Pizza sauce is a deliciously flavorful sauce that is used in many different pizza recipes. While it might be simple to ring up a local pizza delivery service, nothing compares to creating your own fresh pies. Pizza night is always special, with everyone having a unique take on creating their very own slice of heaven. You can create cherished memories with loved ones by preparing your own pizzas, but what is pizza sauce, really?
Pirro’s is an expert on all things pasta and pizza, with a passion for creating authentic Italian flavors. In this article, we’ll explore pizza sauce, the different variations, and some of the delicious ways it can be prepared.
What is in Pizza Sauce?
When prepared properly, pizza sauce is quite simple to make. While recipes will vary based on preference, pizza sauce is typically made with a combination of tomatoes, salt, garlic, black pepper, and Italian spices such as oregano, basil, and rosemary. These will merge to create a delicious sauce perfect for spreading on your preferred dough.
Types of Pizza Sauce
Italians know how to get creative in the kitchen, so over time there have been many different variations of pizza sauce made. Depending on your flavor profile, some sauces might be better for certain recipes than others. Pizza sauces are typically separated into one of three categories, including:
Tomato Based Pizza Sauces
The most popularly used pizza sauce is hands down tomato-based pizza sauce. When you ring up your favorite pizza place for delivery, you can bet that you’ll receive a tomato pizza sauce unless customized (and you can definitely change it up a bit). The classic tomato-based pizza sauces that people are accustomed to can also be broken down into different types, which we will explore.
The Classic Traditional Tomato Pizza Sauce
If you ask an Italian to list out the ingredients in a pizza sauce, they’ll likely keep it simple. After all, pizza is usually a delicious combination of fresh ingredients and prepared based on preference, with the pizza sauce intended to complement each component. Pirro’s Pizza Sauce is an authentic Italian recipe consisting of fresh tomatoes, salt, garlic powder, and Italian spices.
Other Red Pizza Sauces
Considering the base of tomatoes and Italian spices, many other ingredients can be combined with this mixture to create a more complex pizza pie. There are many variations of red pizza sauces, but they can be broken down into three categories:
- Spicy: Some like their pizza to have a kick of heat. By increasing the amount of red pepper flakes, you can create a spicy pizza sauce that goes great with savory meats.
- Sweet: If you prefer your pizza to have a bit of a sweeter aftertaste, make sure to add the right type of tomatoes and add just a little sugar. Pirro’s suggests adding a touch of honey to create a sweet pizza sauce that pairs perfectly with rich and flavorful cheeses.
- Savory: Savory pizza sauces can be made by adding finely chopped Italian meats, such as pepperoni or sauce, to the pizza sauce itself. Perfect for meat lovers, savory sauces are delicious.
- Peppery: For those that prefer their pizza with a peppery kick, they might increase the ratio of cayenne pepper, roasted red pepper, black pepper, or red pepper flakes within the recipe.
Non-Tomato Based Pizza Sauces
While many traditional Italian pizzas will use a tomato-based sauce, that doesn’t mean that the possibilities end there. In fact, there are many different variations of pizza sauce that don’t include tomatoes at all. Some of the most popular non-tomato pizza sauces are white pizza sauce, pesto sauce, and garlic & oil pizza sauce.
White Pizza Sauce
White pizza sauce is usually made by adding Alfredo sauce to a pizza. Alfredo sauce is perfect for those that enjoy a rich pizza sauce made with a flavorful mix of cheese, cream, and pepper. White pizza sauce is perfect for veggie lovers, as it’s delicious with olives, artichokes, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and roasted peppers. It’s also great with steak, bacon, and chicken.
Pesto Pizza Sauce
Another popular alternative to tomato-based pizza sauces is pesto sauce on pizza. Made with a tasty combination of basil, olive oil, parmesan cheese, garlic, and pine nuts, it makes sense that pesto sauce pairs perfectly with many pizza recipes. Pesto is delicious with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese, and even a touch of lemon on pizza.
Garlic & Oil Pizza Sauce
Pizza wouldn’t be as delicious as it is without the power of garlic. It only makes sense that garlic-based pizza sauces would eventually arise. Roasted garlic and olive oil can be combined to create a creamy and delicious spreading sauce, perfect for those that prefer their pizzas to be on the sweeter and flavorful side.
Types of Specialty Pizza Sauces
Now that we’ve covered some of the most popular pizza sauces, it’s time to branch off into some of the other creative ways to create your own pizza. Especially as Italian recipes have been adapted over time, the sky’s truly the limit for those willing to get a bit imaginative in the kitchen. Let’s explore some of the most common specialty pizza sauces that you might want to create for yourself.
Barbeque-Sauce Based Pizza Sauce
Perfect for those that love savory yet sweet flavor profiles, barbeque pizzas are one of the most popular specialty pizza sauces. Creating a smoky and flavorful pizza, barbeque sauce pizzas go great with virtually any meats you may want to add.
Buffalo Pizza Sauce
If you like your pizza with extra heat, you might be a fan of buffalo pizza sauce. If buffalo sauce is perfect with chicken wings, you can bet that it will also taste great on a buffalo chicken pizza. If you’re looking to veer from the traditional Italian path, buffalo pizza sauce is a great choice.
Ranch-Flavored Pizza Sauce
A popular choice among Midwesterners is ranch-flavored pizza sauce. As a popular dipping sauce, it makes sense that it's made its way into some pizza recipes. This unique white pizza sauce pairs perfectly with pizzas packed with bacon or chicken.
Use Pirro’s Pizza Sauce For Your Next Slice!
Upgrade the way you think about pizza night with Pirro’s Pizza Sauce. Made with only the freshest US-sourced ingredients, but created with authentic Italian family recipes, you can capture genuine Italian flavor with Pirro’s Sauce. We don’t believe in taking shortcuts to flavor, and with recipes passed down through three generations of the Pirro family, you’ll instantly taste the difference.
