If you love creating tomato-based dishes whether it be lasagna, stew, soups, and sauces, I’m sure that you can’t deny the goodness that comes with homemade tomato sauces.
Now you can easily buy tomato sauces at your local supermarket, but if you are a vegetarian or a vegan, you might be better off making your own tomato sauce or tomato paste from scratch.
Why? Although a lot of tomato paste and tomato sauces in the market are made with natural ingredients, some commercial tomato pastes and tomato sauces contain non-vegan ingredients such as cheese, meat, and sweeteners.
So if you would like to create a completely vegan tomato sauce that you can use to make all sorts of dishes at home, I suggest you try to continue reading this short guide on how to make the best tomato sauce for vegetarians that I have prepared below.
Come on! Let’s get started!
Materials and Ingredients You Will Need
To make yourself around 4 cups of the best tomato sauce for vegans, try to prepare these following materials and ingredients that I have listed below.
- Roma Tomatoes
You will need about 12 pieces of Roma tomatoes to make a fine tomato sauce. When picking tomatoes, make sure that the tomatoes you get aren’t bruised. You should also see to it that each tomato you get is completely free of any dark spots or signs of spoilage.
- Olive Oil
To mix all the flavors of the ingredients for your vegetarian tomato sauce, you will need a tablespoon of olive oil. You can use any brand of olive oil and any type may it be the extra virgin or not.
- Garlic
For added aroma and flavor, you will need about 3 cloves of garlic. As you prepare your garlic cloves, make sure that each of them is peeled and minced. I suggest you use a knife to chop them up into really tiny bits and pieces so that you wouldn’t notice them or bite into them when using your tomato sauce for your dishes.
- Dried Herbs
Another thing you will need for extra aroma is dried herbs, specifically oregano and basil. You will need about a teaspoon each of these dried herbs for best results.
Note that you can also use fresh herbs, but you would have to add them to the sauce at the end of the cooking process so that they wouldn’t get all mushed up.
- Red Pepper
You will need an eighth of a teaspoon of red pepper to add some extra spice to your tomato paste. If you prefer a spicier mix, try to add more depending on your taste.
- Black Pepper
Another spice you will need to make the best tomato sauce for vegetarians is black pepper. You won’t need much, only an eighth of a teaspoon will do.
- Salt
The last form of seasoning you will need is salt. Again, you won’t need much salt, only add salt to taste.
- Sifter
You will need a nice large sifter to make a great juicy tomato paste.
The Step-by-Step Guide
Once you have prepared all your ingredients, all you will need to do is follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Prepare Tomatoes
The first thing you will need to do is prepare the tomatoes. Start by cleaning up your tomatoes by rinsing them under water.
After cleaning your tomatoes, the next thing you should do is cut them up into quarters and remove the seeds using a knife or a spoon. Do not throw away the seeds. Simply place the seeds with the pulp in your sifter.
Once your tomatoes have been seeded, chop them up into small cubes.
Step 2: Sift Tomato Seeds
After dicing your tomatoes the next thing you need to do is sift the pulp. Simply push the pulp you removed from your tomatoes through the sifter and into a glass. Make sure that you get all the juices from the pulp so that nothing goes to waste.
Step 3: Simmer Tomatoes
Using a saucepan, start simmering your tomatoes by adding in the olive oil first. Once the pan is all heated up, continue to add the garlic and stir it for a minute.
After adding the garlic, place all your chopped tomatoes in the saucepan and adjust the heat to medium-high. Once your tomatoes are in the saucepan, add the tomato juice you have sifted and mix it thoroughly.
Step 4: Add Herbs and Spices
After mixing in the juice, continue by adding the black pepper, red pepper, oregano, and basil. Continue to simmer until the mixture comes to a boil. Once the sauce has come to a boil, turn down the heat and continue to simmer for another 20 minutes.
Take note to constantly stir your sauce so that no tomatoes would get stuck to your pan. Once the 20 minutes are up, add the salt and you’re good to go.
A Quick Recap
Making your own vegetarian tomato paste is a breeze. All you will need is a bunch of fresh tomatoes, some herbs and spices, a saucepan, and a sifter. Remember, the key to making a vegetarian tomato sauce is simply avoiding non-vegan ingredients.
If you have any questions about the article above, please leave your comment in the box below. I’ll try to get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you and happy cooking!
*Collaborative Post*
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