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.

Neapolitan San Marzano Pizza Sauce Recipe (no-cook) (1)

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.

Neapolitan San Marzano Pizza Sauce Recipe (no-cook) (9)

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.

Should pizza sauce be raw or 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.

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.

How do you thicken San Marzano pizza sauce? ›

Cook It Down

Reducing is a classic cooking technique. It means bringing the sauce to a boil, reducing the heat, and letting the sauce simmer gently until it reaches your desired consistency. That might be 20 minutes or an hour—perhaps even longer.

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.

Do Italians put tomato sauce on pizza? ›

Tomato sauce on pizza is an AMERICAN creation, not Italian, says food historian at the University of Parma - sparking outrage in his home country. Tomato sauce on pizza was invented in America, not Italy, according to an Italian food historian - and veteran pizzaiolos in Rome have been left furious over the claim.

Do you cook pizza dough before sauce? ›

If you're baking the pizza in the oven, whether on a pizza stone or not, I always pre-bake the dough for 4-5 minutes before adding toppings, to make sure the pizza dough cooks crisp on the outside and soft and airy in the middle. Once you add the Pizza Sauce and toppings, return it to the oven to finish baking.

Should I add sugar to pizza sauce? ›

If you don't keep garlic salt on hand, substitute an extra ¼ teaspoon garlic powder and ½ to 1 teaspoon sea salt. Granulated sugar. This can be omitted, or you can substitute honey. However the sugar enhances the flavor of the tomatoes and cuts the “bite” of the sauce.

Why does the sauce on a pizza burn your mouth but not the crust? ›

Answer and Explanation:

The sauce is a good conductor of heat, therefore, heat is rapidly transferred from sauce to tong and it is burnt, while the crust is an insulator, therefore, heat is not easily transferred from the crust, and therefore it is not burnt though both are at the same temperature.

Can you just use tomato puree for pizza base? ›

If all you have around is a bit of puree and a few store cupboard ingredients, this is the sauce for you. We don't advise using tomato puree straight from the tube as a base sauce - it's a touch dry and will catch and burn. At a push, dilute it with water in a bowl before spreading on your low-carb pizza base.

How do you thicken Napolitana sauce? ›

Flour: Make a slurry of 2 parts water to 1 part all-purpose flour and whisk until very smooth. Slowly whisk in no more than 1 tablespoon of the mixture per 2 cups of simmering sauce. Stir and simmer for about 2 minutes, check the thickness, and repeat with more as needed.

Are San Marzano tomatoes good for pizza? ›

SUMMARY – San Marzano are the tomatoes by excellence for classic red sauce pizza. Some other varieties include the Pomodorino del Piennolo- yellow or red. If San Marzano is impossible to find where you live, oblong peeled tomatoes are the best next choice.

Why is my homemade pizza sauce watery? ›

Over blending may cause too much water to seep out of your tomatoes resulting in a watery pizza sauce. If you are using crushed tomatoes, simply dump into a container/bowl, add salt to taste and mix to combine. Easy, right?!

Do you heat sauce before putting on pizza? ›

Both approaches are good, but they will deliver different results. Not cooking your sauce will make the pizza taste more light, while cooking your sauce will make the pizza taste more flavorful. We recommend playing around with cooking the sauce for different lengths of time to see what works best for you.

Should you cook tomatoes for pizza? ›

I'd prefer cooked into a nice spready sauce, but there's nothing wrong with a scattering of raw tomatoes. Just be aware that they will be a bit cooked once the pizza goes into the oven. I have used both by itself and combined. I have also used sun dried tomatoes on pizza.

Should you use tomato sauce or paste for pizza? ›

Pizza sauce is typically made with plain tomato sauce or pureed tomatoes and tomato paste, causing it to be a thicker consistency than pasta sauce. The thicker sauce prevents the dough from getting too soggy while the pizza cooks.

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