How to Make Tomato Sauce in a Slow Cooker

Following our trip to Jamaica, we have come back to a bountiful harvest of, among other things, tomatoes. So we’ve been having them at almost every meal and still, there are lots on the vine. The glorious British weather this year has been almost unbelievable. I am hoping we will get to reap them all before the cold sets in.

One of the wonderful ways for your tomatoes to last you a long time, so that you don’t waste them and have to spend money buying more later in the year, is to make a flavoursome tomato sauce that can be used in so many recipes.

Today, I made my own in the slow cooker. It took two hours and was really easy. I am sharing the recipe I used for this below.

 

If you ever see tomatoes selling really cheaply as there is a glut on the market, buy them up, even if they are soft or overripe, and make some tomato sauce with them. Leisa found some in Robinsons on the High Street for only 20p so I’ve put them to good use with some of ours.

 

Here’s how I made the tomato sauce

The ingredients I used were:

Tomatoes, roughly chopped

Dried thyme

Garlic oil

Cayenne pepper

Salt

Halfway through the process, I tasted it and it was a bit tangy and needed some adjusting so I added a bit of sugar.

 

The equipment I used included:

A chopping board

A knife

Slow cooker

Reusable Tupperware bottles

Blender

 

 

• Wash the tomatoes and chop them roughly
• Place enough oil in the bottom of the slow cooker to cover the base
• Add the tomatoes, cayenne pepper, dried thyme
• Turn slow cooker to high and place the lid on
• After about one hour, stir and check for flavor
• if the taste is too tangy, add some sugar
• If desired, flavour with dried mixed herbs (or fresh herbs if you have it.
• I did also add one chopped onion and about 3 Tbsp of water ( I think additions watered down some of the rich red colour of the ripe tomatoes though.
• Cook for another hour
• I then blended the whole mixture rather than sieving it as I have seen on most recipes. I think this makes it not only thicker, but keeps in all the fibre which is much healthier for us.
• Divide the mixture into clean plastic containers
• Cool and then freeze or refrigerate until ready for use.

Your digestive system and skin will thank you for the additional fibre. Tomatoes are also rich in micronutrients such as vitamin A, C and the minerals potassium and phosphorous.

 

Do you think this recipe is easy enough? Would you be put off by the slightly orange (rather than red colour) even though it is healthier? Do let us know what you think in the comment section below.