If you believe that making a winning pizza sauce is hard or time-consuming, I'm here to prove you wrong.
Now I know how easy it is to toss one of those cans or jars of runny red tomato pizza sauce into your grocery cart, I've been there. I've done that quite a few times. In fact, I would normally have a can in the pantry -- just in case we were out of our No-Cook Pizza Sauce.
Sure enough, one Saturday when we needed our homemade sauce, we were out of not only our homemade pizza sauce but the standby in the pantry. Well, what were we going to do? We were expecting our youngest son, wife and two boys to stop by for a visit. Whenever we're able to get together with our kids and grandkids, it's a time to celebrate. And in typical Italian fashion, we wanted to feed them. This time, it was going to be pizza made with our homemade Perfect Crispy Pizza Crust.
Decision - Make Pizza Sauce
We didn't have much time, so we decided to whip up a batch of sauce. We also didn't have the right ingredients for our usual homemade sauce, so we decided to try something different. Unfortunately, the new recipe needed fresh basil, and our basil plants were not quite ready to cut. Not to worry, though, we had it covered. We had basil cubes.
What are basil cubes? They are basil leaves that we pulse in the food processor, spoon into oil-sprayed ice cube trays and then freeze. Once frozen we pop them out of the tray and save them in freezer bags. Basil cubes come in handy in the dead of winter.
So, in no time at all, we had the pizza sauce done, the pizza dough ready to stretch, the fresh mozzarella sliced, the sausage (oldest grandson's request) fried and ready to go. Now it was just a matter of assembling the pizza and sticking it in the oven.
Once the pizza was done and served, the sighs of appreciation and "yums" were music to our ears. Our son and oldest grandson were enjoying each bite of their pizza. The little guy, 13 months old, wasn't quite up to eating pizza just yet. We'll give him a few more months.
"Mom and dad, this is sooo good, the best pizza I've ever eaten. It's a winner!"
"Nonna!Papa! This pizza is the best, EVER!!! May I have another slice?!!" Young kids seem to talk in exclamation points, don't they? 🙂
Yes indeed! Our expert pizza eaters were giving it the quality taste test, and the way the pizza was going down, I would say the recipe for the pizza sauce was a keeper. The sauce was the only difference between this pizza and the last one we made.
We concluded that making this winning pizza sauce is:
QUICK AND EASY
- Prep Time is 10 minutes
- Easy instructions - work entails chopping onion and mincing garlic
- Simmer ingredients in skillet 30 minutes
HEALTHIER
- No modified corn starch as found in some cans or jars
- Fresh vegetables and herbs
- High-quality organic canned tomatoes
BETTER TASTING
- Thick and ruby red not a runny liquid that soaks into the pizza dough
- Garden fresh tomato taste not bitey and acidy
- Mouth-watering herbal aroma not flat and flavorless
Conclusion - Winning Pizza Sauce is the best!
As a result of not having any of our old pizza sauce prepared or the standby, we discovered a great new version. Everyone in the family, including our daughter-in-law, once she was able to have a slice, agreed that this is "THE BEST.". Since they gave it their seal of approval, this pizza sauce recipe is a keeper -- a real winning pizza sauce. Try it, and I'm sure you'll agree.
Tutti a tavola è pronto!
Un caro saluto e alla prossima.
📖 Recipe
Easy Winning Pizza Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 - 28 oz. can San Marzano tomatoes crushed with juice
- 9 oz tomato sauce
- 4 oz. tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 teaspoons fresh oregano leaves or 2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
- 1 frozen basil cube** or 3 teaspoons fresh basil chopped
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In saucepan saute onion and garlic in olive oil until tender.
- Stir in remaining ingredients.
- Simmer for 30 minutes or more for a thick consistency.
- Stir occasionally.
- If you want a smooth sauce use a stick blender or a regular blender once the sauce cools.
Notes
- ** basil cubes are fresh basil leaves we pulsed in the food processor and froze in oil sprayed ice cube trays. Once the basil freezes we put the cubes in a freezer bag and use them as needed.
- There is enough sauce to make 3-4 12 inch pizzas depending on how much sauce you like on the pizza.
Nutrition
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Lori Johnson
This sounds so good! I can't wait to try it on pizza night! I always have lots of basil in the summer so I have a question. For the basil cubes do you add any oil or water to the food processor when you chop up the basil? Or is it just the basil and then you put it in sprayed tray?
Marisa Franca
Hi Lori! What we do is a bit of water so that it will hold together once it freezes. We've also used a bit of oil. It is so handy with soups and sauces. The basil turns out more chopped and then the moisture holds it together. We just make sure it isn't too runny. Happy pizza making. You'll have to try our Pesto without Pine Nuts Recipe. That is also excellent.
Veronika Sykorova
I always eye the cauliflower pizza base at my local grocery store but never buy it cause I never know what I'd put on top. This solves it! Can't wait to try this sauce
Amanda Dixon
Oh, my goodness, this sauce was just fabulous! Homemade pizza nights are one of our favorite at-home date nights, so we whipped up a batch this weekend. It was so easy but bursting with flavor and really took our pizza to a new level. Make this sauce!
Jacqueline Debono
Your pizza looks out of this world. Nothing beats a homemade sauce. I love your basil cube idea. Something I really want to do when I have my basil plants in the summer!
Veronika
It's all about the sauce! I already don't remember the last time I bought pizza sauce in the store... there is nothing better than a homemade one!
Kate
This tasted amazing! The combination of flavors was out of this world! Great tip with the basil cubes, I have been wasting so much herb, I will start making my own cubes.
Helen
My husband and I are getting into making pizza's at home now that all the restaurants are currently closed. This sauce is super yummy and packed with flavour. Will definitely make a large batch and freeze next time.
Leslie
Everyone needs a good, classic pizza sauce recipe to keep on hand! This is one of those classics!
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer
Pizza sauce is one of my loves! I eat pizza every single day! I love the addition of herbs to yours to help liven up the pizza! Thank you so much for sharing!
Marta
I always need a go-to pizza sauce for my calzones. Thanks for this gem!
Heather Perine
Love the idea of the "basil cubes" totally trying this. We made homemade pizza once a week, so I can't wait to try this!
Holly
I make homemade dough every week and have been buying sauce. I like the idea of making homemade sauce so that I can not add any extra sugar. Thanks for the recipe!
Marisa Franca
You're welcome, Holly! The sauce freezes well too. We always make a big batch and freeze in pint containers.xoxo
Claudia Lamascolo
wow I love this and cant wait to try your version. I make so much pizza I am surprised I don't look like one!
Thanks for sharing
Jolina
I love this! We always make homemade pizza...in fact I think there's one left in our freezer right now! Can't wait to try your sauce. Love how simple it is to put together.
Denise
It's only 8am and I want a slice! That sauce sounds wonderful and I love the idea of basil cubes! My basil is just about to die so I'm going to go recover as many leaves as I can and use your tip!
Veena Azmanov
We only eat homemade pizza here. It something my kids enjoy most. Yup, I live off frozen basil cubes in the freezer too. Basil has such a short life that by a day or two it's unusable. This sounds so good Marisa. I love how to put the mozzarella - I usually grate mine - this looks more authentic Italiano.
Gloria
Wow...this would be perfect to make with my tomatoes from the freezer. Homemade sauce...and homemade pizza is the BEST!! This would be perfect to whip up on the weekend when the kids come over for dinner. I know I would have to make LOTS...they like to take leftovers home with them.
Jovina Coughlin
I never cook my pizza sauce either. No need, it cooks in the oven on the pizza. I like your idea for the basil cubes. Pizza looks amazing.
Marisa Franca
Basil cubes are great! If you have extra basil put it in the processor zap it and then put them in ice cube trays. Hope you had a great weekend.
nicole (thespicetrain.com)
This pizza looks SO mouthwatering that I had to go to the kitchen and grab a snack! And wow, I love the idea of basil cubes! Having fresh basil available on demand sounds wonderful, thanks so much for sharing this great trick, Marisa!
Marisa Franca
You're welcome Nicole. The cubes are super handy in winter.
Rosemary @anitalianinmykitchen.com
Oh my gosh, now you are making me want Pizza! Looks amazing, this I am going to try on Pizza night. Thanks Marisa, great recipe.
Marisa Franca
Thank you Rosemary!! I wish I could come over to your house for dessert!!
KariAnne Wood
I have never made pizza sauce and I've never even seen basil cubes.
You are an inspiration my friend!
karianne
Marisa Franca
Well, KariAnne if you plant basil or have friends that do -- that is so easy to do for when you don't have the plant. You, my friend inspire every day!! 🙂
Susie
Like many, we love pizza! I can't wait to try this sauce for our family, especially, the grandsons. Thanks, Marisa
Marisa Franca
Hi Susie! You're welcome. Let me know how the munchkins like it.
Chiara
the sauce is very important, yours seems so delicious ! Un abbraccio
Marisa Franca
The sauce is important and we realized it once we tasted our pizza compared to the ones in the past. Un abbraccio e buona serata!
Jovina Coughlin
Homemade pizza sauce a must for really good pizza. Love your recipe. Definitely going on my next pizza.
Marisa Franca
Thank you Jovina! I agree with homemade pizza needs a homemade sauce even though I have cheated in the past :-(.
Diane P.
Just in time! I've been looking for a good pizza sauce recipe for some time! Thanks for the post!
Marisa Franca
My pleasure, Diane! BTW, what's your favorite topping on pizza?
Diane P.
I will eat almost anything on a pizza----even anchovies! What I don't tolerate are some of these California pizza recipes with ham and pineapple----YUK!!! I am much more of a traditionalist when it comes to pizza.
Marisa Franca
I'm with you, Diane. Anymore though we've become more minimal when it comes to ingredients. We prefer it that way. 🙂