Bottled Pizza/Pasta Sauce

This is an excellent way to use up all of those tomatoes from the garden.  I particularly love this recipe because it has a lot of other veggies included, and still has a great taste.  We use ours primarily for pizza sauce, but it is also a great substitute for any marinara or spaghetti sauce for recipes.

If you don't have a pressure canner, this also freezes very well.

Bottled Pizza/Pasta Sauce

Menu Managed Original

20-25 slicing tomatoes

1 zucchini

1 1/2 onions

1 bell pepper (preferably red, orange or yellow)

4 carrots
1-2 stalks celery

2-3 jalapeno's, seeds and ribs included

2 Tbsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. kosher salt

1 Tbsp. pepper

2 Tbsp. parsley flakes

4 Tbsp. minced garlic cloves

2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1 tsp. celery seed

2 Tbsp. Italian seasoning

2 c. fresh basil leaves (or 2 Tbsp. dried)
1 large handful cilantro, chopped

2 cans tomato paste (optional)

balsamic vinegar

Blanch and peel tomatoes.

Chop tomatoes and drop into a large colander.

Let sit for 1 hour, stirring occasionally, to remove juice.

Meanwhile, chop remaining vegetables into large chunks.

Put tomatoes and veggies in a large pot and turn to medium-high heat.

Add seasonings and cider vinegar.

Bring to a boil and boil, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.

With an immersion blender, blend everything until desired consistency - we like ours smooth (if you want a chunky sauce, you can use a potato masher).

Let simmer, uncovered, until sauce reduces to your desired thickness - at least 2 hours.

The longer you let it simmer, the thicker it will become.

Add tomato paste (optional), for an even thicker sauce.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Add balsamic vinegar to hot pint or quart sized mason jars (1/2 tsp. for each pint, 1 tsp. for each quart).

Ladle hot sauce into hot jars, leaving 1" headspace.
Remove air bubbles with a rubber spatula or knife.

Wipe rims clean and put on lids and screw bands, fingertip tight.

Process in pressure canner at 13 lbs. (Utah elevation); 15 minutes for pint jars, 20 for quarts.

Allow canner to release pressure naturally.

Remove from canner and place on towel to cool, tightening lids with hot pads.

Yields: ~14 cups (7 pints, or 3 1/2 quarts)
One pint jar makes enough sauce for 2 pizza's.

**If freezing:

Once sauce has reached your desired thickness, simply let it cool, place in freezer containers or bags, and freeze.