Garden Sauce is so simple to prepare, it hardly counts as a recipe. You can make a little or a lot; the ingredients below may be easily doubled or tripled. Not only is Garden Sauce easy to prepare, it is versatile as well! Here are just a few serving suggestions:
- Stir a small can of tomato paste into a quart of Garden Sauce and serve with pasta or over meatballs;
- Whisk a can of evaporated milk into a quart of Garden Sauce for a creamy, tomato-based soup;
- Combine one can of coconut milk and one tablespoon of all natural peanut butter with one quart of Garden Sauce for a hearty soup full of West African flavors;
- Substitute 1 cup of Garden Sauce for 1/2 cup of water when cooking rice;
- Blend a small can of tomato paste, 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, and 1 tablespoon of crushed, dried oregano into 2 cups of Garden Sauce to make a fabulous pizza sauce!
Ingredients (Makes approximately 2 quarts)
15 large, ripe Roma tomatoes, quartered
1 large, green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 large, red onion, peeled and chopped
1 small zucchini, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 bulb of garlic, peeled into individual cloves
Bottled lemon juice (only if canning)
Directions
Step 1) Combine all ingredients except garlic in a large stockpot. Simmer, covered, over low-medium heat, stirring occasionally, for two to three hours or until all ingredients are very soft.
Step 2) Add garlic and continue to simmer, uncovered, for an additional 30 minutes.
Step 3) Remove from heat and puree using an immersion blender.
Step 4) If freezing: Allow Garden Sauce to cool. Ladle Garden Sauce into freezer containers and freeze for up to six months.
Step 5) If canning: Ladle hot Garden Sauce into sterilized canning jars, adding 2 tablespoons of bottled lemon juice to each 1 quart jar (or 1 tablespoon of bottled lemon juice to each 1 pint jar). Leave 1/2 inch head space in each jar. Process in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes if using pint jars, 30 minutes if using quart jars.
Crowded Earth Kitchen 