How We Make Sicilian Tomato Sauce That Lasts All Winter!

Quick Rustic Homemade Sicilian Tomato Sauce (No Special Tools) — two recipes in one, rooted in tradition and made for your winter cupboard. On Tortellino Time, I take you into my kitchen and garden to prepare a huge batch of real Sicilian tomato sauce, just like my family has done for generations. This is the taste of summer preserved, simple, quick, and practical, made with 4 kilos of ripe tomatoes and a handful of honest ingredients.

In Sicily, making tomato sauce in August was more than cooking, it was a ritual that speaks of thrift, self-reliance, and the joy of sharing food with family. Our grandparents knew that one big day of work could fill the cupboard for months. This tradition was born out of necessity, but it remains because nothing you buy can match the taste, texture, and satisfaction of a sauce you made yourself.

In this video, I make two styles side by side:

Simple Tomato & Chilli Sauce — a rustic Arrabbiata-style base, perfect for pasta, pizza, or anywhere you want bold flavour.

Sicilian Ortolana Sauce, enriched with garden vegetables for a more complex, sweet, and fragrant profile.

The Ortolana begins with the base sauce, so you can prepare both in one go. I also show you how to jar and store them safely for months of enjoyment. No special equipment, no complicated steps , just the calm rhythm of cooking with purpose.

Whether you’re in Sicily or thousands of miles away, this recipe brings the spirit of Mediterranean summers into your home. And when winter arrives, you’ll have a cupboard full of sunshine.

INGREDIENTS
(Makes approximately 8–10 jars in total)
Batch 1 – Simple/Chilli Sauce (Arrabbiata-style base)
4 kg ripe tomatoes (washed, roughly chopped)
Chilli flakes (to taste)
1–2 cloves garlic (left whole)
Fresh basil (large handful, leaves only)
Olive oil
Salt and pepper (to taste)
Parsley

Batch 2 – Ortolana Sauce
(Uses some of the above sauce as a base)
1 large onion (finely chopped)
1 zucchini/courgette (sliced)
1 pepper (chopped)
2 carrots (chopped)
Parsley
Olive oil

Additional basil or parsley (optional)
METHOD
Batch 1 – Simple/Chilli Sauce (Arrabbiata-style base)
In a large heavy-based pot, heat a generous amount of olive oil.
Add the whole garlic cloves, then add the chopped tomatoes directly into the pot along with a generous pinch of salt.
Stir well, add the basil, bring to a simmer, and cook gently for around 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Batch 2 – Ortolana Sauce
In a separate large frying pan, heat some olive oil.
Add the chopped vegetables and cook until softened and lightly golden.
Pour in half of the tomato sauce from Batch 1 and simmer together for about 7–8 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

To store
Sterilise the jars as shown in the video. Fill them with the sauce, place the lids on, and submerge them in hot water in a saucepan for 10–15 minutes. Once you hear the water boiling, turn the heat down and allow it to cool naturally until the jars are safe to handle. Store away for winter.

00:00 Intro — Sicilian summer tradition
01:26 Preparing the tomatoes
10:45 Cooking the tomato sauce
11:45 Making the Ortolana with garden vegetables
19:22 Jarring and sealing for storage
25:16 Storing for winter
29:10 Tasting, final thoughts & old footage

#Hashtags
#TortellinoTime #SicilianTomatoSauce #OrtolanaSauce #Arrabbiata #ItalianCooking #WinterCupboard #HomemadeSauce #PreservingTomatoes #MediterraneanFood #RusticCooking #SicilianTradition #BatchCooking #ItalianRecipes #SummerCooking #NoSpecialTools