We’ve been enjoying Zesty Pizza Sauce at our house for years. It’s the perfect amount of tomato combined with herbs and seasonings that give your pizza just the right amount of zing that compliments the other toppings and of course, that glorious crust!
Sure, you could buy pizza sauce already made. But why do that, when it’s so easy to make? And quite delicious. Our family loves it.
When I first began making this sauce, I didn’t cook it. And it was good that way. But then, I decided to let it simmer on the stove for a little while. So that the crushed tomatoes cooked down to a thick, rich sauce. And we liked it so much more!
If you want to try the sauce without cooking it, just add all the ingredients together at once. Either way is good.
Sometimes, when I make an Artisan pizza, I change this recipe up just a bit by using petite diced tomatoes for a chunkier sauce, or will even hand crush whole tomatoes for a sauce that is both chunky and saucy. Everything else stays the same, though, which makes this recipe quite versatile.
Ingredients for Zesty Pizza Sauce
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Instructions For Making This Recipe
Gather your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table.
In a small saucepan, mix together the crushed tomatoes, red wine vinegar, granulated sugar, Italian seasoning, dried minced onion, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and seasoned salt.
Depending on my mood and what type of pizza I’m making, I may hand crush whole tomatoes in an effort to get chunks of tomato in the sauce. I like to do this for my Artisan Sourdough Pizza.
Bring the sauce to a boil and then reduce heat. Simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes until it has reduced by half.
Add Parmesan cheese, if desired, after sauce has simmered. It’s best to wait until the sauce has simmered before adding the Parmesan cheese, as it has the tendency to become a thickened mess when combined with heat. And clean-up is not fun when that happens. Especially on spoons.
A Note about Parmesan Cheese
I will note here, that I do not use fresh Parmesan in this sauce recipe. I save my fresh Parmesan for pasta, pizza toppings, and for use at the table. Instead, I will use Grated Parmesan Cheese in a container.
Pour over large unbaked pizza dough and top with your favorite meat, cheese, and vegetable toppings. Bake as directed for the pizza.
This recipe makes enough sauce for two extra-large pizzas, approximately 1 3/4 cups. You may also use this as a dipping sauce.
Zesty Pizza Sauce
Ingredients
- 15 oz. crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried minced onion
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese optional
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Instructions Click to Start Cooking
- Gather your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table.
- In a small saucepan, mix together 15 oz. (15 oz.) crushed tomatoes, 1 tablespoon (14.79 ml) red wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons (9.86 ml) granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon (4.93 ml) Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon (4.93 ml) dried minced onion, 1/2 teaspoon (2.46 ml) Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 teaspoon (1.23 ml) garlic powder and 1/4 teaspoon (1.23 ml) seasoned salt.I will sometimes "hand crush" whole tomatoes for a chunkier sauce.
- Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- Add 2 tablespoons (29.57 ml) Parmesan cheese after sauce has simmered.
- Pour over large unbaked pizza dough. Makes enough for two extra-large pizzas. You may also use this for dipping sauce.
