Pizza Sauce is a classic tomato-based sauce originating from Italy, consisting of ripe tomatoes simmered with olive oil, garlic, black pepper and herbs like oregano and basil to create a rich, savory base. Tangy in taste and bursting with flavor, this homemade sauce is spread over pizza dough before baking, infusing every slice with the authentic taste of traditional Italian cuisine.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 5 minutes
  • Cook time: 10 minutes
  • Total time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8
  • Category: Condiment
  • Cuisine: Italian, World

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)

Method

Preparation

  1. Rinse and then chop the tomatoes.
  2. Crush the tomatoes in a blender to a coarse consistency.
  3. You can even make a fine and smooth puree of the tomatoes.

Making pizza sauce

  1. Heat olive oil in a pan.
  2. Then add the minced garlic and sauté for 4 to 5 seconds on a low heat.
  3. Add the prepared crushed tomatoes and sauté for 4 to 5 mins on a low to medium-low heat.
  4. Add the chopped basil, dried oregano, salt and pepper.
  5. Cover and cook for 25 minutes on low heat till the sauce has thickened and the tomatoes are cooked.
  6. When tomatoes are cooked you will some oil specks on top or on the sides. But cook till the sauce thickens.
  7. Check the seasonings add more salt or pepper if required.
  8. Remove from pan and let sauce cool.
  9. When the sauce has cooled, you can use it right away as a pizza topping.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.

Serving Suggestions

  1. Use as a base sauce on homemade pizzas, bread pizza toasts, pizza puffs, calzones, or grilled sandwiches.
  2. You can also toss it with cooked pasta and veggies, then bake or grill with cheese.

Storage

  1. Keeps well for 10 to 15 days in the fridge in an air-tight container.
  2. Freeze for 2 to 3 months in small portions. Always use a clean spoon when handling.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.