My Version of Alton Brown’s Tomato Sauce Recipe (2024)

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My Version of Alton Brown’s Tomato Sauce Recipe (1)

Last Updated on January 12, 2023 by Anne-Marie

An easier and tastier version of Alton Brown's tomato sauce recipe. Double this homemade tomato sauce recipe and freeze half.

My Version of Alton Brown’s Tomato Sauce Recipe (2)

Why this recipe works

When I came up with my version of Alton Brown’s Tomato Sauce recipe, it was because I was overwhelmed by all the tomatoes that were growing in our garden.

I knew there was no way I could use all those tomatoes in a salad.

This recipe is also for anyone who is a fan of Alton Brown’s spaghetti sauce from his TV show.

So if you’re looking for an easy tomato sauce recipe made from tomatoes in your garden.

Or that you couldn’t resist buying at your farmer's market or supermarket, this is the easy homemade pasta sauce recipe for you!

I hope you enjoy my version of Alton Brown’s homemade tomato sauce recipe.

Why use this recipe for Alton Brown’s Tomato Sauce?

When you have an abundance of tomatoes, making homemade tomato sauce recipes is the most logical idea.

Yet until I saw Alton Brown's Good Eats Tomato Sauce episode, I never came across a tomato sauce recipe I liked, especially one that was this easy and tasty.

Usually, tomato sauce recipes have you slow roasting or baking the tomatoes for a full day. And you have to use a huge amount of tomatoes just to get a pot of sauce.

My feeling is that other recipes have you cook the tomatoes too long, which is why you have to use so many of them. Instead, Alton has you bake the tomatoes for only 2 hours.

How many tomatoes should you use in this recipe for tomato sauce?

I've had several readers ask me what does 20 tomatoes mean? Well, Alton Brown used Roma tomatoes on his episode.

I looked up Roma tomato conversions. Each Roma tomato is about 3 ounces or 1/3 a cup. So for 20 Roma tomatoes, it would be 6 cups or 3 3/4 pounds.

I don't think you'd mess up too much if you used 4 pounds or even 4 1/2 pounds of tomatoes.

You can always taste the tomato sauce and add a little more of this or that to taste.

Here's another terrific tomato conversions table to use when cooking tomato sauce or other tomato based recipes.

How to puree the tomatoes for tomato sauce

To puree the tomatoes and to get rid of the skins, Alton Brown uses a food mill in his tomato sauce recipe.

Since I don’t own a food mill and don’t mind the skins staying in the tomato sauce, I blended the tomatoes in my food processor.

However, if you want super silky homemade sauce, use one of the best food mills, the highly recommended OXO food mill.

My Version of Alton Brown’s Tomato Sauce Recipe (3)

Tips for making my version of Alton Brown's tomato sauce

Here are more tips for making the best tomato sauce from my version of Alton’s Brown’s terrific recipe.

Can I freeze the tomato sauce?

I’ve made my version Alton Brown's recipe for easy spaghetti sauce ideal for doubling.

I use half right away and then freeze the rest of the pasta sauce for later to use in Slow Cooker Baked Ziti,Best Instant Pot Meatballs Recipe, or 7 Can Taco Soup.

I freeze my spaghetti sauce in Glad Freezerware storage containers. Make sure to label and date your homemade tomato sauce.

You can also put your sauce in freezer Ziploc bags. (Make sure to zip them up tight!) Then stack them in the freezer for easy storage.

What kind of tomatoes should I use?

Alton uses Roma tomatoes, but you can use any tomatoes you wish from your garden in this recipe.

After all, the point is to use up the tomatoes you have on hand, right?

Can I make this a spicier tomato sauce?

If you wish, add some hot sauce to your tomato sauce while cooking.

My husband and son love adding hot sauce when they make spaghetti sauce from scratch.

I don’t. I’m just not into zesty pasta sauce. So I have them add it to their individual bowls after they serve themselves.

But if your whole family loves spicy spaghetti sauce, you can add a pinch or two of pepper flakes, which will do the trick.

This spicier tomato sauce pairs well as a dipping sauce with this Easy Fried Air Fryer Ravioli Recipe.

Can I make this a meat tomato sauce?

For you meat eaters, I like adding some Homemade Italian Sausage and a teaspoon or two of minced garlic to this recipe to turn it into a tasty meat sauce.

My Version of Alton Brown’s Tomato Sauce Recipe (4)

What to do with your green tomatoes?

If you have a lot of green tomatoes left in your garden, learn how to make green tomato ketchup.

Or you can make with green tomatoes.

I also put my green tomatoes on trays and put them where the sun will hit them indoors. This will help ripen a few of them slowly.

I also like dicing up my green tomatoes and adding them to curries and stews.

Some people also like using green tomatoes in salsa, which is perfect for serving with Mexican food like carne asada and slow cooker pulled pork.

Yield: 8 SERVINGS

My Version of Alton Brown’s Tomato Sauce Recipe

My Version of Alton Brown’s Tomato Sauce Recipe (5)

An even easier and tastier version of Alton Brown's tomato sauce recipe! Double this homemade tomato sauce recipe and freeze half.

Prep Time25 minutes

Cook Time2 hours 30 minutes

Total Time2 hours 55 minutes

Ingredients

  • 20 (3 3/4 pounds) homegrown tomatoes, halved and seeded
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1 cup finely diced red onion
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 cup red wine

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
  2. In two 13x9-inch cookie sheets, place tomato halves cut side up. Sprinkle the tomatoes with oil, salt and pepper, onion, garlic, and herbs.
  3. Bake tomatoes for 2 hours. Check the tomatoes after 1 hour and turn down the heat if they seem to be cooking too quickly. Then turn the oven to 400 degrees and bake another 30 minutes.
  4. Remove from the oven and process tomatoes through a food mill on medium dye setting over a saucepan. If you don't have a food mill, you can puree the tomatoes in a blender or food processor then add them to the saucepan.
  5. Add the red wine to the tomatoes, then bring sauce to a boil. Quickly reduce heat to low and cook for 5 minutes.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1/2 cup

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 103Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 136mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 1g

Nutritional information is automatically calculated per the ingredients list. Serving size may not be accurate. Please double-check with your preferred nutritional app for the most accurate information.

Originally published on November 2, 2004 and June 3, 2016.Updated with new pictures and information.

My Version of Alton Brown’s Tomato Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make Alton Brown spaghetti sauce? ›

Add tomatoes (with any juice in the cans), along with oregano, marjoram and basil. Cook over medium heat until most of the liquid evaporates, 25-30 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add tomato paste, ketchup, sherry vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and 1/4 cup white wine. Simmer 30 minutes.

Does adding baking soda to tomato sauce help acid reflux? ›

If you're looking to make your tomato sauce more GERD-friendly, here are a couple of tips: Use less of it in your cooking – opt for light-sauce foods. Add small pinches of baking soda to your tomato sauces, but be careful not to salt the food beforehand.

How to make tomato sauce out of tomato paste and tomatoes? ›

Put tomato pulp in a low wide saucepan over high heat. Add salt, olive oil, tomato paste, garlic, basil and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a brisk simmer. Reduce the sauce by almost half, stirring occasionally, to produce about 2½ cups medium-thick sauce, 10 to 15 minutes.

How to make tomato sauce taste homemade? ›

How to Make Jarred Tomato Sauce Better… And If You Even Should
  1. Start With a Good Jar.
  2. Add Alliums.
  3. Deglaze With Wine.
  4. Season Smartly.
  5. Whisk in Tomato Paste.
  6. Boost the Acidity.
  7. Toss in Olives or Capers.
  8. Add Vegetables.

How to make can spaghetti sauce taste like homemade? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Canned Spaghetti Sauce
  1. 1 - Extra virgin olive oil. Adding a good amount of a flavorful olive oil will go a long way in infusing flavor into your sauce. ...
  2. 2 - Fresh garlic. ...
  3. 3 - Meat. ...
  4. 4 - Hot pepper flakes. ...
  5. 5 - Red wine. ...
  6. 6 - Fresh or dried herbs. ...
  7. 7 - Cheese. ...
  8. 8 - Cream and/or butter.
Feb 26, 2018

What does adding sour cream to spaghetti sauce do? ›

Sour cream can enhance both the taste and texture of your pasta sauce. It works in a similar manner to when you add heavy cream to a pasta sauce, only it imparts a lovely tart flavor that is irresistible to the palate. Sour cream is a dairy product that has been fermented with lactic acid.

What happens if you put too much baking soda in tomato sauce? ›

do not add too much baking soda because it will make your sauce bitter or salty. so you're gonna want to start really small.

Should you add sugar or baking soda to tomato sauce? ›

Many sources recommend adding a pinch of baking soda to a sauce that's overly tart, which raises the pH and makes it less acidic. We've always preferred adding a bit of sugar. It can't neutralize acidity in the same way that baking soda can, but sugar does change our perception of other tastes.

Should you put sugar in tomato sauce? ›

A little sugar can make the rest of the flavors shine a little brighter, akin to adding vanilla to a chocolate cake. The goal is to amplify the natural sweetness of the tomatoes, not to turn the sauce sugary, so start with a pinch and work up if needed.

Is tomato sauce just watered down tomato paste? ›

Because tomato paste is a concentrated form of tomato puree, you can dilute it to the consistency of tomato sauce without much fuss. Adding one cup of water to three-quarters of a cup of tomato paste will result in a tomato base with the same texture and thickness as tomato sauce (after some brisk stirring).

Do I need tomato paste if I have tomato sauce? ›

You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

What can be substituted for tomato sauce? ›

6 Substitutes for Tomato Sauce If You Run Out of the Pantry...
  • Canned Tomatoes.
  • Fresh Tomatoes.
  • Tomato Paste.
  • Tomato Soup.
  • Ketchup.
  • Tomato Purée.
Jun 9, 2023

Why do you put baking soda in tomato sauce? ›

So, adding baking soda will lower the acidity, and that lets the tomatoes' natural sugars shine through. Use a light hand, as a little baking soda goes a long way. For a batch of tomato sauce, start slowly with a mere 1/8 teaspoon. Give it a stir, taste, and see if you need more.

Why does my homemade tomato sauce taste sour? ›

Your tomatoes are acidic. Try adding a little baking soda to the sauce, which will negate some of the acidity, or simmering a whole peeled carrot in the sauce. The carrot is an old Italian grandmother's trick. The sweet carrot balances the acidity of the sauce without adding any unwanted flavor.

Why does my homemade tomato sauce taste bitter? ›

Leaf states that this can be due to burning the sauce in the pot or simply dealing with a batch of produce that are overly acidic or metallic from canning or cooking. This can also come from under-ripe or low-quality tomatoes, as well as stirring in a hefty amount of tomato paste, per Boss The Kitchen.

What gives brown sauce its taste? ›

The taste is either tart or sweet with a peppery taste similar to that of Worcestershire sauce. Commercial sauces are a blend of tomatoes, malt vinegar, molasses, dates, spices and tamarind. Brown sauce is typically eaten with meals such as full breakfasts, bacon sandwiches and chips.

What are the makes of brown sauce? ›

Today HP and Daddies are the two most popular national brands of brown sauce. They can both trace their origins to a tiny premises in Sandon Street, Basford, Nottinghamshire. For many years the bottle labels have carried a picture of the Houses of Parliament.

How to make spaghetti sauce more tasty? ›

Add the rind from a piece of Parmesan cheese while simmering the sauce to add a bit of nutty, salty flavor. Before serving, grate high-quality Parmesan or pecorino cheese over the dish. Want something heartier? Spoon in a couple tablespoons of ricotta cheese for a rich and creamy tomato sauce.

How do you make traditional spaghetti sauce better? ›

Tossing in strips of basil, a sprig of thyme or some oregano can take your sauce to the next level. Although fresh herbs might pop a bit more, dried herbs and spices can work just as well. Sprinkling in some red pepper flakes, a pinch of parsley and a dash of salt and pepper can liven up your jarred pasta sauce.

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