Pizza Sauce is essentially a tangy tomato sauce that is spiced and flavored with herbs like garlic, basil, oregano, seasoned with black pepper, salt and made with olive oil. This Pizza Sauce recipe is no different and follows the classic method of pureeing tomatoes and cooking with the herbs. It is easy to make and is a delicious alternative to store-bought sauce. Using fresh ingredients and some basic steps, you will be able to make an awesome homemade Pizza Sauce for your next Pizza night. And if you are looking to make a plant based pizza, this recipe is perfect, as it is vegan!
About Pizza Sauce Recipe
This Pizza Sauce recipe is made from simple, fresh ingredients. Using fresh ingredients improves the sauce’s taste and flavor, making it easily beat any store-bought sauce hands down.
You can easily adjust the chunkiness or smoothness in the sauce according to your taste. As I have mentioned above the fresh tomatoes are pureed first and simmered further to make the sauce.
After sautéing the garlic in olive oil, the tomato puree is added, seasoned with salt and simmered until thickened and cooked through. Finally, fresh and/or dried herbs is added to the sauce and simmered for a few minutes.
Table of Contents
For a chunkier version, I stop pureeing the tomatoes sooner, when there are still some bits of tomato left. For a smooth version, I chop the tomatoes finely first and then puree them to a finer consistency.
This is one of the best Pizza Sauce recipe that you can make. Since the method and recipe is easy, you can also feel free to adjust the quantity of herbs as per your choice.
This quantity of this Pizza Sauce works well for 8 medium-sized pizzas. If you are making more pizzas, the sauce recipe can easily be doubled.
If you do not use all of the sauce right away, simply store it in a bowl or a jar in the refrigerator and use within the next 10 to 15 days.
Ingredients You Need
- Tomatoes: Freshly crushed or pureed. When choosing which tomato to use, most varieties will work. Just be sure they are fresh, red, and ripe. Roma tomatoes is a typical variety used for Pizza Sauce and work well. Indian tomatoes also work well for this recipe.
- Fresh Garlic: In absence of fresh garlic, sub with ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Fresh Basil: One of the key herbs and I recommend not to skip them. Though fresh basil offers a more potent flavor – if you do not have fresh basil, include 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried basil.
- Dry Oregano: Packaged or bottled dried oregano is easily available in grocery stores. You can also add fresh oregano in place of the dried ones.
- Olive oil: Use a good quality olive oil.
- Seasonings: Salt and Black Pepper (freshly cracked or ground) are the preferred seasonings.
How to make Pizza Sauce
Preparation
1. Rinse and chop 5 to 6 medium to large tomatoes (500 grams). Take the chopped tomatoes in a blender.
2. Crush tomatoes to a coarse puree. Pulse or blend in intervals for some seconds. You can make a smooth purée if you want. You do not need to blanch tomatoes before crushing.
3. The photo below shows the consistency of the crushed tomatoes.
If using canned tomatoes, then add 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes or about one 15 ounce can of crushed tomatoes.
Make Homemade Pizza Sauce
4. Heat ¼ cup olive oil in a pan. Add 2 teaspoons minced garlic.
5. Sauté garlic for 5 to 6 seconds on a low heat. You do not need to brown the garlic.
6. Add the crushed tomatoes.
7. Mix thoroughly to get an even mixture.
8. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes on low or medium-low heat.
9. Season with salt as per taste and mix very well.
10. Cover the pan with lid and simmer for 25 minutes on low heat.
11. Do check and stir at intervals. If the sauce looks very thick and is sticking to the bottom of the pan, add ¼ cup water and mix well. Cover and continue to cook.
12. Simmer until the sauce has thickened and the tomatoes have softened completely.
When tomatoes are cooked you will some oil specks on top or on the sides. But cook till the sauce thickens.
13. When the sauce has thickened, add ¼ cup chopped fresh basil.
14. Add 2 teaspoons dried oregano.
15. Season with ½ teaspoon crushed black pepper powder or as required.
16. Mix very well and cook for a minute.
17. Let the sauce cool at room temperature.
Storage Suggestions
18. When the sauce has cooled, you can use it right away as a pizza topping. Or else store the sauce in a clean or sterilized small to medium jar in the refrigerator or in the freezer.
To freeze add sauce to ice cubes tray. Let the cubes freeze. Then place the frozen cubes in a freezer-safe container.
If you plan to store the sauce for a longer time, then you can add 1 tablespoon red wine or ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar.
19. The pizza sauce keeps good for about 10 to 15 days in the refrigerator and a couple of months in the freezer.
Tomato Varieties To Use
Just like any other sauce, for a perfectly robust homemade Pizza Sauce too, you would require the right variety of tomatoes.
Since tomato is the star ingredient in a Pizza Sauce Recipe, it is important to know what attributes of which variety make it suitable for this lovely sauce.
Some basic things that you should keep in mind while choosing the type of tomatoes for a Pizza Sauce Recipe are that the tomatoes have to be fresh, juicy, fleshy and pulpy.
You can use tomatoes that have a sweet-tangy taste, but not the ones that are unripe, too sour or too tart.
Also, tomatoes that are less acidic in nature, have a low water content and have fewer seeds with a thin skin are ideal for a Pizza Sauce.
Here are some of the varieties that make for a great sauce at home – San Marzano, Roma, Giulietta, Viva Italia, Amish Paste and Super Italian Paste.
More Ways To Use Pizza Sauce
In addition to pizza, the sauce also works well with pasta. Just toss some cooked pasta, along with some steamed or sautéed veggies, in the sauce. Then top with some cheese and bake or grill the pasta till until the cheese melts.
Make Bread Pizza Toasts, pizza loaves, Calzone, Pizza Puffs and grilled sandwiches with this pizza sauce recipe.
Expert Tips
- Consistency: For a smooth version of the sauce, puree the tomatoes very well. For a chunkier version, crush the tomatoes coarsely.
- Adding Tomato Paste: Add about ¼ cup tomato paste together with the crushed tomatoes.
- Too Tangy or Sour: If the sauce becomes too sour, then add ½ to 1 teaspoon sugar to it.
- Spicy Pizza Sauce: For a spicier version of the sauce, add 1 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes, cayenne pepper or red chili powder.
- Storage: You can refrigerate the sauce in sealed bowls or glass jars for 10 to 15 days. The sauce freezes easily for a couple of months. Freeze in freezer-safe containers or ice cube trays. Cover or seal the lid tightly while freezing. You can also freeze the sauce in ice cube trays and then, place them in a freezer-safe container.
- Scaling: You can easily make a small batch or a large batch by halving or doubling the recipe.
Ingredient Swaps
- Canned Tomatoes: Use two 8 ounces can of tomato sauce, one 15 ounce of crushed tomatoes or one 14 to 15 ounce can of San Marzano tomatoes or whole peeled tomatoes. You can crush or puree the canned tomatoes in a blender or use whole and mash them while cooking.
- Canned Tomato Puree: You can also use 2 cups canned tomato puree. Add some water as canned tomato puree is thick. Follow the recipe and simmer after adding canned tomato puree for about 5 to 6 minutes.
- Dried Basil: You can use 1 to 2 tablespoons dried basil in the sauce. Alternatively, skip the basil completely and add 1 to 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning. You can even add Thai basil instead of Italian basil.
- Fresh Oregano: Use fresh oregano or add some other herbs like thyme or parsley.
- White pepper: Easily swap white pepper instead of black pepper.
- Other Oils: Replace olive oil with a neutral tasting oil like sunflower oil or safflower oil. You can also use butter.
FAQs
Yes, add one 14 to 15 ounce can of san marzano tomatoes or whole peeled tomatoes. You can crush or puree the canned tomatoes in a blender or use them whole and mash while cooking.
Yes, you can use canned tomato sauce. Use could use two 8 ounces can of tomato sauce. But then you do not need to simmer the sauce. Just mix ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 to 2 tablespoons dried basil, ½ teaspoon oregano, salt and pepper and your sauce will be ready in 5 minutes.
Yes, you can use packaged or tinned tomato puree. Add about 2 cups of tomato puree. If using tomato puree, you will need to add some water as canned tomato puree is thick. Follow the recipe and simmer after adding tinned tomato puree for about 5 to 6 minutes.
No, tomato ketchup won’t work in this recipe.
Add about 1 teaspoon of red chilli flakes or 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or red chilli powder. Alternatively you can also add 2 to 3 tablespoons of spicy sriracha sauce.
Yes, you can.
No, they are not the same. Though they come from the same family of plant kingdom, but both are different.
Oregano is called as ‘sathra’ or ‘ban tulsi’ in Hindi language.
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Pizza Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 5 grams or 2 teaspoons garlic – minced or 8 to 10 small to medium-sized garlic cloves
- 500 grams or 2 cups tomatoes – crushed to a coarse puree or 5 to 6 medium to large tomatoes
- ¼ cup fresh basil – chopped or 1 to 2 tablespoons dried basil
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano or 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
- salt as required
- ½ teaspoon crushed black pepper or add as required
Instructions
Preparation
- Rinse and then chop the tomatoes.
- Crush the tomatoes in a blender to a coarse consistency.
- You can even make a fine and smooth puree of the tomatoes.
Making pizza sauce
- Heat olive oil in a pan.
- Then add the minced garlic and sauté for 4 to 5 seconds on a low heat.
- Add the prepared crushed tomatoes and sauté for 4 to 5 mins on a low to medium-low heat.
- Add the chopped basil, dried oregano, salt and pepper.
- Cover and cook for 25 minutes on low heat till the sauce has thickened and the tomatoes are cooked.
- When tomatoes are cooked you will some oil specks on top or on the sides. But cook till the sauce thickens.
- Check the seasonings add more salt or pepper if required.
- Remove from pan and let sauce cool.
- When the sauce has cooled, you can use it right away as a pizza topping.
- Otherwise, store the pizza sauce covered or sealed in a bowl or a small to medium jar in the refrigerator. You can even freeze the sauce for a couple of months.
- Note that the quantity of this pizza sauce works well for 8 medium-sized pizzas. If you are making more pizzas, the recipe can easily be doubled or tripled.
Video
Notes
- Tomatoes: Ensure to use tomatoes that are ripe, red, fresh, sweet-tangy, pulpy and not overly sour.
- Consistency & Smoothness: For a smoother consistency, puree the tomatoes finely. For a chunkier version, crush the tomatoes coarsely.
- Using Whole Peeled Tomatoes: Add one 14 to 15 ounce can of San Marzano tomatoes or whole peeled tomatoes. Crush or puree the canned tomatoes in a blender or use them whole and mash them while cooking.
- Canned Tomato Puree: Use about 2 cups of tomato puree. Since canned tomato puree is thick, you will need to add some water. Follow the recipe as is and simmer after adding the tinned tomato puree for about 5 to 6 minutes.
- Canned Tomato Sauce: You could use two 8 ounces can of tomato sauce. Simply mix ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 to 2 tablespoons dried basil, ½ teaspoon oregano, salt and pepper and your sauce will be ready in 5 minutes. If you prefer, you could simmer the sauce for a few minutes in the pan.
- Too Tangy or Sour Sauce: If the sauce becomes overly sour, balance it by adding ½ to 1 teaspoon sugar.
- Spicy Sauce: For a spicier taste in the sauce, add 1 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes, paprika, cayenne pepper or red chili powder.
- Storage: The sauce can be refrigerated in sealed bowls or glass jars for about 10 to 15 days. It also freezes easily. Freeze the sauce in freezer-safe containers or ice cube trays. Remember to cover or seal the lid tightly while freezing. You could also freeze the sauce in ice cube trays and then, place them in a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer.
- Scaling: You could easily make a small or a large batch by halving or doubling the recipe.
Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)
Pizza Sauce recipe from the archives was first published on December 2013.
Very nice! My sauce and Pizza were made perfect using this receipe. Thanks very much.
thanks margaret for the feedback on the pizza sauce recipe. nice to know and welcome.
too tasty
Hi dear.. what can be used to replace basil leaves? I don’t get basil leaves at my place… also can sunflower oil be used in place of olive oil? Thank you in advance.
aarthi, skip basil leaves. also sunflower oil can be used. dried basil leaves are easily available online on amazon.in
so you can order them if you want. dried basil leaves stay good for a year if refrigerated.
Very nice ….helped me aLot my sauce was perfect ..thank u soo much
thanks jais. nice to know.
Very nice my sauce and pizza were made perfect using this recepie thank u so much
welcome jais. good to know this.
can I use extra virgin olive oil in this recipe. Also we don’t get basil here can I skip it or use anything else on its place
pallavi, yes you can use virgin olive oil. skip adding basil.
Hey,
Can we add marjoram (marwa) leaves instead of basil leaves to the sauce?
Please let me know.
Thanks in advance! 🙂
marjoram leaves will give a different aroma and flavor. would not suggest to add marjoram. just add oregano and skip basil leaves.
Tomatoes are sautaed on a high flame please help and also can i skip basil as i have Italian seasoning can i add chilli flakes too?
sindhu, tomatoes are sautéed on a low to medium flame. i will update in the post also. if you are using italian seasoning, you can skip basil leaves. yes you can add red chili flakes.
is basil the same as Tulsi leaves we get in India?
no chandni. basil leaves and tulsi are different. both belong to the same plant family. tulsi is also called as holy basil. in basil leaves, there are some varieties that are available like italian basil, thai basil etc. this recipe uses italian basil.
is there any substitute for basil leaves. ? I am unable to get them where I live 🙁
chandni, try getting dried basil online. without basil some flavour will be missing. so i would not suggest to skip it. you will get them at amazon.in
Hey thanks! This turned out amazing!
welcome satej and thanks for positive views.
Wonderful n easy sauce recipe. Are the Basil leaves used here are from the plant used to obtain sabja seeds? Also what is Indian name of oregano?
thanks bella. the basil leaves used here are not from sabja plant. though you can use the sabja plant leaves too. but just add them in lesser amounts as they are very strongly aromatic. oregano is similar to ajwain or carom seeds that we use in indian cuisine. but both have different aromatic qualities. i did search online and came to know that oregano is called as sathra in hindi. this is a new name for me too 🙂
thanks a lot for this recipe. made second time for the pizza and kids just loved it.
welcome and thankyou priyanka 🙂
Amazing recipe! This is the second time I’m making this recipe. Never buying store bought pizza sauce again! But for an extra kick, this time I added about 1/4 of a cup of Sriracha. Super good!
pleased to know this emily thankyou for your kind and positive words and sriracha would be a good addition 🙂
Really it’s super
thankyou komal 🙂
Can we use cooking oil instead of olive oil?
you can use a neutral flavored oil like sunflower oil.