When tomato season is still in full swing, but the days are numbered, it’s time for easy preservation recipes like these homemade stewed tomatoes. Since they are simmered with garlic, bell peppers and a mix of dried spices, they have so much flavor. The best part is that you don’t need to can them. They are very freezer friendly.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Stewed tomatoes give you a head start. Loaded with garlic, spices and bell peppers, stewed tomatoes have a lot going on. Because most of the work has already been done, you can make a few additions like beans or chickpeas, and turn them into a meal long after you stew your tomatoes.
This is a great way to preserve fresh tomatoes besides just sauce. Of course, that is not meant to be a diss to tomato sauce, but when you have a ton of tomatoes, it helps to have options.
You don’t have to can these tomatoes to save them. Once you know how, home canning is a doable task. It just takes time. You can freeze stewed tomatoes to keep things as simple as possible.
When you make this homemade stewed tomato recipe, you choose the seasonings and the ingredients. There is nothing wrong with canned versions, but it’s easy to make them from scratch and stir in the amount of garlic and the kinds of spices and bell peppers that you want.
Pour a 14.5-oz. can of diced tomatoes or whole peeled tomatoes, that you’ve chopped up, into a non-reactive pot. Crushed tomatoes will also work in a pinch. To the tomatoes, add 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper and 1/4 cup chopped celery. Bring to a boil. Then, reduce to a simmer, and cook until the onions, peppers and celery are soft. Add 1/2 tsp sugar, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp dried oregano and 1/8 tsp dried basil to season. Stir to combine.
Use ripe tomatoes to make a quick batch of stewed tomatoes from scratch. The whole process will take you less than 25 minutes, and requires little more than chopping and cooking the ingredients. Here are step-by-step instructions to take you through the process. You’ll need 3-4 large tomatoes to make the equivalent of a 14.5-oz. can, or 6-8 large tomatoes to make the equivalent of a 28-oz. can.
Stewed tomatoes are just tomatoes that have been cooked with onion, bell peppers, celery and a few seasonings. So, if you don’t have any in your pantry, it’s easy enough to create a substitute. Here are two ways to do it.
How to make delicious stewed tomatoes using canned chopped tomatoes – prepared in under five minuets
FAQ
Can I use diced tomatoes for stewed tomatoes?
What is a good substitute for tomatoes in stew?
What is a substitute for canned diced tomatoes?
Can you use fresh tomatoes instead of canned in stew?
How to turn diced tomatoes into stewed tomatoes?
Below is the process to turn diced tomatoes into stewed tomatoes 1. Peel the fresh tomatoes: This is the first thing to do for many, although it is optional. 2. Chop the tomatoes: Chop the tomato into smaller chunks to allow you to blend (optional). 3. Simmer the tomatoes: Apply heat to the tomatoes and simmer it for about 20 minutes.
How do you make a stewed tomato recipe?
Canned crushed tomatoes or whole peeled tomatoes will also work. Just dice them up before you add them to the pot. This stewed tomato recipe can be enjoyed as a main course or side dish, or used in recipes that call for a can of stewed tomatoes. Peel, core, seed and dice tomatoes. Place tomatoes, onion, pepper and celery in a non-reactive pan.
Can you substitute diced tomatoes for stewed tomatoes?
Simply dump a 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes into a small saucepan and cook on medium heat for a few minutes. You can add veggies or seasonings to add flavor, and once they have all melded together, use this mixture in place of stewed tomatoes. You can substitute diced tomatoes for stewed tomatoes at a 1:1 ratio in all of your recipes.
Why do you need a stewed tomato?
It’s especially useful if you’re making a salsa that requires your tomatoes to be small in size. It saves you a lot of time and potentially a lot of finger cuts! Stewed tomatoes are tomatoes that have been chopped into small pieces and then cooked. Usually, they have sugar and other seasonings added in for taste.