burn it.
An image optimized for social sharing for this homemade tomato sauce made with fresh tomatoes with a little trick on how to get a deep bright red color.

Homemade Tomato Sauce with Fresh Tomato, Quick tomato sauce in 20 mins, Fresh tomato sauce recipe,

One recipe is all you need, really!

Do you prefer chunky tomato sauce or smooth tomato sauce?

Honestly? They are both absolutely delicious! but my kids tend to favor the smooth sauce more than the chunky so we always blend it to a smooth sauce. I love a nice chunky tomato sauce especially with a few added olives to it.

This is often my go-to for many many pasta dishes. Pizzas, mushrooms, bakes etc.

  • I use it as a base for my Pizza!! You must read my post on secrets to delicious homemade pizza 
  • If you see my recipe for Baked Penne Lasagna – yes, I’ve used this as well.
  • For my pizza – I thicken the sauce a little more and spread over the pizza dough. Add toppings and bake. Don’t forget to read my Secrets to delicious homemade Pizza. 
  • For a mushroom sauce – Saute mushroom slices in one tablespoon of olive oil, add a pinch of salt so the mushrooms will release the liquid. Once the liquid has evaporated add in the tomato sauce and cook for five minutes.
An image optimized for social sharing for this homemade tomato sauce made with fresh tomatoes with a little trick on how to get a deep bright red color.

Homemade Tomato Sauce with Fresh Tomato, Quick tomato sauce in 20 mins, Fresh tomato sauce recipe

How to get a deep red color in homemade tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes? (Save/Pin)

One of the challenges with fresh tomatoes is that they don’t always have a bright red color. However, NO matter what the color they do taste amazing and make a great fresh tomato sauce. Here’s a little trick I use to make sure no matter what the color of my fresh tomatoes – the sauce is always deep red not yellow, orange or pale red.

Caramelizing the sugar – The main purpose of the brown sugar here is to caramelize it so it adds a touch of brown to the red. You know what happens to red when you add a touch of brown? It deepens the red.

We are using the same principle here. Just adding a dash of brown to the red which is why we want to make sure we just caramelize it not burn it. I use this same trick to deepen my red fondant. So I have a deep red fondant and then one day – I was like.. this should work with my pasta sauce too. Right? Guess what it does.

Now, you can get a deep red color for your fresh tomato sauce every single time.

Making homemade tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes is not difficult but often getting that nice bright red color is a challenge. With my simple easy trick you will make beautiful bright red tomato sauce every single time. 

Homemade Tomato Sauce with Fresh Tomato, Quick tomato sauce in 20 mins, Fresh tomato sauce recipe, Best Tomato Sauce Recipe, How to get deep red in homemade tomato sauce

 

Recipe – Quick Homemade Tomato Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes aka Fresh Tomato Sauce (save/Pin)

Tools

An image optimized for social sharing for this homemade tomato sauce made with fresh tomatoes with a little trick on how to get a deep bright red color.

Homemade Tomato Sauce with Fresh Tomato, Quick tomato sauce in 20 mins, Fresh tomato sauce recipe,

Ingredients

  • Ripe firm red tomatoes – 8 large (about 6 cups when chopped)
  • Extra virgin olive oil – 3 tbsp
  • Garlic – 2 cloves (about 2 tbsp sliced thinly)
  • Red onion or spanish oninos – 1 large – chopped fine (about 1 cup chopped)
  • Brown sugar – 2 tbsp
  • Tomato paste – 4 tbsp
  • Dried thyme leaves – 1/2 tsp ( or 2 tbsp fresh)
  • Fresh basil –  4 tbsp fresh
  • Dried oregano – 1/2 tsp (or 4 tbsp fresh)
  • Bay leaves – 4 large
  • Salt – 2 tsp.
  • Pepper – 1/2 tsp.

Method

Prepare veggies

  • Chop tomatoes roughly into small pieces.
  • Slice the garlic thin.
  • Cut onions fine.

Saute veggies

  • Add oil and garlic into a large pot or Dutch oven.
  • With the heat on low let the garlic infuse into the oil for a minute or so making sure not to brown or burn it.
  • Once the garlic is nice and fragrant. Add in the dried herbs.
  • Followed by the diced onions, bay leaves and saute for 2 to 3 minutes.

The secret to that beautiful red color color

  • Gently move the onions on one side of the pan keeping the center near the heat clear.
  • Add in the brown sugar. Let it caramelize slowly so it browns not burns.  This will add a little brown color that will intensify the color of our sauce.
  • Now mix in the onions again and continue to cook.
  • Next, add in the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste.
  • Continue to cook on medium-high for 5 minutes.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.

Slow Simmer

  • Cover the pan, lower the heat to a simmer and let simmer gently for 15 minutes.
  • After 15 minutes you should have a thick, dark tomato sauce.
  • Add in your fresh basil leaves.
  • You can leave the sauce chunky or use a hand blender to blend it to a smooth paste.

Don’t forget to save this recipe on Pinterest for later.
You can find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.

An image optimized for social sharing for this homemade tomato sauce made with fresh tomatoes with a little trick on how to get a deep bright red color.

Homemade Tomato Sauce with Fresh Tomato, Quick tomato sauce in 20 mins, Fresh tomato sauce recipe,

An image optimized for social sharing for this homemade tomato sauce made with fresh tomatoes with a little trick on how to get a deep bright red color.

Quick Homemade Tomato Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes

Author: Veena Azmanov
With fresh tomatoes in abundance, why not make a homemade tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes. It's fresh, natural, wholesome and most delicious. This simple, easy and effortless recipe makes fresh tomato sauce in less than 20 minutes and here's a little trick I often use to get that nice bright red color in my tomato sauce.
4.94 from 31 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Lunch Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Adjust Servings Here: 4 servings
Calories: 47kcal
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

  • 8 Ripe firm red tomatoes about 6 cups when chopped
  • 3 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves Garlic about 2 tbsp sliced thinly
  • 1 Red onion or Spanish onion about 1 cup chopped fine
  • 2 tbsp Brown sugar
  • 4 tbsp Tomato paste
  • 1/2 tsp Dried thyme leaves or 2 tbsp fresh
  • 4 tbsp Fresh basil
  • 1/2 tsp Dried oregano or 4 tbsp fresh
  • 4 Bay leaves large
  • 2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Pepper
Metric - US customary

Instructions

Prepare veggies

  • Chop tomatoes roughly into small pieces.
  • Slice the garlic thin.
  • Cut onions fine.

Saute veggies

  • Add oil and garlic into a large pot or Dutch oven.
  • With the heat on low let the garlic infuse into the oil for a minute or so making sure not to brown or burn it. 
  • Once the garlic is nice and fragrant. Add in the dried herbs.
  • Followed by the diced onions, bay leaves and saute for 2 to 3 minutes.

The secret to that beautiful red color color

  • Gently move the onions on one side of the pan keeping the center near the heat clear.
  • Add in the brown sugar. Let it caramelize slowly so it browns not burns.  This will add a little brown color that will intensify the color of our sauce.
  • Now mix in the onions again and continue to cook.
  • Next, add in the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste.
  • Continue to cook on medium-high for 5 minutes.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.

Slow simmer

  • Cover the pan, lower the heat to a simmer and let simmer gently for 15 minutes.
  • After 15 minutes you should have a thick, dark tomato sauce. 
  • Add in your fresh basil leaves.
  • You can leave the sauce chunky or use a hand blender to blend it to a smooth paste.
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Nutrition Information

Serving: 100g | Calories: 47kcal | Carbohydrates: 6.2g | Protein: 1.1g | Fat: 2.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 266mg | Potassium: 0mg | Fiber: 1.4g | Sugar: 3.8g | Vitamin A: 0% | Vitamin C: 0% | Calcium: 0% | Iron: 0%
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
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About Veena Azmanov

Veena Azmanov is a professional Cake Artist and Food Enthusiast. The Founder, Editor, Creator and Recipe Developer on this blog. Follow her cake and food journey on this blog as she explores new and classic recipes with a twist.

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Comments

  1. Fawn

    September 23, 2018 at 9:03 pm

    I have no clue how but all your recipes work like magic for me. My family loves this sauce. I now use it as a base for all my pasta recipes. That browning sugar.. genius.

    Reply

    • Veena Azmanov

      September 25, 2018 at 1:41 pm

      Thank you, Fawn. So happy you enjoy my recipes and your family loves this sauce. Thank you for taking the time to write this feedback. Love hearing back from those who try my recipe. Have a great day.

      Reply

  4. Shanie

    September 16, 2018 at 5:36 pm

    I can’t believe how talented you are – Been following your cake page all this while, now I’m a fan of your food too. Love the trick you have with the brown sugar in this one.

    Reply

    • Veena Azmanov

      September 17, 2018 at 8:29 am

      Thank you, Shanie. I am so happy to hear that you had success with this recipe and enjoy it so much. And happy you trying my food recipes along with cake decorating. Thanks for coming back to write this comment. Always appreciate the feedback, especially good ones like this make my day.

      Reply

  5. Marietta

    September 15, 2018 at 7:03 pm

    I always make fresh tomato sauce but it never has that deep color. Thanks for the trick I used it this week and it worked. The sauce was so deep in color.

    Reply

    • Veena Azmanov

      September 17, 2018 at 8:37 am

      Thank you, Marietta. So happy to hear you had success with my recipe and found this trick useful. Definitely works very well. Thanks for the lovely comment. Appreciate you coming back to write it. Have a wonderful day.

      Reply

    • Veena Azmanov

      September 17, 2018 at 8:40 am

      Thank you, Dorothy. So happy to hear you had success with my recipe and everyone enjoyed it so much. Thanks for the lovely comment. Appreciate you coming back to write it. Have a wonderful day.

      Reply

  9. Bella

    June 26, 2018 at 4:28 am

    Love this recipe and the flavor is just perfect. I love how simple and easy it is. My family loves it. Thank you Veena

    Reply

  10. Madain

    June 26, 2018 at 1:52 am

    You have the best recipes on your blog. They always work. Thank you so much. Love this recipe it’s so tasty

    Reply

  12. Philip

    June 25, 2018 at 11:44 am

    Made this recipe last week and the kids enjoyed it. Was happy to use fresh tomatoes not canned. Love the caramelizing sugar hack. Thanks for another amazing recipe Veena

    Reply

    • Veena Azmanov

      July 9, 2018 at 8:33 am

      Thank you so much, Philip. So happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe. Yes, we love using fresh tomatoes as well. Thanks for coming back to write this feedback. Have a great day.

      Reply

  13. Zandy

    June 25, 2018 at 10:51 am

    Make this recipe a couple of times and it’s always a winner. I used it last week on pasta as well as pizza. We love it. So glad I don’t have to buy canned tomatoes anymore. This gives a nice color too

    Reply

    • Veena Azmanov

      July 9, 2018 at 8:34 am

      Thank you Zandy, So happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe. Yes, I use it on my pizza too. Kids love it. Thanks for coming back to write this feedback. Have a great day.

      Reply

  14. Mario

    May 8, 2018 at 6:52 am

    Hi!
    The simmering time of 15 minutes isn’t it too short?
    I learned from another recipe it takes 2hrs for a batch of 10 pounds of tomatoes

    Reply

    • Veena Azmanov

      May 8, 2018 at 8:22 am

      There are many different versions of tomato sauces Mario. You can make a concentrated recipe too if you want but for everyday cooking this one amazing. Very fresh and beautifully light.

      Reply

  15. Eileen Kelly

    April 9, 2018 at 10:01 am

    One of my favorite things about creating recipes is the variety. Im=haven=mine, but I really love your recipe. Using fresh tomatoes is the best and the flavors are amazing. Love everything about this fresh tomato sauce

    Reply

  16. Vatch

    April 5, 2018 at 3:31 am

    I did not know you could make perfect tomato sauce with just fresh tomatoes. We loved this recipe. Love your trick to getting that deep red. I will be using this recipe more often now. Thanks

    Reply

    • Veena Azmanov

      April 15, 2018 at 9:11 am

      Thank you Vatch, So happy to hear you had success with this recipe. Sounds delicious! I love using fresh whenever possible. Thank you for coming back to write this feedback, appreciate it very much. Always a great feeling to read such success and positive comments. Thank you.

      Reply

  17. Jessie Yung

    October 4, 2017 at 12:42 am

    The sauce was delicious and the seasonings spot on.! I appreciate how simple it was to make. I found that four cups of tomatoes cooked down didn’t yield enough sauce (we must be generous in our servings), so I added a can of crushed tomatoes, more seasonings and simmered again. Next time I will be sure to double or triple the tomatoes so it’s fresh from start to finish.

    Reply

    • Veena Azmanov

      October 4, 2017 at 3:37 pm

      Thank you Jessie – You can definitely double or triple the recipe. I do make small batched to serve only 4 people. For us the becomes right as we are not too generous with our tomato sauce. Glad you hear you loved the taste. Thanks for the feedback.

      Reply

  18. Soniya

    July 18, 2017 at 6:11 am

    Nothing beats homemade sauce .. specially in summers!! I have a veggie patch and have lots of Tomato plants.. can’t wait to make my own sauce at home.. pinning you recipe for later!

    Reply

  19. Swathi

    July 17, 2017 at 11:43 pm

    Fresh sauce always best, love that color which is lacking the store bought one. I think this will great for home made mixed veggie pasta or even some curries. I think options are endless.

    Reply

  20. karyn

    July 17, 2017 at 2:35 pm

    Thank you for the little tip about the colour!! the sauce looks beautiful. I’ll definitely try the brown sugar the next time I make pasta sauce. Your photos are really good too

    Reply

  21. Molly Kumar

    July 17, 2017 at 11:46 am

    This is such a gorgeous looking tomato sauce that I can literally eat few spoons just like that 😉 Nothing compares to homemade sauces/jams and this would be perfect to make a huge batch and store for later use. Love the pictures.

    Reply

  24. Kylee from Kylee Cooks

    July 16, 2017 at 5:50 pm

    Fresh sauce is the BEST kind! I love making it from scratch. The tip about the brown sugar is a good one, I often use it to combat acidity (when I can’t find the good tomatoes, it helps!). Your recipe looks GREAT

    Reply

  25. Marisa Franca @ All Our Way

    July 16, 2017 at 2:40 pm

    I love a good tomato sauce — it’s the basis of so many good recipes. Your sauce recipe sounds wonderful, Veena! I like how you deepen the red, very clever! I haven’t had breakfast yet but you’re making me hungry for something Italian — our sauce is frozen right now but I am craving it. We’ll have to try your recipe next time we make sauce. (Thank God, you don’t call it gravy!!!!!)

    Reply

  26. Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy

    July 15, 2017 at 10:29 pm

    OK….I love the fall harvest of tomatoes. I always slow roast them and put them in the freezer for use over the winter. This sauce sounds so delicious and would be perfect on pasta, and so many other recipes. Printed and will try when the harvest is ready.

    Reply

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