Roasted Tomato Garlic Pizza Sauce

Step 1

Preheat oven to 450°F. Line two shallow roasting pans and/or 15x10x1-inch baking pans with foil. Cut one or two small slits in each tomato. Place tomatoes in a single layer in the prepared pans. Cut off the top 1/2 inch of garlic bulb to expose ends of individual cloves. Leaving garlic bulb whole, remove any loose, papery outer layers. Place bulb, cut end up, in a custard cup. Drizzle bulb with a little oil; cover with foil. Roast tomatoes and garlic on separate oven racks about 30 minutes or until tomato skins are blistered and garlic feels soft; cool.

Step 2

Coarsely chop tomatoes, discarding the loose skins and any excess juice. Remove garlic cloves from paper skins by squeezing the bottom of the bulb. Transfer tomatoes and garlic to a 6- to 8-quart stainless-steel, enamel, or nonstick heavy pot. Stir in wine, sugar, and salt. Bring to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 3

Press tomato mixture through a food mill fitted with a coarse disc. (Or working in batches, transfer tomato mixture to a food processor or blender. Cover and process or blend until smooth. Press pureed mixture through a sieve.*) Discard seeds and skins.

Step 4

Return the strained mixture to the pot. Stir in basil, oregano, black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 45 to 50 minutes or until reduced to about 8 cups. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice.

Step 5

Ladle hot sauce into hot sterilized half-pint canning jars, leaving a 1/2-inch headspace. Wipe jar rims; adjust lids and screw bands.

Step 6

Process filled jars in a boiling-water canner for 35 minutes (start timing when water returns to boiling). Remove jars from canner; cool on wire racks.