Neapolitan Pizza Sauce  (2024)

Enjoy the classic flavors of Neapolitan Pizza Sauce in just a few simple steps. No simmering or saucepan required – just crush canned tomatoes, stir in olive oil, garlic, and seasoning, and spread on your homemade pies for a taste of Naples, Italy!

Simple recipes featuring high-quality ingredients are what make classic Italian recipes shine. When you have peak-season fresh produce, local cheese, peppery olive oil, and high-quality meats and seafood, there is no need to overcomplicate recipes with extra seasoning, complicated techniques, or extra ingredients.

This Neapolitan pizza sauce recipe demonstrates these quintessential principles of Italian cuisine. With just five ingredients (two being salt and pepper), preparation time is quick and easy, and the resulting pizza sauce will transport you to a pizzeria Napolitano upon your first bite. The secret? Starting with high-quality tomatoes, just as the Italians would do! Let’s get started!

For more Italian-inspired recipes, check out my sausage risotto, bucatini pomodoro, gnocchi alla sorrentina, and Instant Pot bolognese.

What are San Marzano tomatoes?

San Marzano tomatoes are medium-size tomatoes gorwn in the countryside around Naples, Italy. They have a similar shape to Roma tomatoes, with a slightly more pearlike, bulbous shape to them. They are deep red and have a rich, jammy, and naturally sweet flavor. They also are juicy without being pulpy or overly-seeded.

To be considered verified, San Marzano tomatoes need to be grown in the farmlands outside of Naples. Though these tomato plants can be grown in other parts of the world, Italians do not consider them true San Marzanos. Many of these tomatoes are then packaged to be sold in stores outside of Italy. Many, including myself, argue that they are still more delicious, flavorful, and juicy than the traditional canned tomatoes sold in the United States. But if you are lucky enough to stumble on true San Marzanos, they are recommended.

Ingredients

• Canned San Marzano Tomatoes: As described above, truly San Marzano tomatoes are often sold in Italy, though a high-quality brand like Bianca Di Napoli cans and sells authentic tomatoes in the U.S. Otherwise, brands such as Cento sell flavorful canned San Marzano tomatoes grown outside of Italy, perfect for this authentic Italian pizza sauce recipe! Regardless of where they are grown, choose canned tomatoes labeled as San Marzano above canned Roma, chopped, or stewed tomatoes that traditionally line store shelves.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: For rich, pure, peppery notes, reach for high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Italian olive oil will offer the most authentic flavor, though olive oil blends also work.
• Garlic: Use fresh garlic cloves with a smooth exterior and firm texture. Trim off the bottom of the glove before pressing or very finely mincing it.
• Salt & Pepper: Fine sea salt or kosher salt enhances the tomato and garlic. Freshly cracked pepper adds a light bite that accentuates the tomatoes' jamminess.

How to Make Neapolitan Pizza Sauce

It’s simple to prepare this Italian pizza sauce recipe! Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Crush the canned tomatoes with your hands. For a smoother sauce, puree it in a food processor or immersion blender.

Step 2: Add the olive oil, pressed garlic, salt, and pepper.

Step 3: Stir well to combine.

Step 4: Spread ½ cup of the sauce on a 12-inch round of Neapolitan pizza dough. Don’t layer the sauce too thick, or the pizza dough and toppings will be soggy.

Looking to make a full pizza? Check out my Neapolitan Pizza Dough recipe for complete directions!

Recipe Pro-Tips

• Crush or puree to preference. For a more rustic sauce, crush the tomatoes by hand, leaving some small chunks for texture and bursts of jammy tomato flavor. For a smoother sauce, puree the tomatoes in a food processor or immersion blender.
• Garlic grating. Pressing or very finely mincing the garlic allows it to evenly distribute throughout the sauce evenly, adding lightly pungent notes that accent the tomatoes. If desired, you can also grate the garlic on a microplane zester.
• Seasoning options. To add herbal notes, stir in ½ teaspoons of dried Italian seasoning or basil. For a kick of heat, stir in red pepper chili flakes or minced Calabrian chiles to taste. For a deeper tomato flavor, crush or blend in 1 tablespoon of sundried tomato paste.

Storage Directions

• Storing/Refrigeration: Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Freezing: Freeze individual portions of the sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. We like to freeze in 1 cup measurements, which makes enough for two Neapolitan pizzas. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator or on low heat in the microwave for 1-minute increments until thawed.

Do you cook Neapolitan pizza sauce?

No, you do not cook this sauce. The tomatoes are already cooked during the canning process, meaning that they need to be crushed and stirred with olive oil and seasonings before topping homemade pies.

• Mixing Bowl
• Can Opener
• Measuring Cups & Spoons
• Silicone Spatula
• Immersion Blender or Food Processor (Optional)

More Recipes with San Marzano Tomatoes

• Turkey Bolognese
• Chicken Bolognese
• Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
• Minestra
• Italian Sausage and Peppers Pasta

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