If you ever ask kids what they want for dinner 8/10 chances are that you get pizza as an answer and truthfully it is okay and fun to get a high street pizza once in a while. It is expensive but most importantly it is not the healthiest pizza option either. This is why this pizza sauce is a must make.
Knowing how to make homemade pizza from scratch is essential to enjoy a good pizza every time we fancy it - it cuts the costs, it is healthier and we can customise the pizza toppings as we wish and fancy. You can keep it super simple, you can make your pizza a vegan, a vegetarian or a meat feast one.
Pizza toppings are important but for me the pizza sauce it's what makes it a yummy or a not so yummy pizza. It is as simple as that. The sauce acidity balance it's very important - if it's too sour or too sweet - no, thanks! Yes, I am fussy when it comes to homemade pizzas and pizza in general.
This is the thing. Ive been making this sauce for a very long time and sometimes we add some weird things to it ( Sriracha sauce, cajun powder, chopped lovage) but the base it's always the same. Nothing really beats a homemade pizza sauce recipe or that sauce made with fresh tomatoes, mmmm! I will come to this a bit later on.
what is the difference between pizza sauce and pasta sauce?
This is a question that I came across a few times and to be fair it is a good question.
Using any jarred sauce like a marinara sauce it's absolutely fine but that will need to be reduced due to higher water content. Those are made for pasta and the sauce needs to be runnier since the pasta will need to absorb that.
This is a common question I get asked all the time! Here are some distinctions between the two
- Spaghetti sauce has and needs higher water content - This is why I don't recommend using jar sauce when making homemade pizza, you could end up with a bit of a mess!
- Pizza sauce is and needs to be thicker - Pizza sauce contains tomato paste, which causes it to spread evenly and a lot easier too!
- Pizza sauce has more flavour - we like to add a lot more spices in our pizza sauce than we do in our spaghetti sauce for instance.
How to make pasta sauce from scratch?
Non- cooked version:
1. Mix tomato paste and tomato sauce together in a medium-sized bowl until well homogenised.
2. Add the remaining ingredients - oregano, Italian seasoning or mixed Italian herbs, garlic (fresh or powder, onion powder, celery salt, pepper and maple syrup) and mix well!
This is IT! Ready to use in your favourite pizza recipe! It is this easy, I told you!
Cooked version:
1. Heat the olive oil in a medium-size pot over medium heat;
2. Add garlic and saute for a minute or so;
3. Add tomatoes (fresh- grated (skin off or chopped canned and whizzed), tomato paste, oregano, fresh basil, bay leaves, fresh thyme and salt/pepper;
4. Bring to a simmer and reduce the sauce until the bubbles turn into puffed bubbles;
5. Simmer for 10-15 minutes so the flavours blend. How easy, right?
can I use pasta sauce for pizza?
Yes, you can, if you don't have any tomato paste on hand, you certainly can use pasta sauce on pizza but you will need to do the following:
- strain the pasta sauce to remove excess liquid and then add the pasta sauce to a food processor or blender and pulse until it becomes smooth. Add your desired seasoning and salt to taste.
- Or, you can pulse the pasta sauce in a blender, transfer this to a pan and reduce it for 5 minutes on medium fire until it becomes a thick and water-free paste which can then be spread nicely on a homemade pizza base.
Can you freeze leftover pizza sauce?
Yes, you certainly can! You can freeze pizza sauce without much loss in quality or taste it. Freezing is the best way to keep and store the sauce for up to 2.5 months. When you need it to thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and use it the next day.
Is marinara sauce OK for pizza?
Yes, it is and I confess that I have used it in the past. In fact, the marinara sauce can be used for so many other dishes like pasta, pizza, or as a dipping sauce as opposed to a pizza sauce that can only be used for pizza. The taste of marinara sauce can be too complex to use as a pizza sauce for some. I personally do not mind it at all.
How do you thicken pizza sauce?
Well, I know that some people add cornstarch or cornflour to it. I personally like to either strain it or cook it for 5-7 min to reduce and therefore thicken the pizza sauce.
Ingredients for the cooked pizza sauce
- dry mixed Italian herbs
- fresh herbs ( thyme, parsley, bay leaf, flat-leaf parsley, basil and chives)
- chilli flakes
- shallot
- fresh garlic
- tomato sauce (you can use blended chopped tomatoes too)
- tomato paste
- seasoning (salt and pepper to taste)
- olive oil (optional)
Making the cooked pizza sauce :
- Add oil to a pan, place this on fire and add the finely chopped shallot as well as the garlic
- Add the tomato paste, tomato sauce, the mixed dry herbs, the bay leaves and chilli flakes.
- Cook for 5 minutes to blend in the flavours and to reduce the sauce
- Use as desired in your pizza recipe
The uncooked homemade pizza sauce version
It literally takes 5 minutes or even less once you have gathered all the ingredients
This pizza sauce recipe will be the uncooked version but I will tell you all about the cooked pizza sauce recipe one here too. Not a biggie, still super easy, quick and absolutely delicious. See the recipe card for details.
making homemade pizza sauce with fresh tomatoes
Like I said earlier, nothing beats a homemade pizza sauce made from scratch. Especially when made with fresh own tomatoes harvested from our own garden.
You will need to grate these, add to a pan, add the desired seasoning and cook it a little - only 10 minutes or so until the bubbles are beginning to sound like little puffs.
HOMEMADE PIZZA SAUCE SERVING SIZE
This super-easy homemade pizza sauce recipe makes enough sauce to make two medium pizzas or one quite large pizza!
Some more recipes you may like that you can use this pizza sauce:
- Pizza on ciabatta bread
- Pizza biscuits by Pillsbury
- Breakfast pizza slices with quail eggs
- Dough-free pizza
- Potato base pizza in one pan
Homemade Pizza Sauce From Scratch - ready in 5 min
Equipment
- pot
- wooden spoon
- jar with lid
- can opener (optional)
Ingredients
- 300 g tomato sauce I use organic Passata
- 100 tomato paste
- 1 clove garlic fresh or garlic powder
- 1 pinch celery salt
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup Use coconut sugar for Paleo - or skip
- ¼ tablespoon mixed Italian herbs
- ¼ tablespoon oregano
- bay leaves fresh or dry
- 1 medium shallot or 1 tsp onion powder
Instructions
- Mix the tomato paste and tomato sauce together in a medium-sized bowl until well combined (incorporate and mix all tomato paste lumps into the sauce)
- Add the rest of the ingredients (oregano, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, garlic salt, pepper and maple syrup if you use to use) and mix really well!
- It is now ready to use in your favourite pizza recipe! Delicious!
Notes
Nutrition
Cook's Extra Notes
How to To store pizza sauce
- Refrigerated: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. The sauce will become thicker once refrigerated, so before using, make sure to let it come to room temperature or gently warm it in the microwave before using! It will be easier to handle it too.
- Freeze. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for 2-2.5 months.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Tomato Sauce. If you run out of tomato sauce can, bottle or jar do not worry at all, just use a can of diced tomatoes that can be blended quickly or tossed in a blender to turn into the sauce you need! You can also use fresh blended tomatoes as well but these will have a lot more juice and will need other draining or cooked slightly - see recipe for the cooked version above
- Oregano or the Italian seasoning - I always have dried spices, but if I do run out, just using fresh ones will be great too.
- Celery salt - If you don't keep or you are allergic to celery, use garlic salt or just regular pink Himalayan or kosher salt.
- Maple syrup - You can use coconut sugar or honey instead or even granulated sugar. You may also skip this altogether. I have also used dates sweetener or date syrup in the past roo.
Kristina says
My kids love this pizza sauce on flatbread and regular pizza dough. It’s a winner!
Alexandra says
Delicious - this pizza sauce is so good (and homemade is so much better).
Our family love pizza night, and this sauce will be our go-to recipe from now on. We will make a double batch next time to keep some in the freezer.
Silvia says
Absolutely delicious! I agree, if you are making pizza from scratch, pizza sauce from scratch is the way to go. Easy and fast.
Allyssa says
Thanks a lot for sharing this homemade pizza sauce from scratch! It's really easy to make and so happy because I can use scratch! It taste really good too and very easy to make!
GUNJAN C Dudani says
I love to make sauces at home and this recipe is totally my style. I have all the ingredients and I am putting it together right now 🙂
Oscar says
This was amazing, definitely going to be using this pizza sauce everytime I make pizza.
Farrukh Aziz says
This is the best homemade pizza sauce recipe for pizza! The sauce was perfect for our family weeknight dinner!
Julia Zhu says
This was so quick and great when we want to make pizza on the fly at home!
Elizabeth says
This pizza sauce is insanely quick to throw together and SO delicious. Won’t be buying the canned stuff ever again!
Tristin says
Yep, this sauce recipe is going to be happening! We love pizza and this fresh sauce is ready so fast.
Cathleen says
I just made some pizza last night, and I am kinda sad that I didn't see this before then! Bookmarked to make this weekend, thanks so much for the recipe 🙂
Linda says
Ahmazing! Look at the vibrant color and how fresh this one looks. Can't wait to have a pizza party with this sauce...or maybe calzone...or pasta!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
There is nothing more comforting than making our own pizza sauce at home. The flavors are just the best and the store bought ones don't come close. Love all the tips and excited for my summer tomatoes to make my batch!
Amy Casey says
There is just no comparison to homemade pizza sauce. My family loved this tomatoey sauce on our Friday night pizza. The touch of maple syrup added just the right bit of sweetness.
Brianna says
I had no idea pizza sauce was this easy to make! Never buying jarred sauce again.