Every Summer, we plant a lot of tomatoes and when they are ripe, they ripen at the same time. That is when I make a lot of sauces. Pizzas are a hot favorite over the weekends at our home. I seldom buy any ready sauces. Preparing from scratch using sun ripened tomatoes is going to be one of the best homemade pizza sauce recipes.
I have been making this homemade pizza sauce for a little more than 25 years and it doesn’t disappoint. But, during the winter months, I have to use tinned tomatoes or plain tomato purees to make my own sauces. On the other hand, if I can preserve them, they last almost a year sometimes.
What is Pizza Sauce ?
With the advent of globalization and global media, who hasn’t heard of pizzas. Well to make everything from scratch takes practice and the sheer will to eat healthy. Moreover, if you have a productive garden with a good harvest, this is the sauce for you. I have been making the pizza base from scratch with freshly ground spelt berries using our grain mill. Check out my older post on from scratch Homemade Pizza Recipe.
Pizza sauce is prepared with plain tomatoe puree. The sauce is usually spiced with oregano, garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and sugar for a tangy flavor. The essence of the tangy flavor is to compliment the fats and cheese on the pizza. Sugar is not required, but it is added to enhance the tangy flavor of the tomatoes.
It is not necessary to cook the sauce, but I do it to get a thicker sauce. Because some of our homegrown tomatoes are quite watery. This is especially so, if we make the sauce from fresh tomatoes. Tomatoes vary in their water content and sometimes we have accidentally planted a watery variety. Moreover, a watery sauce will ruin the pizza base and make it soggy, hence I cook it down to a consistency between paste and sauce.
Tips for making the Best Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe
The proportion of salt is almost always around 2%, so its best to add it at the end of cooking process. Since tomatoes are acidic adding a pinch of baking powder will neutralize the acidity. This also sweetens the tomato sauce. On the other hand if you want to can the sauce, you can skip adding the baking powder.
How to make Homemade Pizza Sauce
Tools you will need
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Glass Jars if you want to can for storage
Ingredients
6 -7 table spoons of extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves of garlic
1 liter of tomato puree
1 tablespoon of Tomato concentrate paste
a pinch of asafoetida
1/2 tsp of dried thyme
6 fresh basil leaves ( you can also use dried)
1 tsp of Oregano
2 teaspoons of Himalaya pink salt (approx.)
1/2 tsp of black pepper
pinch of baking powder.
Method
Pour about 4 tablespoon of olive oil into a heavy bottom pan.
Add the asafoetida and crush the garlic directly into the oil and mix the tomato puree.
Give it a good stir and cook under low heat.
Add the tomato paste concentrate and stir to thicken the sauce.
Reduce the heat and let the sauce thicken. When the sauce has cooked down considerably, add the dried herbs, pepper and fresh herbs.
Mix in the salt at the very end and just cook it shortly.
Can you pressure can Homemade Pizza Sauce
Yes, you can can them. Follow the right procedure according to USDA Canning techniques.
For water bath canning follow the following procedure.
- Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice for acidity to every 500 ml of the sauce.This is considered safe.
- Fill the sauce into sterilized jars once sauce was ready.
- Use a funnel to fill the jars and get the air bubbles out using a spatula.
- Wipe out any remaining sauces around the rims of the jar before closing the lid tightly.
- Place them in boiling water for 20 min.
- You will hear the lids pop up which is a sign that they have sealed airtight.
- Remove them carefully and place them on a wooden board to avoid the jars from cracking.
- Cool it for 24 hours before storing.
- If you are using 2 way lid, remove the ring and leave only the top lid on before storing in cool and dark place.
Can you Freeze Homemade Pizza Sauce?
Yes, you can freeze your pizza sauce instead of canning it. But, to freeze the pizza sauce, let the sauce cool completely. Pour sauce into to freezer-safe containers.
Use the pizza sauce by 3 months.
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For Water Bath Canning
Ingredients
Instructions
