Neapolitan San Marzano Pizza Sauce Recipe (no-cook) (2024)

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Find out how to make authentic Italian Neapolitan pizza sauce with this easy homemade recipe! This is a no-cook pizza sauce recipe made with San Marzano tomatoes.

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One of my culinary missions on our last visit to Italy was figuring out how to make the BEST authentic Italian pizza. Last time it was Authentic Tomato Bruschetta and an Aperol Spritz. There was something very different from the pizzas I had been making for years at home. I realized after trying many pizzas in Italy, that the most notable difference was the sauce.

I’ve made this easy pizza sauce recipe a few times at home, and am so happy to report it tastes just like in the Italian restaurants we loved. Like my Fresh Tomato Marinara, Salsa, and Dairy-Free Pesto recipes, this one is a great staple to know.


Whereas the pizza sauce I lazily pick up from Trader Joe’s refrigerator section has a deep, rich tomato flavor loaded with spices, the pizzas in Italy had very fresh tasting sauce, without much else in them. Could it really as simple as using crushed tomatoes alone? After a bit more research, I found that my suspicion was correct.

When it comes to making the best authentic pizza sauce at home, less is definitely more. Neapolitan pizza master Vito Iacopelli, shared on Youtube how he makes tomato sauce for pizza and it’s just this way with a few simple ingredients. One of my favorite Italian cooking magazines, Sale e Pepe, makes pizza even simpler by only using tomato puree and sprinkling a little salt and pepper.

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Best Tomatoes for Neapolitan Pizza Sauce

You might be wondering, ‘What are the best tomatoes for pizza sauce?” With recipes this simple, it’s important to use the highest quality ingredients you can find. In this case, tomatoes are the star. Use whole peeled DOP San Marzano tomatoes for the best flavor.

San Marzano tomatoes are grown near Naples, which means you’re making a truly special Neapolitan-style pizza. To ensure you’re actually using real San Marzano tomatoes, look for the DOP label on the can. You might be surprised how many fakes there are on grocery store shelves.

The ingredients for Neapolitan pizza sauce are very similar to traditional San Marzano Marinara Sauce.

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How to Make San Marzano Pizza Sauce at Home

Remove those gorgeous tomatoes from the juice, but don’t discard it. Place the drained tomatoes into a blender or bowl with a small handful of fresh basil leaves and a pinch of sea salt. If you prefer, crush those tomatoes with your hands and then add in chopped basil. I like to add a clove of garlic and a splash of good olive oil as well, but that’s optional.

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Pulse or use an immersion blender to blend the tomatoes. Don’t blend too long, just until the desired consistency is reached. I prefer homemade pizza sauce a little chunky (as it often is in Italy). If needed, thin the sauce by adding a little of the reserved juices at a time. Can you believe it’s that easy? I know. I know!

If you’re like me and feel like homemade pizza sauce should be cooked before using, don’t worry. This sauce does cook just the perfect amount while the pizza bakes. The result is a pizza sauce with the most delicious fresh flavor.

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How to Store and Use Homemade Pizza Sauce

If you’re not using the pizza sauce immediately, store it in an airtight jar in the refrigerator, or freezer.

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To use, spoon a layer of sauce over your prepared pizza dough.

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Bake your homemade pizza in the hottest oven possible, or Pizza Oven, and enjoy your creation.

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Yield: about 2.5 cups

Neapolitan San Marzano Pizza Sauce

Prep Time2 minutes

Cook Time1 minute

Total Time3 minutes

How to make authentic Neapolitan homemade pizza sauce. The key to making the best pizza sauce recipe is to use the best quality ingredients you can find. This San Marzano pizza sauce is a traditional no-cook recipe that will create the best Neapolitan pizzas.

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Ingredients

  • 1 (28 oz.) can/jar whole peeled DOP San Marzano tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 4 fresh basil leaves
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled (optional)
  • splash of extra virgin olive oil (optional)

Instructions

  1. Remove the tomatoes from the sauce and place them into a blender (or bowl if using an immersion blender).
  2. Add the salt and basil leaves
  3. Pulse until the sauce is chunky or smooth, depending on your preference. To thin, if needed, add 1 tablespoon of the sauce from the can at a time (I don't use any).
  4. Use your homemade pizza sauce right away, or store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 5Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 2Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 212mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Nutritionix. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your favorite calculator.

Neapolitan San Marzano Pizza Sauce Recipe (no-cook) (2024)

FAQs

Do you need to cook tomato sauce before putting it on pizza? ›

Mix together water, tomato paste, and olive oil in a large bowl or jar. Add garlic, oregano, basil, rosemary, salt, and pepper; mix well. Let sauce stand for several hours to let flavors blend. No cooking is necessary; just spread on dough.

Can you eat pizza sauce without cooking? ›

Yes, you can eat pizza sauce raw. Most pizza sauces are made from simple ingredients like tomatoes, garlic, and fresh herbs, which are all safe to eat raw. The cooking process deepens the flavors and melds them together, but it's unnecessary for safety reasons.

Is it better to cook or uncooked tomato sauce for pizza? ›

Don't Cook the Sauce!

This isn't just for convenience — a no-cook sauce will actually taste better on your pizza, giving you that fresh, zippy tomato flavor, even after it has been baked in a hot oven.

Why is pizza sauce not cooked? ›

The reason pizza sauce is uncooked is because it will actually result in a better-tasting pizza — it will give you fresh, zippy tomato flavor, even after it has been baked in a hot oven. Pasta sauce, on the other hand, is slow-simmered. It usually has a few more herbs involved, like basil or even a bay leaf.

Does tomato sauce need to be cooked? ›

So it makes sense that raw tomato sauces are highly appealing. Tomato season is fleeting, but pasta is forever. The best way to marry the two is with a sauce so simple, you don't even have to cook it.

Should you cook down pizza sauce? ›

The flavor gets richer the longer you let the sauce simmer. However, if you don't have the time to let it cook down for an hour, just let the sauce cook for as long as possible. The flavor won't be as robust and the texture will be thinner, but no one will complain.

What is the secret ingredient in pizza sauce? ›

Balsamic vinegar: Vinegar is a “secret” ingredient in pizza sauce. A little sweet balsamic vinegar actually helps balance the acidity and sweetness of canned tomatoes, which can vary from can to can. That means you don't need to add any extra sugar to the sauce. Red wine vinegar can also be used.

Is pizza sauce normally uncooked? ›

Pizza sauce is generally made with fewer ingredients than pasta sauce; the fresher, the better. It uses uncooked crushed or pureed tomatoes, seasonings, and possibly some tomato paste for thickening. It is necessary to use raw tomatoes as the sauce will cook while in the oven's intense heat.

Can you eat tomato sauce without cooking it? ›

Fresh ripe tomatoes, herbs, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil come together to create a bright and flavorful no-cook tomato sauce with little effort. Serve this 5-ingredient fresh tomato sauce (or sugo di pomodoro crudo) with pasta, or use it as a fresh pizza sauce or as a simple topping for bread!

Do you have to peel tomatoes for pizza sauce? ›

For the purest, tastiest tomato sauce, it's a good idea to remove the skin and seeds first from the tomatoes. To remove the skins, score both ends of the tomatoes with a sharp knife by making a small "X."

What's the difference between tomato pasta sauce and pizza sauce? ›

Difference between Pizza Sauce and Pasta Sauce

Tomato sauce is similar to pizza sauce, but they are not the same. The main difference between tomato sauce for pasta and pizza sauce is that pasta sauce is cooked in the preparation of the sauce and pizza sauce is an uncooked tomato sauce that cooks along with the pizza.

Can you overcook pizza sauce? ›

Yes, it is very possible. It's possible to burn it quickly too. Cooking should only be done up to a certain point of acceptable tenderness of meat or vegetables simmering in the sauce; or else one would run the risk of: reduction/thickening/darkening/oxidation of the sauce and its components.

Can you eat pizza sauce without cooking it? ›

Because this pizza sauce isn't cooked, it has that nice bright, fresh, and acidic tomato flavor with just the right amount of bite from the garlic. "Cooking your sauce will make your pizza taste like it was topped with pasta sauce rather pizza sauce.

Why do Italians not put ketchup on pizza? ›

In general, Italians do not favor putting ketchup on pizza. The reason is that pizza is a savoury snack, not a sweet-sour one, therefore ketchup does not fit, and would ruin pizza's flavor profile. For the same reason, sweet toppings on pizza, including fruity ones (e.g. pineapple), are generally rejected.

Should pizza sauce be precooked? ›

By cooking the sauce prior to baking the pizza, you are exposing that sauce to increased heating time, which will give the sauce even more of a “cooked flavor.” Depending on the type and amount of toppings used in conjunction with the cooked sauce, one may experience a scorched or burnt flavor in the resulting pizza, ...

Should I pre cook tomatoes for pizza? ›

Before I add the onions and tomatoes to the pizza dough, I like to caramelize them in the oven. This really intensifies their flavor and makes them even more delicious.

Do you put sauce on pizza before or after cheese? ›

Cheese always goes belowthe toppings

You've got your dough as the foundation. Then your sauce. The cheese is the next solid layer. Then your toppings (after all, they're called top-pings and not bottom-ings), and then finally your garnishes like basil, pepper, fresh mozzarella, etc, after the pizza is cooked.

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