subject: Secret Ingredients For Terrific Pizza Sauce [print this page] You want to make your own homemade pizza, but you are stumbling a bit over the sauce. What should you use? Is sauce in a jar okay? Should you find a recipe and slow cook your own? What is the best way to get a good pizza?
Sure, many people will suggest you just use some commercial sauce from the grocery store, but many others will disagree and tell you to make your own. They'll tell you everything from what kind of tomato works best for it and even whether you should cook it ahead of time or not. Without a doubt, there are plenty of pizza recipes that just use olive oil as a sauce.
The truth is that most people think of a sauce made of tomatoes when they think of pizza. You can use fresh tomatoes from your garden or farmers' market if you can get them, but you cannot always access them. Next best would be canned plum tomatoes, which are also known as Italian tomatoes. Do not get confused with the cans that say "Italian-style"... it is not the same. Even if you are using canned tomatoes, whole is best for making it. If you prefer a smooth version to a chunky one, you can always pop the tomatoes into a blender or food processor after you have rinsed out the seeds.
Good pizza sauce is thick so it will not make your crust soggy. Use your favorite herbs to season it with. Oregano, basil and thyme all work well with tomatoes. At this point, you could use it as an uncooked style and spread it on your pizza. Many people prefer this method because it cooks with the pizza. If you prefer to cook your sauce on the stove, do not put the herbs in until later.
If you like it cooked, you can put it on the stove now. Be careful what kind of pot you use; tomatoes are acidic and will react with some types of cookware like iron or aluminum. Cooking is a good way to thicken sauce that is too thin, but cooking will also alter the flavor of the sauce. Olive oil can be added for flavor if you have some good extra virgin on hand.
Before you put any tomatoes in your pot, cook up some onions and garlic to help season your pizza sauce recipe. As they cook, these ingredients soften and mellow, creating a nice depth of flavor. Saut them in butter or olive oil for added taste. Now add the tomatoes and stir well.
Mix in some salt and pepper and let it simmer awhile. Taste it again before you use it in case you need more salt. Some prefer to add a little sugar to tame the acidity of the tomatoes a bit. Sugar naturally neutralizes the acidity, making it easier on your tongue. This is also great for diners who like a sweeter sauce, though you can use honey as well as sugar.
Now you can add your herbs to the pot. Besides those mentioned above, fennel, parsley, cayenne pepper, and many other seasonings you favor can also be added. Season everything to taste. For more robust flavors, add a little beef stock, wine or balsamic vinegar.
