Homemade Pizza Sauce
Introduction
Making your own pizza sauce at home is a fun and rewarding experience. This homemade pizza sauce is packed with flavor and can easily be adjusted to suit your taste. Whether you’re having a pizza night or just want to enhance your meals with a fresh sauce, this recipe is a must-try!
Why Make This Recipe
Store-bought pizza sauce can sometimes be full of preservatives and artificial ingredients. By making your own, you have complete control over the flavors and ingredients. It allows you to customize the sauce to your liking and ensure that it’s fresh. Plus, homemade pizza sauce can be easily stored for later use!
How to Make Homemade Pizza Sauce
Here’s how you can make delicious homemade pizza sauce.
Ingredients:
- 8 Cups Tomatoes (Blanched, Peeled & Mashed)
- 1/4 Cup Lemon Juice
- 2 Tbl Sugar
- 1 Tbl Garlic (Minced)
- 1 tsp Garlic (Powder)
- 3 tsp Oregano
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 3 tsp Salt (Canning Salt)
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Basil (Optional)
Directions:
- Start by blanching, peeling, and mashing the tomatoes. For an extra smooth sauce, use a food mill to remove the seeds.
- In a Roaster Oven or Dutch Oven, combine all the ingredients.
- Mix everything until it’s well combined.
- Cook at 350 degrees in the Roaster Oven, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reaches your desired thickness. If you’re using a stove, bring it to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer until thickened.
- Use an immersion blender to blend the mixture in the Roaster Oven or Dutch Oven until it becomes a smooth sauce.
- Spoon the pizza sauce into warm jars, leaving about a 1/2" headspace.
- Wipe the rims of each jar and place the lids and rings on, tightening the rings by hand.
- Process the jars in a water bath canner, ensuring the water covers them by one to two inches. The minimum processing time is 35 minutes, adjusting as necessary for your altitude.
- Once processing is complete, let the jars sit in the water bath canner for about 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a towel or drying mat for 12-24 hours to cool and seal. Listen for the pings as they seal!
- After 12-24 hours, remove the rings to check that all jars have sealed. Label your jars and place them in a cool, dry place for storage (50-70 degrees is optimal). If any jars did not seal, put them in the refrigerator for immediate use!
How to Serve Homemade Pizza Sauce
You can serve the homemade pizza sauce directly on your pizza dough before adding your favorite toppings. It also works great as a dipping sauce for breadsticks or as a base for other Italian dishes like lasagna.
How to Store Homemade Pizza Sauce
Store your sealed jars of pizza sauce in a cool, dry place. They can last for several months when stored properly. If you have any jars that didn’t seal, keep them in the refrigerator and use them within a week.
Tips to Make Homemade Pizza Sauce
- For added depth of flavor, you can sauté the garlic in a little olive oil before mixing it into the sauce.
- Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less sugar according to your taste preferences.
- If you like a spicier sauce, consider adding red pepper flakes for some heat.
Variation
Feel free to experiment with herbs and spices! You can add fresh basil or thyme for a different flavor profile, or include a pinch of chili powder for added warmth.
FAQs
1. Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of canned?
Yes! Fresh tomatoes are perfect for this recipe, especially when they are in season.
2. How long can I store the homemade pizza sauce?
If properly sealed and stored, the sauce can last for several months. If you refrigerate opened jars, use them within a week.
3. Can I freeze the pizza sauce?
Absolutely! You can freeze the sauce in airtight containers for up to 6 months. Just thaw it in the refrigerator before use.
