10 Dishes to Make with Your Canned Tomato Sauce
So you’ve spent all summer growing and harvesting tomatoes, and now it’s time to can them up in a whole bunch of mason jars. You can make diced tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, or puree it all into tomato sauce. This is my preferred way to go, and I tend to puree nearly all of my tomato harvest for canning.
But what on Earth will I do with all that sauce? So many people think that canning tomatoes starts and ends with “pasta sauce”, but tomato puree is a versatile ingredient that is used in a wide range of dishes. It’s why I never turn my tomato sauce into “pasta sauce” when I start canning. I leave it as plain tomato puree, so I can decide what recipe it ought to become when the time comes.
Here’s a quick list of 10 things you can make with some good canned tomato puree:
Pasta Sauce: This is an obvious one. Use tomato puree as a base for a classic marinara sauce, arrabbiata sauce, or Bolognese sauce.
Pizza Sauce: The close cousin of pasta sauce, the only difference is the herbs and other ingredients that tend to get used.
BBQ Sauce: Many people use ketchup as the base for their BBQ sauce, but I like to go a step further and start with a rich tomato puree. That way I can control exactly what sugar and vinegar-to-tomato ratio goes into my sauce.
Tomato Soup: Create a comforting and delicious tomato soup by combining tomato puree with vegetable broth, herbs, and cream.
Chili: Add tomato puree to your chili recipe for a tangy and flavorful base.
Tomato Curry: Use tomato puree as the base for a variety of tomato-based curries like butter chicken or tikka masala.
Ratatouille: Use tomato puree as a part of the rich sauce for this classic French vegetable dish.
Stuffed Bell Peppers: Prepare stuffed bell peppers with a filling made from cooked rice, ground meat, and tomato puree.
Tomato Risotto: Use tomato puree in a creamy risotto for added flavor.
Tomato Jam: Cook tomato puree with sugar and spices to make a sweet and tangy jam perfect for spreading on toast or crackers.
