Absolutely! In the summer, when our tomatoes are at peak freshness and sweetness, I frequently use fresh tomatoes for this recipe. When using fresh tomatoes, I usually omit the sugar in this recipe. Use about 4 pounds, or roughly 20 tomatoes. Dice them up, and when you saute the onion and garlic, go ahead and toss the diced tomatoes in as well. Simmer for about 20-25 minutes, until the tomatoes are pretty well broken down. Stir in your other ingredients, simmer another 5-10 minutes, blend, and enjoy!