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

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.

How do you thicken San Marzano pizza sauce? ›

TIP: For a thicker sauce, strain the tomato puree over a fine-mesh sieve until it reaches your desired consistency. Step 3 - Add optional toppings: Stir in any desired toppings, such as chopped herbs or garlic powder.

Should you simmer pizza sauce? ›

When it comes to determining how long you should cook pizza sauce, it ultimately depends on your personal preference. However, allowing the sauce to simmer for at least 30 minutes will give it a chance to thicken and intensify in flavor.

What makes an authentic Neapolitan pizza? ›

This style of pizza is prepared with simple and fresh ingredients: a basic dough, raw tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and olive oil. No fancy toppings are allowed! One of its defining characteristics is that there is often more sauce than cheese.

Can you eat pizza sauce without cooking it? ›

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.

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

Don't Cook the Sauce!

Spoon it right onto the pizza, cover with additional toppings, and bake. If you'd like a thicker sauce, strain the tomatoes from their juices before blending.

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?! If you want the taste of fresh tomatoes on your pizza, this pizza sauce is for you!

Does cornstarch thicken pizza sauce? ›

Combine equal parts cornstarch and cold water. Stir together until smooth. Pour into your sauce and cook over medium heat, stirring continually, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.

Does simmering thicken sauce? ›

How do you make a sauce thicker? The easiest way to thicken a sauce is by reducing the amount of liquid. This can be done by simmering your sauce or bringing it to a full boil—do this uncovered, so the steam can escape.

Should pizza sauce be thin or thick? ›

The key to great New York-style sauce is creating balance between sweetness, acidity and heat, with a definite herbal backbone. Furthermore, it needs a texture that's thin enough enough to spread, but thick enough to keep your pizza from turning soggy during the de rigeur fold-and-carry.

Do you simmer sauce with lid on or off? ›

Once the sauce has reached a simmer, turn the heat down to low and continue cooking slowly. This allows the flavours to blend together and the sauce to become thicker and tastier. A really simple - but effective - trick is to always keep the lid on, so as to preserve the aroma.

Is it better to boil or simmer sauce to reduce? ›

Simmering not only develops the maximum possible flavor, but also allows impurities to collect at the top and be skimmed off periodically as the sauce cooks. Boiling would diffuse the impurities into the liquid and result in a bitter taste and unclear stock.

What is the secret of Neapolitan pizza? ›

"Neapolitan pizza needs to be cooked in a wood-fired oven, low domes and a small vent, to keep the temperature at 400 degrees, and to cook in exactly one minute and a half”: this is the Salvo brothers' secret. Ciro Oliva says his own secret is to cook the pizza right by the entrance of the oven.

What's the difference between Napoli and Neapolitan pizza? ›

To this day, the differences are stark. Neapolitan pizzas are made with 00 flour, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozz (sometimes buffalo, sometimes cow's milk) & basil. Although in recent years, Neapolitan pizzaiolos have gotten more creative with their toppings, for centuries, the topping options were very limited.

What are the three types of Neapolitan pizza? ›

Others consider there to be three or four official variations (depending on how you count): Pizza Margherita - topped with tomato, cow's milk mozzarella, basil, and olive oil. Pizza Margherita extra - same as above, but with mozzarella di bufala. Pizza marinara - topped with tomato, oregano, garlic, and olive oil.

Is store bought pizza sauce cooked? ›

Pizza sauce is prepared with uncooked pureed tomatoes while pasta sauce is made with cooked blended tomatoes and flavorful garlic, herbs, and spices.

Does pizza sauce need to be heated? ›

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.

Should hot sauce be cooked or raw? ›

It is also worth noting that some hot sauces are cooked, whereas others are not. Condimaniac explains that fermented hot sauce is often left uncooked, whereas unfermented sauce is cooked. Cooking the hot sauce allows the ingredients to blend together in new ways and may offer a sweeter flavor to the hot sauce.

Does canned pizza sauce need to be cooked? ›

Yes you can…even as it is, straight out of the can, although it might lack a bit of flavor for just a tomato sauce pizza. You can use it cold or cook it down a bit to make it thicker. Of course you can add some condiments (onion, garlic), salt and pepper and hebs and spices.

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