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Find out how to make authentic Italian Neapolitan pizza sauce with this easy homemade recipe! This is a no-cook pizza sauce recipe made with San Marzano tomatoes.
One of my culinary missions on our last visit to Italy was figuring out how to make the BEST authentic Italian pizza. Last time it was Authentic Tomato Bruschetta and an Aperol Spritz. There was something very different from the pizzas I had been making for years at home. I realized after trying many pizzas in Italy, that the most notable difference was the sauce.
I’ve made this easy pizza sauce recipe a few times at home, and am so happy to report it tastes just like in the Italian restaurants we loved. Like my Fresh Tomato Marinara, Salsa, and Dairy-Free Pesto recipes, this one is a great staple to know.
Whereas the pizza sauce I lazily pick up from Trader Joe’s refrigerator section has a deep, rich tomato flavor loaded with spices, the pizzas in Italy had very fresh tasting sauce, without much else in them. Could it really as simple as using crushed tomatoes alone? After a bit more research, I found that my suspicion was correct.
When it comes to making the best authentic pizza sauce at home, less is definitely more. Neapolitan pizza master Vito Iacopelli, shared on Youtube how he makes tomato sauce for pizza and it’s just this way with a few simple ingredients. One of my favorite Italian cooking magazines, Sale e Pepe, makes pizza even simpler by only using tomato puree and sprinkling a little salt and pepper.
Best Tomatoes for Neapolitan Pizza Sauce
You might be wondering, ‘What are the best tomatoes for pizza sauce?” With recipes this simple, it’s important to use the highest quality ingredients you can find. In this case, tomatoes are the star. Use whole peeled DOP San Marzano tomatoes for the best flavor.
San Marzano tomatoes are grown near Naples, which means you’re making a truly special Neapolitan-style pizza. To ensure you’re actually using real San Marzano tomatoes, look for the DOP label on the can. You might be surprised how many fakes there are on grocery store shelves.
The ingredients for Neapolitan pizza sauce are very similar to traditional San Marzano Marinara Sauce.
How to Make San Marzano Pizza Sauce at Home
Remove those gorgeous tomatoes from the juice, but don’t discard it. Place the drained tomatoes into a blender or bowl with a small handful of fresh basil leaves and a pinch of sea salt. If you prefer, crush those tomatoes with your hands and then add in chopped basil. I like to add a clove of garlic and a splash of good olive oil as well, but that’s optional.
Pulse or use an immersion blender to blend the tomatoes. Don’t blend too long, just until the desired consistency is reached. I prefer homemade pizza sauce a little chunky (as it often is in Italy). If needed, thin the sauce by adding a little of the reserved juices at a time. Can you believe it’s that easy? I know. I know!
If you’re like me and feel like homemade pizza sauce should be cooked before using, don’t worry. This sauce does cook just the perfect amount while the pizza bakes. The result is a pizza sauce with the most delicious fresh flavor.
How to Store and Use Homemade Pizza Sauce
If you’re not using the pizza sauce immediately, store it in an airtight jar in the refrigerator, or freezer.
To use, spoon a layer of sauce over your prepared pizza dough.
Bake your homemade pizza in the hottest oven possible, or Pizza Oven, and enjoy your creation.
Ingredients
- 1 (28 oz.) can/jar whole peeled DOP San Marzano tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 4 fresh basil leaves
- 1 clove garlic, peeled (optional)
- splash of extra virgin olive oil (optional)
Instructions
- Remove the tomatoes from the sauce and place them into a blender (or bowl if using an immersion blender).
- Add the salt and basil leaves
- Pulse until the sauce is chunky or smooth, depending on your preference. To thin, if needed, add 1 tablespoon of the sauce from the can at a time (I don't use any).
- Use your homemade pizza sauce right away, or store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 2Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 212mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Nutritionix. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your favorite calculator.
FAQs
The reason pizza sauce is uncooked is because it will actually result in a better-tasting pizza — it will give you fresh, zippy tomato flavor, even after it has been baked in a hot oven. Pasta sauce, on the other hand, is slow-simmered. It usually has a few more herbs involved, like basil or even a bay leaf.
How do you thicken Neapolitan pizza sauce? ›
Combine equal parts cornstarch and cold water. Stir together until smooth. Pour into your sauce and cook over medium heat, stirring continually, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. Test the sauce with a spoon.
Should I cook my homemade pizza sauce? ›
Let sauce stand for several hours to let flavors blend. No cooking is necessary; just spread on dough.
Why is my pizza sauce not thickening? ›
Tomatoes naturally contain lots of water, so cooking any tomato sauce for a long period of time will help eliminate some of the water content. The water will slowly but surely evaporate, leaving behind a thickened, full-bodied sauce with lots of flavor.
Do you need to Precook pizza sauce? ›
You don't actually need to cook the sauce because it will eventually be cooked with the entire pizza, and pre-cooking it can take away from the tomatoes' vibrant flavor. Using raw ingredients allows every element of the sauce to be at its most flavorful.
Is sauce better the longer you cook it? ›
Cooking sauces for a long time don't inherently make them better, but it does intensify the flavor. 2. Aromatics such as Soffritto, Mirepoix, the Holy Trinity and Refogado create a base flavor in sauces, soups, stocks and cooking at large.
How do you thicken sauce without boiling it? ›
I put a tablespoon of flour into a tea strainer and sprinkle it in a little at a time while whisking constantly. Almost immediately the flour cooks in and thickens any sauce or gravy while adding no additional liquid. And rarely do I need the entire amount of flour in that strainer.
Why is my Neapolitan pizza chewy? ›
One of the most common causes is insufficient dough weight for the diameter of the pizza being made, resulting in dough that is so thin in the center that the heat reaching the bottom of the pizza passes through the dough and is dissipated as steam when it reaches the sauce (which is approximately 90% water).
Why is my Neapolitan pizza dough so sticky? ›
Pizza dough becomes too sticky when it absorbs too much water. Over-absorbed dough can also be easy to overstretch and tear. Solve this problem and salvage the pizza crust by incorporating more flour, a little at a time, into the dough.
Why is my homemade pizza sauce watery? ›
Over blending may cause too much water to seep out of your tomatoes resulting in a watery pizza sauce. If you are using crushed tomatoes, simply dump into a container/bowl, add salt to taste and mix to combine.
When making pizza sauce, the ingredients are blended and then sandwiched between the uncooked dough and cheese for pizza. Since it will be cooked at very high temperatures, it's best to have raw sauce to avoid overcooking. On the other hand, pasta sauce is added to the already-cooked pasta.
Should you add sugar to pizza sauce? ›
Granulated sugar.
This can be omitted, or you can substitute honey. However the sugar enhances the flavor of the tomatoes and cuts the “bite” of the sauce.
How do you thicken San Marzano pizza sauce? ›
TIP: For a thicker sauce, strain the tomato puree over a fine-mesh sieve until it reaches your desired consistency. Step 3 - Add optional toppings: Stir in any desired toppings, such as chopped herbs or garlic powder.
How to fix watery pizza sauce? ›
If your pizza sauce is still too watery after cooking, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove any excess liquid. Press the tomatoes gently to extract as much pulp as possible while leaving behind the watery residue. This method helps achieve a thicker sauce without compromising on flavor.
How do you thicken sauce without adding anything? ›
The easiest way to thicken a sauce is by reducing the amount of liquid. This can be done by simmering your sauce or bringing it to a full boil—do this uncovered, so the steam can escape.
Should pizza sauce be cooled? ›
Description. This recipe will provide enough sauce for 10-12 individual pizzas (9” – 10”) or 5-6 pan pizzas (9”x13”size). The recipe recommends letting your sauce remain overnight in the refrigerator and bringing to room temperature before using on a pizza. You never want to use cold sauce on your dough.
Why does takeout pizza taste better? ›
The No. 1 reason restaurant pizza is better than homemade is that they have ovens that can reach 900°F, or even hotter, which makes for perfectly crisp and chewy crusts, with those lovely charred spots, says Kierin Baldwin, chef-instructor of Pastry & Baking Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education.
What cooking method is best for pizza? ›
Generally, the hotter the oven, the better the pizza will be. The best oven temperature for pizza is between 450 and 500 degrees F (250 to 260 degrees C). Pizza ovens cook at temperatures between 800 and 900 degrees F. You can't get that hot in your home oven, but the higher you can go, the better.
Is there really a difference between pizza sauce and spaghetti sauce? ›
Although they contain similar ingredients, there is a difference between pasta sauce and pizza sauce. Pizza sauce is prepared with uncooked pureed tomatoes while pasta sauce is made with cooked blended tomatoes and flavorful garlic, herbs, and spices.
