May 01 2010

Making Pizza Sauce At Home

Published by at 4:13 pm under Uncategorized

The sauce you put on your pizza can mean the difference between a great pie and an average pie. If you know the components of a great pizza sauce, you can make your homemade pizza pies better than anything you can get in a restaurant.

If you have fresh tomatoes, they can make a great sauce. Plum tomatoes are traditionally used for sauces of all kinds. If you grow them in your garden, you will want to blanch your harvest before peeling them. Remove the seeds and then chop them up. Fresh tomatoes are not always in season, however. If this is the case, you may need to use canned tomatoes.

Choosing Canned Tomatoes

It is easy to find canned tomatoes at your local market. You will find them whole, chopped, diced, or crushed. Tomato puree and paste is also available. They are more concentrated. Combining both types can make for a great sauce. If you have a few fresh tomatoes, you can add them in as well. All tomatoes should be a bright red in color when the can is opened. A darker color indicates that they used too much heat in the processing, and an orange hue suggests the tomatoes were under ripe.

Whatever tomato products you have chosen to use need to be cooked together. If you have chopped canned or fresh tomatoes, you will get a wonderful texture. Cook over a low heat, stirring frequently. Keep an eye on it so the sauce does not cook too long.

Seasonings

With a thick tomato base, all that is needed are your herbs and spices to make delicious pizza sauce recipes. Pepper, salt and some garlic are the necessary ingredients to round out your sauce. A little sugar comes in handy as well to help cut the acidity of the tomatoes. If you used fresh, low acid tomatoes, it might not be needed.

Most pizza sauces contain herbs. Oregano is the most common herb used in pizza sauce. Marjoram is very similar to oregano. It can be substituted for oregano if you prefer a milder form. Another traditional Italian herb is sweet basil. Other herbs commonly used in pizza sauce include tarragon, parsley, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf. If you use bay, be sure to remove it from the sauce before putting it on the pizza.

For those who like a spicy sauce, you may want to add some red pepper flakes, cayenne, or hot paprika. A little goes a long way. Add just a pinch to put a little zing into the sauce. Alternatively, you can make your basic sauce and keep red pepper flakes on the table. That way your guests can enjoy your pizza spicy or not, at their choosing.

Adding a little olive oil to your sauce will give it that traditional Italian flavor. It adds some authenticity. The green olive oils will taste more of fresh olives. A little bit of your favorite wine can add more depth to your sauce and a bit of richness as well.

Pizza is one of the most popular foods ever invented and each country has its favorite pizza dough style, pizza sauce and tasty toppings. All the best pizza recipes can be found at our site, as well as handy pizza cooking tips and the fascinating and colorful history of this delicious food.

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