The Best Homemade Neapolitan Pizza Sauce Recipe
If you’re a pizza lover, you know that the sauce can make or break the whole experience. And what better way to elevate your homemade pizza than with the rich flavors of fresh and easy-to-make Neapolitan pizza sauce? With just three simple ingredients, you can whip up a delicious homemade Neapolitan pizza sauce with the best flavor.
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Forget about store-bought sauces filled with preservatives and artificial flavors. This authentic Neapolitan pizza sauce recipe is the easiest pizza sauce recipe and the epitome of freshness and simplicity. All you need is a can of San Marzano tomatoes (the best tomatoes for making pizza sauce), sea salt, basil, and garlic, which is optional. That’s it!
🤍Why you will love this recipe
- It’s a delicious sauce made with fresh, high-quality ingredients such as San Marzanos, fresh basil leaves and sea salt.
- Simplicity! It’s a simple tomato sauce that allows the flavors of the quality of the tomatoes to shine through.
Here is what you will need
This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this authentic Neapolitan sauce recipe; scroll down for a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions.
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🛒Ingredients
- San Marzano Tomatoes
- Basil
- Fine Sea Salt
- Garlic (optional)
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil (optional)
🥄Equipment
- Food Processor, Blender, Immersion Blender or Food Mill
How to make classic Neapolitan pizza sauce
STEP 1: Place the whole tomatoes in a food processor bowl.
STEP 2: Blend until smooth; add the fresh basil leaves and garlic if you use it. Process until blended.
STEP 3: Process until blended. Adjust flavor with sea salt, black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil to taste.
NOTE: To make the sauce in a food mill, place the food mill over a bowl large enough to hold the tomatoes. Spoon the tomatoes into the food mill until it’s three-quarters full, turn the crank which will for the tomatoes through the disk and into the bowl.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
San Marzano Tomatoes– These plum tomatoes originated in Southern Italy and are grown in volcanic soil created by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Fresh San Marzano tomatoes are widely known for their exceptional flavor and quality. They have a longer and thinner shape than regular plum tomatoes, with a thin skin and thick flesh, making them an excellent choice for canning.
To be considered an authentic San Marzano tomato, it must be grown in the San Marzano region in Southern Italy. Although you can purchase San Marzano tomato seeds in the United States, the homegrown tomatoes will not be authentic and the flavor won’t be the same as official San Marzano tomatoes.
If you have fresh San Marzano-style tomatoes, you can use an equal amount of them in this recipe. However, if canned Italian San Marzano tomatoes are unavailable, you can substitute them with an equal amount of canned or fresh plum tomatoes.
Garlic – Garlic powder, while not as flavorful as fresh garlic, can be substituted for a quarter teaspoon of the fresh ingredient.
How to store leftovers
If you plan to use the sauce within the next few days, store the leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you want to extend the shelf life beyond three days, freeze the sauce in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months.
Recipe variations
Add Heat – If you enjoy a bit of heat, add a dash or two of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Add Herbs – In addition to basil, add more fresh herbs such as oregano or thyme.
Lemon – Add a touch of brightness to your sauce with a pinch of two of grated lemon zest.
Serving suggestions
Serve this delicious homemade pizza sauce spread over pizza dough for a fresh and delicious homemade pizza. In addition, this sauce can double as a dipping suace, or marinara sauce and serve over your favorite pasta, Manicotti or grilled chicken parmesan.
💡Top Tips
- If you prefer a chunkier sauce, crush the tomatoes by hand or with a potato masher instead of blending in a food processor.
- Keep the seasoning simple; gradually add salt once the sauce has been made.
- If the sauce seems too acidic, balance the flavor by gradually adding a pinch of sugar.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, try adding a little bit of tomato puree or tomato paste until it reaches your desired consistency.
Neapolitan pizza sauce is known for its simplicity and that it is made with fresh, quality ingredients.
Yes, always taste before adding salt. Many canned tomatoes contain added sodium, so only add salt to suit your taste.
Yes, you can crush the tomatoes with a your hands, use a potato masher, or use a food mill (see instructions above for food mill).
Yes, you can use fresh plum tomatoes when they are in season and you can also use any variety of canned tomatoes.
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 28 ounce San Marzano Tomatoes
- Fresh Basil Leaves to taste
- 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 clove Garlic Optional
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil Optional
Instructions
- Separate the tomatoes from the liquid using a strainer or slotted spoon and place them into a food processor.
- Pulse the tomatoes until they are almost pureed, add 1 clove Garlic, basil and blend.
- Gradually add sea salt and olive oil to taste.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used
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This looks so good! It has been a long time since I made home-made pizza sauce! I will definitely be making some soon 🙂
Thanks Maureen!