The first thing that came to mind when we received our massive bucket of tomatoes was to make my own sauce (from 100% scratch). No canned tomatoes are found in this sauce. Do you know that there are almost no recipes on the internet for making your own peeled, diced tomato sauce? With a little research on how to peel a tomato I created this delicious recipe. 
I just so happened to have mild Italian sausage links in the freezer, and figured I add additional flavoring to the sauce from the sausage. I'm not a big fan of sausage, but this sausage was amazing. It was fork tender, melt in your mouth kind of sausage. I don't think I can ever make sausage any other way now. It must be cooked in the crock pot!
Source: Katie Original
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 8-10 hours on low in the crock pot
Servings: 6-8
Ingredients:
8 fresh tomatoes, skinned and chopped
1 (6oz) can of tomato paste
1 tbsp italian seasoning
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 onion, minced
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp fresh parsley, minced plus additional for garnish
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
(optional) 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes *for a little spice
1 lb mild Italian Sausage
Directions:
1. To remove the skins from the tomatoes, take a large pasta pot and boil the water. Once the water starts to boil carefully place the tomatoes into the pot. Watch the tomatoes; you'll notice that the skins will start to split. Carefully remove the tomatoes individually from the pot and place into a large bowl filled with ice water. After the tomatoes sit for 30 seconds in the ice water the skins should easily peel right off. Set to the side. Once all the skins have been removed from the tomatoes, chop, and place in crock pot bowl.
2. Add tomato paste, italian seasoning, minced garlic, onion, parsley, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix well, then add sausage. Make sure all the sausage links are covered. Lastly, submerge the bay leaves in the sauce. Set the crock pot on low for 6 to 8 hours.
3. Upon being ready to serve the sauce, cook pasta according to packaging. Top each pasta bowl with additional parsley and a sprig of fresh basil.
I've never cooked tomato sauce or sausages in a crock pot before. I must try this!
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing. My grandfather (Italian) always adds his meats (sausages & meatballs) to the sauce to finish cooking before it's time to eat and they just turn into the most amazing fork tender melt in your mouth sausages and meatballs!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice thing to come home to waiting for you in the crockpot...total comfort food!