Like many good things, tomato season is fleeting. Because tomatoes have been hybridized to have thick skins so that they ship well, it is difficult to find tomatoes with that old-fashioned good flavor in winter at the grocery store. If possible, take advantage of the end of season tomatoes at the farmers’ markets and make up big batches of tomato sauce. Below is a great recipe for making a low carb freezer tomato sauce out of fresh tomatoes (accompanied by a video).
Turning Low Carb Meals into “Comfort Food”
Often people think that diet food, or low carb food, is comprised of salad, vegetables and lean meat. Actually low carb meals can be full of flavor and can be very satiating. Sauces and spices play a huge roll in making low carb dishes feel like “comfort food”
Fresh, robust tomato sauce is certainly one of those sauces that can make a low carb dinner a welcome meal for the whole family, no matter what kind of food preferences or diet they may have. Particularly in the depths of winter.
One low carb meal that is particularly easy and always popular with a wide range of people is this low carb Spaghetti and Meatball recipe. Try it!
Cooking Tutorial Showing Step-by-Step Recipe
Low Carb Freezer Tomato Sauce from Fresh Tomatoes
Equipment
- food mill
- large pot
Ingredients
- 7 lbs fresh tomatoes
- 1 large onion
- 2-4 cloves garlic
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 bunch fresh basil
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 tsp spicy chile pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp sumac
Instructions
- Coarsely chop tomatoes, onion and garlic
- Add olive oil to dutch oven or large pot and heat up over medium heat. Add onions and saute about 5 minutes or until caramelized. Add garlic for last 30 seconds
- Add tomatoes, herbs and spices and bring to a simmer over medium high heat. Lower heat and simmer for about 1 hour
- Cool slightly and add a cup of the sauce to the food mill situated over a bowl. Turn the food mill to grind the tomato peels, seeds and pulp, releasing the sauce to the bowl below the food mill.
- Pour the bowl of tomato sauce into ziplock freezer bags (carefully), label with date and place in the freezer
