• Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn

Dreamery Events

Weddings, Events, Planning, Styling & Speciality Desserts | Life is too Wonderful not to Celebrate each day!

  • About
  • Gallery
  • Services
    • Event Services
    • Speciality Dessert Menu
  • Blog
    • Inspiring BIPOC
      • Environmentalists || Sustainability || Planters/Gardeners
      • Writers || Poets || Speakers || Publications+Books || NonProfits
      • Lifestyle || Wellness || Travel
      • Interior Designers || Home Decor+Design
      • Artists || Photographers || Creators
      • Wedding/Event Professionals || Floral Designers 
      • Food || Nutritionists
      • Fashion
      • Beauty
      • Entertainment || Music || Movies+TV
    • Holidays
    • Weddings
      • Weddings
      • Wedding Planning Essentials
    • How To
      • Decor
      • Entertaining
      • How To
      • Flowers
        • Gardening
      • Special Occasions
        • Events
    • Travel
      • Portugal
      • Ireland
      • Mexico + the Caribbean
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Pies & Tarts
    • Ice Cream
    • Cakes & Cupcakes
    • Cookies & Other Sweet Treats
    • Drinks
    • Savory
  • Shop
  • Contact

My Favorite Fresh Tomato Sauce for Any Recipe

August 24, 2021 · Leave a Comment

My Favorite Fresh Tomato Sauce for Any Recipe | Dreamery

I couldn’t really choose a favorite vegetable, especially one that has been homegrown with love and hand churned soil — but if I must, it is quite an easy choice — the tomato. Lovely ripe, sweet and plump with juice, and all the varieties please! I love a Kumato Brown, Golden Jubilee yellow, the smaller cherry versions are just as delectable…I love them every way. Ohh but these tomatoes in a Peach or Watermelon Caprese Salad with pistachios and a sprinkling of fresh basil or mint…mamma mia! *chef’s kiss*

At their peak in the garden, when the few stems planted are kind and start giving us lots of delicious tomatoes, and they do so in plenty. Enough to make salads, freeze, give to neighbors and make my favorite sauces. With ultra ripe garden tomatoes, as many varieties of basil as possible and a low simmer, you have a light fresh earthy tomato sauce that I love incorporated in so many dished! It’s what I prefer to use when making pizza, lovely topped on a farfalle, beautiful with fresh burata and warm bread or great in quick dishes like a vegetable stir-fry or meat chili. 

It only requires a few ingredients, but the key is that these ingredients are high quality. If you grow your own produce this is the time to use those tomatoes, yes even those cherry bites, as well as fresh herbs to make a sauce that you can enjoy for dinner tonight and then save for cooler months. That’s the whole point of this delightful sauce. I love making a big batch mostly so that in colder nights, when I’m craving said homemade pizza or cozy vegetable stew, I have it on hand. And made with homegrown ingredients which makes it all even more delicious! This sauce is also deliciously perfect in ratatouille, a stuffed bread or my favorite, a pizza margherita napoletana,

My Favorite Fresh Tomato Sauce for Any Recipe | Dreamery My Favorite Fresh Tomato Sauce for Any Recipe | Dreamery I wouldn’t say this is a classic tomato sauce in the slightest bit, it’s not even a paste, but it’s just great tomato richness that can make any dish truly taste homemade. And like I said before, you really can use whatever tomato you like and also have on hand, for this sauce. I’m not one of those that will tell you that only red plum tomatoes will work; beefsteak, big boy, yellow, multi-colored cherries….what a gorgeous mix of summer gems!

My Favorite Fresh Tomato Sauce for Any Recipe | Dreamery My Favorite Fresh Tomato Sauce for Any Recipe | Dreamery The second most important ingredient in my sauce, is the basil! I love basil and I take my fresh basil use to a daily level. I take pride in my basil planters, who gift me with the pleasure of several large harvests throughout the season of which mostly I dry for later months.

In the summer I love using it in all kinds of salads, yes even fruits like peaches and watermelon that pair lovely with this fragrant herb! I love cooking with it dried, sautéing its seeds — using Sweet Basil, Thai and Spicy. I think it’s such a wonderful herb that is versatile in a non-overpowering way. 

My Favorite Fresh Tomato Sauce for Any Recipe | Dreamery

A mix of oregano from garden as well 😉 and a few other staple flavor fixings to make it just right…

My Favorite Fresh Tomato Sauce for Any Recipe | Dreamery

My Favorite Fresh Tomato Sauce for Any Recipe | Dreamery
My Favorite Fresh Tomato Sauce for Any Recipe | Dreamery

My Favorite Fresh Tomato Sauce for Any Recipe | Dreamery

You can certainly add onions, use less basil {although how dare!?} or use other herbs you like better instead. I’m sure once you make this version, you’ll have your own version of a quick to make summer tomato sauce. 

I love the quickness of this sauce recipe, but mostly because it’s made with ingredients I had the joy of growing which makes is why I think it taste so homey and fresh!



 

FRESH TOMATO BASIL SAUCE FOR ANYTHING 

MAKES ABOUT 2 CUPS 

 


INGREDIENTS

about 12 to 14 – Medium Tomatoes, coarsely chopped {Choose the Ripest — stick to one tomato variety or mix them!}

Large handful {about 1 1/2 cup thinly sliced} – Fresh Sweet Basil 

Optional : if you have fresh Thai or Spicy Basil on hand, feel free to throw a small handful of those leaves as well. They delish!

1 to 2 tablespoons – Dried Basil Leaves & Seeds

1 Large – Clove, peel & smashed

1 inch – Fresh Ginger, peeled & halved

about 1 1/2 tablespoon – Tomato Paste 

Coarse Sea Salt & Fresh Ground Black Pepper, to taste

Dried Bay Leaf

Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

Ground Cayenne Peppe, optional to taste

1/4 cup – Dry White Wine


RECIPE

Before chopping your tomatoes, reserve one of the smallest tomatoes, or two if you prefer a chunkier sauce, and chop into 1/2″ pieces. Set aside. 

Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, then add in the Garlic, Ginger and Bay Leaf — saute until they begin to become golden brown. 

If you have basil seeds add those to your saucepan, and sauté for 1 minute to release the herbal oils. Add in the chopped tomatoes, stirring on high for a minute, then reduce to medium heat and place the lid. Season with salt, pepper, cayenne, dried basil {crush between palms to release herbal oils}, and any other herbs or spices, if using. Cook for 5 minutes stirring occasionally, and reducing heat if sauce is boiling too much. 

Add in the white wine, deglazing the pan and the tomatoes, then add the tomatoes paste and 1/4 cup of the fresh basil. Stir together and cook on medium low for another 5 to 10 minutes or until tomatoes and juices have thickened. If sauce is too thick, add in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water as needed. 

Remove the bay leaf, then roughly puree the tomatoes with an emersion blender, about 20 to 25 pulses. Puree more if you prefer a smoother tomato sauce. Return to medium heat add in the reserved chopped tomatoes and all but 1/4 cup of the remaining basil. Adjusting seasoning as needed, and cook, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes. 

Once chopped tomatoes are cooked turn off heat, stir and top with remaining basil and seasonings as needed! 

Enjoy right away on spaghetti, pizza or a grilled cheese orrr even better freeze for a colder day 😉

Note ::

To Freeze, allow sauce to cool completely. Divide desired amount equally into air-tight freezer containers. Freeze up to 6 months

You Might Also Enjoy

  • Watermelon, Peach + Tomato Caprese Salad … the only meal you’ll want this Summer!Watermelon, Peach + Tomato Caprese Salad … the only meal you’ll want this Summer!
  • Sweet & Savory Summer Fruit SaladSweet & Savory Summer Fruit Salad
  • Heirloom Potato Salad with a Fresh Herb Mustard DressingHeirloom Potato Salad with a Fresh Herb Mustard Dressing

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Print
  • LinkedIn

Related

   

Filed In: Inspiration / Tagged: basil, classic recipes, dishes to save for winter, farm to table, food, freezer friendly recipes, fresh tomato basil sauce, home garden, homemade tomato sauce, inspiration, lifestyle, recipes, summer entertaining, summer recipes, summer tomato recipes, summer vegetables, tomato, tomato basil, tomato basil sauce, tomato recipes, tomato sauce

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

Dreamery Headshot_2020

A Lover of Nature & Kindness, constantly smitten by the simple pleasures of life. Travel fills my soul with bliss & inspiration. Flowers are my weakness, a slice of homemade pie makes my heart sing. I love the outdoors & live for al fresco dinner parties, cozy candlelit romantic affairs with warm fires & blankets to share.

I dream about these things, it’s true. Yes, it’s all the small details in life that drive me & everything I do because we all deserve to celebrate every special moment in our lives…

Loading

Archives

Categories

Join the List

Join our mailing list to receive updates from our blog.

minted Wedding Planner Program - Member since 2015

As Seen on The Knot

SaveSave

SaveSave

RSS feed

RSS Dreamery Events

  • Romancing the Start of Spring :: 3 Styling Inspirations for an Ever-Blooming New Season
  • Monthly Reflections…a slow moving January
  • An Enchanted Forest 1st Birthday with Delicate Modern Details
  • Traveling to … Palácio dos Condes de Anadia :: Mangualde, Portugal
  • A Bridal Shower Inspired by a Boho Greek Desert Garden

Browse

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

Join the List

Join our mailing list to receive updates and more from our website.

Instagram

I love Lisboa in June🌿especially those early da I love Lisboa in June🌿especially those early days w. remnants of the previous month still lingering…
the fragrant & gorgeous Jacaranda trees lighting up cobblestone alleys lined w. pastel colored buildings, becoming more vibrant as Summer’s heat begins to near….
Walking along the Rio Tejo feeling so close to the sea but not quite there & the streets not yet crowded w. vacationers basking in the city’s delight … walking around Lisboa is certainly a creative treat!! I’d love to be able to squeeze in a little summer travel; change of scenery is always such an inspiration, especially when life seems a bit crazy these days. 

Any fun summer travels planned? Hope everyone enjoys the first weekend of summer🌼
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the w “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air “ — Ralph Waldo Emerson … hello summer🌻
Two posts one day, who am I…but really this Mond Two posts one day, who am I…but really this Monday deserves an extra dose of colorful floral love🌼
how fleeting you have been sweet, darling June… how fleeting you have been
sweet, darling June…

it seems we’re all being kept too busy these days, I don’t want the simple treasures of this month to go by so quickly but it’s like I haven’t slowed down enough to catch my breath between events & to do’s — not since my birthday, these flowers & a cake I enjoyed making too much to photograph. They weren’t for my birthday, but for someone else’s, but it really was the joy of creating this arrangement however way the color yellow called to me, foraging for delicate peonies, garden roses & stems that would make these uniquely special🌿

Not the most picturesque photo of these beautiful florals (you can swipe for those), but I’m quite enamored w. this shot … perhaps it’s that gentle reminder to slow down & take note of the in-between…

About Us

A Lover of Nature & Kindness, constantly smitten by the simple pleasures of life. Flowers are my weakness, a slice of homemade pie makes my heart sing. I love the outdoors & live for al fresco dinner parties, cozy candlelit romantic affairs with warm fires & blankets to share.

I dream about these things, it’s true. Yes, it's all the small details in life that drive me & evertyhing I do.....

Theme by 17th Avenue · Powered by WordPress & Genesis

Posting....
 

Loading Comments...