Homemade Cherry Tomato Sauce

Loving our Patio Garden

When Amy and I lived in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area, we rented a house while we searched for our dream home. Since we were renting, we didn't want to damage the yard by digging a garden. However, we missed having a garden, so we decided to create a patio garden. It was exciting to plant the seeds and watch the plants grow. Initially, I doubted that growing plants in pots would be productive or enjoyable, but I was pleasantly surprised. So our adventures in gardening started, and our patio garden was fantastic! When we moved back to NE Ohio, we continued planting in our patio garden. Every year, we harvest an abundance of cherry tomatoes. We love eating them directly from the plant and using them in sandwiches, but with so many, we decided to make homemade cherry tomato sauce.

Homemade Cherry Tomato Sauce

Cherry tomatoes are like sweet treats that won't add to your calorie count! We grew three different types of cherry tomatoes, each with a slightly different flavor, but all equally delicious. We've had a great time experimenting with these tomatoes. Sometimes, we pick a few straight from the plants while we sip on cocktails on the patio. Cherry tomatoes pair perfectly with a nice rosé wine.

The tomatoes are also amazing in a salad with Asparagus, Bacon Lettuce, Tomato Sandwich, Angel Hair Pasta, Seared scallops with pasta, and Sausage with Angel Hair Pasta.  We also used this Homemade Cherry Tomato Sauce on a Grilled Pizza and Cheese Ravioli.

Easy Homemade Cherry Tomato Sauce

You don't need a patio garden or home garden to make this homemade cherry tomato sauce.  Just purchase fresh cherry tomatoes and get some fresh oregano or Basil.  This is one of the best sauces and is super easy to make.  Dinner can be ready in less than ten minutes (after the water for the pasta starts boiling!). Or this can be frozen to have during the winter.

How to make this easy sauce

If you're looking for a simple and tasty tomato sauce recipe, here are the detailed steps to follow:

1. Start by washing the tomatoes thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt or impurities.
2. Take three cloves of garlic and slice them into thin pieces using a sharp knife. This will help to release the flavor of the garlic when you cook it.
3. Chop some fresh oregano or basil into small pieces. This will add a fragrant and savory taste to the sauce.
4. Heat some olive oil in a pan over medium heat until it's hot but not smoking. You can use extra-virgin olive oil for a more robust flavor.
5. Once the oil is hot, add the sliced garlic and stir it for 15 to 30 seconds until it turns light brown. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can turn bitter.
6. Add the cherry tomatoes and a pinch of salt to the pan. You can use any variety of cherry tomatoes, like red, yellow, or orange. The salt will enhance the natural sweetness of the tomatoes and balance the flavors.
7. Cook the tomatoes for about five minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to get soft and release their juices. You can cover the pan with a lid to speed up the cooking process.
8. Add the chopped oregano or basil to the pan and stir it for another minute. This will help to infuse the flavors of the herbs into the sauce.
9.  You can either freeze the sauce immediately in an airtight container for future use or add it to some cooked pasta, ravioli, or tortellini. You can also add some grated parmesan cheese or red pepper flakes for extra flavor.
10. Finally, savor your delicious homemade tomato sauce with your favorite dish and enjoy the burst of flavors in every bite!!

We have some additional recipe suggestions that we think you might be interested in trying.

• Fresh Tomatoes Pasta - Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes, Basil, and Spicy Italian Sausage is a delicious dish that can be enjoyed even on a diet!!! 
• Summer Breakfast Bagel - This is a fun bagel using Cherry tomatoes.
• Summer Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes - Garden to Table Summer Pasta is a great way to use all of those fresh tomatoes. This dish is so easy and light it's the perfect way to end a summer day.