Certainly! Here’s a basic recipe for straining tomatoes to make tomato sauce or puree:
Ingredients:
- Fresh tomatoes
Equipment:
- Large pot
- Slotted spoon or tongs
- Blender or food mill
- Cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer
- Large bowl
Instructions:
- Prepare the tomatoes: Wash the tomatoes thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt or debris. Remove any stems or blemishes.
- Blanch the tomatoes: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Score a small “X” on the bottom of each tomato with a knife. Carefully place the tomatoes in the boiling water for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until you see the skins start to loosen.
- Shock the tomatoes: Using a slotted spoon or tongs, quickly transfer the blanched tomatoes to a bowl of ice water. This will stop the cooking process and make the skins easier to peel.
- Peel the tomatoes: Once the tomatoes have cooled down, remove them from the ice water and peel off the skins starting from the “X” you scored earlier. The skins should come off easily.
- Remove the seeds (optional): Cut the tomatoes in half and scoop out the seeds and any excess liquid. This step is optional, depending on your preference for the texture of your tomato sauce.
- Blend or process the tomatoes: Place the peeled and deseeded tomatoes in a blender or food mill and blend until smooth. If you don’t have a blender or food mill, you can also use a potato masher or fork to mash the tomatoes.
- Strain the tomatoes: Line a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth over a large bowl. Pour the blended tomatoes into the strainer, allowing the liquid to drain into the bowl. You may need to use a spoon to gently press the mixture against the strainer to extract as much liquid as possible.
- Let it drain: Allow the tomatoes to strain for at least 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how thick you want your tomato sauce to be. The longer you let it drain, the thicker the sauce will be.
- Store or use: Once the tomatoes have finished draining, you can transfer the strained tomato sauce to a clean jar or container and store it in the refrigerator for immediate use, or you can freeze it for later use.
- Enjoy your homemade tomato sauce: Use your freshly strained tomato sauce in your favorite recipes, such as pasta sauces, soups, stews, or as a base for pizza sauce.
Enjoy your homemade tomato sauce!
