Made with fresh ingredients, this homemade pizza sauce recipe is a keeper – It goes great on pizza and also doubles as a pasta sauce as well as a dip for crackers!
A good pizza sauce is key for a delicious pizza. As the base layer, the pizza sauce sets the tone for the rest of the ingredients. A well-crafted sauce can enhance the toppings and the crust, binding all the flavors together into a cohesive whole.
A couple of months ago, we held a baking-for-all workshop at our farm. Our intention with all our cooking sessions is to share the taste and benefits of using farm-fresh, organically-grown ingredients. We made many different pizzas using seasonal greens like rocket, basil, amaranths, and even spinach! But they all had the same pasta sauce. This one.
Made with farm-fresh tomatoes, garlic, onions and fresh oregano, thyme, and basil – it complemented the fresh toppings and elevated the entire pizza.
Why make pizza sauce at home?
Making pizza sauce at home is pretty uncomplicated and you can store it for a week in the refrigerator or freeze it for much longer. And there are more than one reason to make a big batch and do so:
- First and foremost, it’s homemade – no preservatives and no ingredients beyond what you commonly find in your kitchen.
- As a pizza sauce, this recipe is versatile – it can go with different toppings – from a simple margherita to a farmer’s delight full of leafy greens and roasted veggies!
- It makes a delicious pasta sauce as well. Dilute it with a little water from cooking pasta, toss in some roasted veggies and cooked pasta.
- Perfect as a dip to go with savoury crackers. You can also mix it in yogurt/ mayo to make a creamy dip.
Homemade Pizza Sauce
Ingredients (1cup = 240ml; 1tbsp = 15ml; 1tsp = 5ml)
- 500 g tomato
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion
- 8-10 garlic cloves
- ¼ cup fresh herbs mix of oregano, thyme and basil (cut)
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 " beetroot cube for colour
Instructions
- Chop tomatoes in chunks and puree to a smooth blend.
- Heat oil in a deep saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and ½ the herbs. Sauté till slightly brown.
- Add onions and sauté until onions are soft but not colored.
- Add tomatoes, beetroot, remaining herbs, salt, pepper and sugar. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half (about 30 mins). You will need to stir more frequently towards the end to stop the sauce from burning.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Leave to cool and blend.
- Spread a thick layer over the pizza base, and add cheese and toppings of choice. Bake and Enjoy!
- Alternatively, store it in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Keeps well in the refrigerator for a week. Freeze for up to 2 months.
- If you don’t have fresh herbs, use 2 tbsp of dried herbs (a mix of dried oregano, thyme and basil OR mixed Italian herbs)
We often group pizzas in the junk food category but when made at home with homemade pizza sauce and fresh seasonal ingredients as toppings, the pizza can also be a humble healthy food. And a win-win for mommy and kids both!
Happy Cooking 🙂
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