Make some delectable tomato sauce with this easy ninja foodi recipe! This homemade sauce, which makes use of fresh tomatoes, is perfect to serve with your meatballs, spaghetti, casseroles, and so much more!
*This post may contain affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Jump to:
why this recipe works!
- a quick, and hands-free method. The Ninja foodi simply does most of the work!
- this tomato sauce is flavorful and perfect to serve with so many dishes! It is kid-friendly too!
- easy: no need to peel or deseed the tomatoes.
- this recipe uses fresh tomatoes, which you can easily find at your local grocery stores.
ingredients you will require
- Ripe fresh tomatoes.
- Vegetables: onion, cloves of garlic.
- Herbs: here, you will need some fresh basil, Italian seasoning, and bay leaves for garnishing.
- Seasoning: salt and ground black pepper.
- Other kitchen items: tomato paste, olive oil, brown sugar (optional), and Burgundy wine. Use water, grape juice, apple juice, or pomegrenate juice in place of the Burgundy wine, if making this for kids.
The above gives a summary of the ingredients you will need to make ninja foodi fresh tomato sauce, as well as possible options for substitution. See the full measurements and detailed instructions in the recipe card provided below.
how to make ninja foodi homemade tomato sauce
- Set your Ninja Foodi to the saute function and press start. Add olive oil to the pot and fry the onion and garlic.
- Next, stir in wine, juice, or water.
- Add the vegetable stock, fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Do not stir.
- Close your Ninja Foodi, and set the valve to the sealing position. Pressure cook on high then do a 10-minute natural pressure release.
- Remove the bay leaves, stir then blend.
- Season with the Italian seasoning, check and add more salt or pepper if desired.
- Finally, garnish your tomato sauce with some fresh basil then serve or store accordingly for later.
Related recipes: And while you are making this recipe, how about trying my Ninja air fryer salmon bites, Ninja Foodi spaghetti, and air fryer baked oats next!
using this ninja foodi spaghetti sauce
Homemade tomato sauce is such a versatile dish that you can use in so many ways! Other ways to use this sauce include:-
- Pasta: use it as a topping on your pasta: spaghetti, fettuccine, spiralised vegetables, or any other type of noodle for that matter.
- Use it as a base for your homemade pizza!
- Use it when making your soups, stews and casseroles, such as lasagna.
- Meat dishes: tomato sauce adds depth and flavor to meat dishes, such as meatballs, chicken parmesan, or braised beef.
- Use it to enhance the flavor of your roasted or grilled vegetable dishes.
- In making stewed fish.
useful tips
💡Refregeration and freezing: Store any leftover tomato sauce in an airtight jar or container in the fridge for 5-7 days, and in the freezer for up to 3 months (after the three months, the sauce may develop freezer burn or off-flavors).
- Do not allow the tomato paste and seasoning to touch the bottom of the pot as these tend to burn quickly, thereby releasing a burn error.
- Add the herbs at the end, for a more richer flavor. Adding the herbs too early may also make your sauce to turn bitter.
- Throw in 1-2 celery sticks or one large carrot for a more flavorful homemade tomato sauce!
- For some heat, try adding some red chili flakes!
- Do you have friends who own an Instant Pot or any pressure cooker for that matter? Then they can use this exact recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best tomatoes to use for homemade tomato sauce are those that are ripe, meaty, and have a rich flavor. Some of the best varieties for tomato sauce include:
San Marzano: these Italian plum tomatoes are known for their sweet flavor and low acidity, making them ideal for sauce.
Roma: Roma tomatoes are another type of plum tomato. They are meaty, with a thicker flesh, which also makes them perfect for sauce.
Amish Paste: a large, meaty tomato with a sweet flavor that's perfect for sauce.
Cherry Tomatoes (ciliegino) are small and sweet and help add sweetness to the tomato sauce,
Brandywine: a large, heirloom tomato with a sweet, complex flavor that's great for sauce.
While the two are very similar, marinara has a thinner consistency and comprises mostly tomatoes, which are then cooked with garlic and then seasoned.
Tomato sauce is thicker and smoother in consistency than marinara. It also mostly includes a variety of ingredients such as celery, carrots, and even pork or bacon which gives it a more robust flavor. Traditional recipes involved using a roux, to thicken the sauce but most recipes nowadays just leave this out.
📖 Recipe
Ninja Foodi Tomato Sauce
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 ripe tomatoes cut into quarters
- 3-4 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 5-8 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup Burgundy wine (alternatively, use water, broth, or juice - see notes)
- ½ cup vegetable stock
- 1½ tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon salt or more to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper to taste
- 3-4 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- handful fresh basil (sliced)
Instructions
- Set your Ninja Foodi to the saute function, press the start button so it turns on. Add the olive oil, onion, and garlic, and allow the garlic to sizzle for 1 minute.
- Add the red wine or grape juice and vegetable broth, then combine.¼ cup Burgundy wine, ½ cup vegetable stock
- Top with the fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar (optional), bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Do not stir.
- Close your Ninja Foodi, and set the valve to the sealing position. Pressure cook on high for 25 minutes.
- Allow for the Ninja Foodi to sit for 10 minutes so it releases its pressure naturally, then set the valve on the vent position so the Ninja Food releases the remainder of its pressure.
- Remove the bay leaf, stir then blend. You can also simply break the pieces with your wooden spoon if you prefer your tomato sauce chunky. Season with some Italian seasoning and top with fresh basil.
- Serve or store accordingly for later.
Notes
- Use water, grape juice, apple juice or pomegrenate juice in place of the Burgundy wine, if making this for kids.
