I would consider tomato sauce a pantry staple. I keep a jar on hand for quick fixes, but when I have a little more time and want to make something with more flavor and depth I prefer to make a roasted sauce.

When you roast the tomatoes it caramelizes the natural sugars and creates a rich, slightly smoky, and subtly sweet depth that a raw sauce wont have. As the tomatoes blister and char, they develop a complex, savory taste and mellow out any acidity- which can make the sauce feel fuller and more rounded. This paired with the roasted onions and aromatics make a flavorful sauce for pasta or pizza.

Give this sauce a try for your next spaghetti night if you have the extra time. This is one of those recipes that doesn’t have exact measurements. I use a 9 x 13 baking dish as my measuring unit and just fill it with veggies!

Roasted Tomato Sauce
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Roasted Tomato Sauce

Course: SaucesDifficulty: Easy
Prep time

20

minutes
Cooking time

1

hour 

30

minutes
Total time

1

hour 

50

minutes

Take your tomato sauce to the next level by roasting it! This process creates a richer, more complex sauce that’s full of bold flavor and a subtle smoky depth. Whether you’re making pasta, pizza, or a savory stew, this fresh toasted tomato sauce will unlock deeper flavors.

Ingredients

  • Variety of fresh tomatoes

  • Red Onion

  • White Onion

  • Green Bell Pepper

  • Garlic

  • Fresh Herbs – I used basil, parsley,

  • Olive Oil

  • Salt

  • Pepper

  • *Feel free to add in any other vegetables ,herbs or seasonings you want to make it perfect for you

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 425° F
  • Prepare the veggies
    -Rinse and chop the vegetables and herbs, then transfer them to a baking dish.
    -Drizzle with olive oil and add your seasonings.
  • Roast the veggies
    -Place uncovered baking dish in the oven for 30 minutes. The onions and tomatoes should be charred and blistered when they come out.
  • Blend the sauce
    -Allow the vegetables to cool slightly before adding them and all their juices to a blender. You could also use an immersion blender for this step. Stop blending when the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
  • Simmer the sauce
    -Add the blended sauce to a pot and simmer on low for 30-60 minutes to allow the flavor to finish building.
    -At this point you can taste and adjust if needed.
    – I like to add in a squeeze of lemon to brighten up some of the acidity from the tomatoes.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • In this video I used the sauce over spaghetti noodles and added in spicy ground Italian sausage and meatballs.