Green Willow Crafts and Cooking

Imagine a yummy sauce bubbling on the stove, filling your kitchen with the most amazing smells. That’s what we’re making today!

This classic tomato sauce recipe is perfect for busy families because you can make a tasty batch for tonight, with maybe a little extra for tomorrow’s lunch. It’s like cooking up a little bit of sunshine in a pot!
Making sauce from scratch is a wonderful way to cook together. Kids can help with stirring, seasoning, and especially tasting! Let’s get our aprons on and create some kitchen magic!

What You’ll Need for Your Perfect Batch of Tomato Sauce:

(This recipe makes enough for a couple of great family dinner, maybe with a little leftover!)
1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
1 large or 2 small onions, finely diced (That’s about 2 cups chopped!)
1 to 1 ½ tablespoons garlic, minced (About 3-4 cloves, or use pre-minced for speed!)
2 796ml (28oz) cans of pureed tomatoes, plus a filled can of water for each can of tomatoes. (Any type of tomatoes will do, it depends on how chunky you want your sauce!)
1 tablespoon salt
¾ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon sugar (This just helps balance the tomato’s tanginess!)

Let’s Cook Up Our Sauce!

1. Sauté the Onions (Grown-Up Helps!):
Grab a good-sized pot! Have a grown-up add the olive oil to the pot and set it over medium heat. Carefully add the finely diced onions. Cook them gently, stirring often, until they become soft and see-through. This usually takes about 8-10 minutes. They’ll smell amazing!

2. Add the Garlic & Turn Up the Smell-O-Vision!
Once the onions are soft, add the minced garlic to the pot. Stir it in and cook for just a minute or two more, until the onions just start to turn golden brown. The smell will be incredible – that’s your kitchen getting ready for deliciousness!

3. Time for Tomatoes!
Carefully pour all your cans of pureed tomatoes and water into the pot. If your tomatoes aren’t already super smooth, this is a great time for a grown-up to use an immersion blender right in the pot to make them perfectly pureed. (Always be careful with blenders!)

4. The Long, Slow Simmer (Patience is a Virtue!):
Now, bring your sauce to a gentle simmer (that means little bubbles are popping up slowly). Once it’s simmering, turn the heat down low, cover the pot, and let it cook for about 2 hours. This long, slow simmer is what makes homemade sauce so rich and flavorful! Remember to give it a stir every now and then so nothing sticks to the bottom.

5. Season to Perfection (Taste Test Time!):
After 2 hours, it’s time to make your sauce taste just right! Add the salt, pepper, and sugar. Stir everything in well. Now, for the best part: have a grown-up scoop out a tiny bit of sauce into a spoon and let it cool. Then, take a little taste! Does it need a tiny bit more salt? Or maybe a pinch more sugar? Adjust it until it tastes just perfect to your family.

Enjoy Your Homemade Sauce!
Your amazing homemade tomato sauce is ready! You can serve it right away over pasta, use it for pizzas, or as a base for chili.
Chef’s Tip: While this batch is smaller, any leftovers can still be stored in the fridge for a few days or even frozen for another quick meal for up to 3 months.