Are you ready to elevate your culinary game with a homemade sauce that bursts with flavor? Dive into the world of Italian cuisine with our Roasted Crockpot Tomato Sauce, a dish that transforms simple ingredients into a rich, aromatic masterpiece. Imagine the comforting aroma wafting through your kitchen as ripe tomatoes, garlic, and herbs meld together over low heat for hours. This hands-off recipe not only saves you time but also delivers a depth of flavor that store-bought sauces simply can't match. With just 10 minutes of prep, you can set it and forget it—your taste buds will thank you!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 6 hrs
Total Time: 6 hrs 10 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4 cups
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ripe tomatoes, chopped
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Instructions
- Wash and prepare all fresh ingredients: chop tomatoes into roughly 1-inch pieces, dice the onion finely, and mince the garlic cloves.
- Drizzle olive oil into the bottom of the crockpot, ensuring an even coating to prevent sticking.
- Add chopped tomatoes, diced onions, and minced garlic into the crockpot, spreading them evenly across the surface.
- Sprinkle dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and sugar over the tomato mixture, ensuring even distribution of seasonings.
- Gently stir all ingredients to combine and coat evenly with oil and seasonings.
- Cover the crockpot and set to low heat setting for 6 hours, allowing ingredients to slowly roast and develop rich, deep flavors.
- After 6 hours, use an immersion blender to puree the sauce to desired consistency, or carefully transfer to a standard blender for smoother texture.
- Taste and adjust seasonings if needed, adding more salt, pepper, or sugar to balance flavors.
- Let sauce cool slightly before storing in airtight containers in refrigerator or preparing for immediate use.
Tips
- Choose the Right Tomatoes: For the best flavor, use ripe, in-season tomatoes. Heirloom varieties are particularly delicious for this sauce.
- Prep Ahead: Chop your ingredients the night before and store them in the fridge. This way, you can throw everything into the crockpot in no time.
- Layer Flavors: Don’t skip the sugar! It helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes and enhances the overall taste of the sauce.
- Adjust Consistency: If you prefer a chunkier sauce, blend only half of the mixture. For a smoother texture, blend it all!
- Season to Taste: After blending, always taste your sauce. You might want to add a pinch more salt or a dash of red pepper flakes for a kick.
- Store Smart: This sauce keeps well in the refrigerator for up to a week and can be frozen for up to three months, making it perfect for meal prep!
- Experiment with Add-ins: Feel free to add other ingredients like bell peppers, carrots, or fresh basil to customize your sauce to your liking.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 80kcal
Carbohydrates: 10g
Protein: 2g
Fat: g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 0mg
