Phred said:In article <[email hidden]>, ~patches~ <[email hidden]> wrote:
[...]
Quoted message said:Yes we are very fortunate to live in an area where we can get nice
tomatoes. The ones I'm using right now are grown by a relative and
travel by large wagons to a canning factory (Heinz). They will be made
into ketchup and canned as whole or stewed and likely whatever else they
can make. Romas make a very good sauce tomato because they are so meaty.
G'day Patches,
I'm not sure if this is the right question as the subject is "paste"
and your note above is "sauce". Be that as it may, the local
supermarket has Roma tomatoes on special at the moment and I'd be
interested in trying your *paste*, if they're suitable for that.
So can I prevail on you to post the recipe, please? (Or a link to a
similar one if you don't want ot spill the authentic beans. ;-)
Cheers, Phred.
Phred, the recipe is very simple as it only involves tomatoes. I run
the tomatoes through a food mill that removes the skins and seeds. I do
this for other sauces like roasted tomato sauce as well. If you don't
have a food mill you will have to peel (shudder) and core the tomatoes
then run through a food processor or blender for a puree. I use an old
graniteware roasting pan because I like reducing sauces on the bbq so it
doesn't heat up the house and I don't have to deal with splatters
everywhere. You can do the same in an oven and I've been told but
haven't tried it that to prevent burning you can use a slow cooker set
to high with lid off during the final stages to get it to the right
consistency. Once the roasting pan is filled with tomato puree I put it
on the bbq set on med-low and let it go until the tomato paste humps up
on a spoon. Since I do a hamper at a time I add any puree that couldn't
fit in the pan with the first filling. I aim for the same type of
consistency as store bought tomato paste. FWIW, one hamper resulted in
12 - 250 ml plus 500 ml left over. When the tomato paste reaches that
consistency I remove it from the bbq and do one of a few things.
To use right away - I put in a ziploc container and put in the fridge
then use as needed. I only do the left-overs from the following two
methods.
To freeze - I spoon the tomato paste into muffin tins then freeze. This
will result in about 4 oz frozen pucks of tomato paste. You can freeze
them in ice cube trays for smaller amounts but I don't because I use at
least 4 oz at a time. Once froze pop the tomato paste pucks out and
store in a ziploc baggie.
To can - (using proper canning techniques of course) - spoon tomato
paste into 250 ml jars. This is ~ 8 oz. Remove air bubbles with rubber
spatula. Clean rim and cap. Place in bwb, cover and bring to boil.
Leave for 20 min then remove jars and allow to cool 24 hrs before storing.
A couple of notes - I both can and freeze tomato paste and other things
because I was taught not to put all my eggs in one basket and I prefer
to keep freezer space for those things that are more expensive or don't
can well. Thankfully we don't live in a area prone to hurricanes where
I could lose both. IMO the frozen tomato paste is just as good as the
canned and easy to use if you are cooking something that will be
simmering for awhile. I find the canned tomato paste easier to use for
those dishes that won't be cooking a long time but I want the flavour
right now.
Once you've made tomato paste this way you will never buy commercially
canned tomato paste! There is just something about the richness and
intensity in the homecanned that the commercial ones don't match.