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Home » Main Courses » Roasted Tomato Sauce: Big Flavor, Little Work

Roasted Tomato Sauce: Big Flavor, Little Work

by Beth Lee · Published: Jul 19, 2018 · Modified: Aug 5, 2020

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Pinterest image showing the steps to make roasted tomato sauce from roasting to the blender

Roasted Tomato Sauce will wow your taste buds without leaving you standing in the kitchen for long. Whether you use the best seasonal heirlooms or off-season tomatoes, this recipe creates deep and delicious flavors. Love tomatoes? Try this blistered tomato and arugula salad as well!

Super Easy Oven Roasted Tomato Sauce

shot of roasted tomato sauce in white bowl with basil sprigs on top

Roasted tomato sauce yields big flavor without much work. Always a winning combination in my kitchen. Even though it requires turning on the oven, it's worth it even on a hot summer day. I promise.

How to Roast Tomatoes for Sauce

Summer is tomato time - the red beauties are at their cheapest and most flavorful. As are fresh herbs like basil.

  1. Buy a few pounds of tomatoes and a bunch of fresh basil.
  2. Throw it all in a big roasting pan with some other aromatics like garlic and onion and oregano along with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
  3. Roast the heck out of it.
  4. Let it cool and blend it.

It's really that simple. But it tastes like you worked on it for hours!

uncooked tomatoes in pan ready to be roasted

What to Serve with this Super Flavorful Recipe

The first time I made this, I created a delicious meatless meal by serving this sauce over pasta with some tasty roasted vegetables and my vegetarian cousin was so very happy. She doesn’t even like to cook but she took a copy of the recipe home with her to Florida and really did prepare the sauce all by herself. Here are some other ideas:

  • Try my lemon garlic chicken but finish it with this sauce instead!
  • Baked eggplant?
  • Gluten free chicken parmesan?
  • Something unexpected - polenta fries!
  • Are you a pizza maker? This sauce would be delicious!

roasted tomato sauce in oval bowl with basil adornment

Is this Tomato Sauce Tasty in the Winter too?

As with any cooking, it’s all about the ingredients. If your tomatoes are not the tastiest ones in the market, make up for it with the balsamic and olive oil or the herbs that you use. This sauce may taste a little different each time you prepare it. That’s part of the fun. But to be honest, you can’t really go wrong with this technique. And it will please kids and adults.

white filled with fresh tomatoes of all sizes and colors

 

Other Variations of Roasted Tomato Sauce

  1. If you don’t have shallots, use some white, yellow, or red onion - just use a little less because shallots are milder.
  2. No fresh herbs around? Use dried in whatever assortment you’d like.
  3. Do you have roasted red peppers around? - put some of them in when you put it all in the blender. Or roast some with the tomatoes in the same pan.
  4. Like it a little spicy? Add some crushed red pepper flakes in the roasting stage or blending stage.
  5. Want to make it a meat sauce? - sauté your favorite spaghetti sauce meat and add the blended sauce to it before you put it over pasta.

3step photo collage showing roasted tomatoes in blender

shot of roasted tomato sauce in white bowl with basil sprigs on top

Roasted Tomato Sauce

Roasted Tomato Sauce is a great way to use sumptuous summer tomatoes from the farmers' market or your own garden's bumper crop. But it's also a great way to make out-of-season tomatoes taste great!
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 55 mins
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8 servings
Calories 293 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 - 4 pounds ripe tomatoes cored
  • ¾ cup shallots roughly chopped (equivalent to about 3 small shallots)
  • 1 ½ cups fresh basil leaves divided, reserve ½ cup
  • ¼ cup fresh oregano leaves or use 2 - 3 teaspoons dried
  • 6 large garlic cloves peeled
  • ¾ cup olive oil extra virgin but no need for your best EVOO
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon Coarsely ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. 
  • Core the tomatoes, coarsely chop the shallots, peel the garlic cloves (leave whole), and tear 1 cup of the basil and all the oregano from their stems. 
  • Combine all ingredients in a roasting pan and saturate with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, top with salt and pepper, optional red pepper flakes, and mix well.
  • Roast the tomatoes and herbs for 35 - 45 minutes, or until the tomatoes begin to singe. Remove from oven and let cool.
  • Once cool, pour the contents of the roasting pan and the remaining ½ cup basil into a blender and blend on high for about a minute or until smooth.
  • To serve, pour over pasta or roasted vegetables and enjoy! (or just eat it by the spoonful)

Video

Notes

Notes: No fresh basil or fresh oregano? No problem. Use dried - just remember that dried herbs are more intensely flavored (if they are not old) so use about 2 tablespoons of dried basil and a tablespoon of dried oregano. No shallots? No problem - try some onion - any color will do.

Nutrition

Calories: 293kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 2gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 401mgPotassium: 514mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1925IUVitamin C: 27.9mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 1.7mg
Keyword roasted tomato sauce
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Christine Lemieux

    September 12, 2022 at 10:19 am

    Last year I used the full amount of balsamic. I have a very robust balsamic, so this time I used 1 tbsp. and it is delicious. Some will go on pasta with roasted veg, as you suggested and as I have a lot of tomatoes to process and lots of basil and oregano, so I will be making more for the freezer. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Beth Lee

      September 12, 2022 at 3:09 pm

      Yay! What a treat it will be to find in your freezer in the winter! Good adjustment on the balsamic if yours is robust. I need to make a note of that!

      Reply
  2. Christine Lemieux

    July 11, 2020 at 8:11 am

    It won't be until August or September for my tomatoes to be plentiful. I am adding this to my list of must make tomato recipes!

    Reply
    • Beth Lee

      July 11, 2020 at 10:00 am

      Yes! We love this so much! I promise you’ll be licking the bottom of the bowl!

      Reply
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Beth
Hi! I’m Beth Lee. In 2010, I realized I prefer pita chips to memory chips and started this blog. My family is a mix of Jewish/Hawaiian/Korean heritage and my food reflects our diversity. My virtual kitchen is always open. Let’s cook together!  See all my recipes...

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