Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce Recipe (2024)

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This Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce recipe is a testament to the less is more philosophy and a focus on good quality ingredients. This is a no-cook, simple, yet original recipe, that you will find in all good wood-fire pizza joints, or if you were lucky enough to travel, in Naples.

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Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce Recipe (1)

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Why you will love this Neapolitan Pizza Sauce?

  • Easy to make recipe with everyday ingredients
  • No cooking required
  • Ready in 5 minutes
  • Packed with rich flavors
  • No added sugar required
  • No preservatives and additives unlike store-bought sauce

What you need to make Neapolitan Pizza Sauce

Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce Recipe (2)

San Marzano Tomatoes for Neapolitan Pizza Sauce

First off, we focus on getting the key ingredient as close to what we would find in the real thing; the luscious San Marzano tomatoes which are grown in the Valle De Sarno region of South Italy. They are longer in shape than regular tomatoes, but the flesh is thicker, sweeter, and not as tart (acidic). If you are lucky enough to get your hands on these, I would suggest using them. If not, canned tomatoes to the rescue!

In Australia, San Marzano can be found in all major supermarkets.

How to make Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce (Pictures)

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Steps to make Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce

  1. Tomatoes: If you find fresh San Marzano tomatoes, rough chop, and then crush them with a masher or fork. Same for whole canned tomatoes. Add the juices from the can as well. Roma tomatoes can be a close second to San Marzano. If you do not get the San Marzano variety, try the following.
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2. Add Oregano and salt: Dried or fresh oregano are both fine.

3. Garlic: Garlic may not be used in all pizza recipes, but I like to use it generously. Crush and then mince the peeled garlic for maximum flavor. Adjust salt to taste.

4. Drizzle Olive Oil: I have used extra virgin olive oil

5. Stir well, and garnish with fresh basil leaves.

Your pizza sauce is ready to use. For Neapolitan Pizza, all you need is some fresh mozzarella and pizza dough.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Neapolitan Pizza Sauce

How long will pizza sauce last in the fridge?

Ideally, the pizza sauce will last up to 7 days in the fridge.

Note on food safety: Commercial refrigerators have a temperature of 35° and 38°F (or 1.7 to 3.3°C). Unfortunately, most home refrigerator temperatures tend to be around 46°F (8°C). So it’s wise to use your pizza sauce within 3-5 days. If the sauce has visible mold, smells extra acidic, looks fizzy, or just tastes off, throw it away.

Can Neapolitan pizza sauce be frozen?

Yes! The best way to store this sauce is in a freezer-friendly plastic bag. Just seal tightly after removing as much as air possible from the bag. Alternatively, pour your sauce into ice trays and store in bags after frozen. Label your bags with the date of storage.

This way your sauce can last a minimum of 3 -4 months.

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Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce Recipe (14)

Authentic Neapolitan pizza sauce recipe

No cook, authentic Italian pizza sauce recipe.

4.83 from 135 votes (Click on the stars to vote!)

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, Condiments, lunch, lunch box, Main Course, Snack

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: authentic italian, Gluten Free, Keto Pizza, Low Carb, no cook, no sugar, pizza sauce, vegan, vegetarian

Categories: condiments, no cook, Sauces

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 42kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Bowl

  • 1 Can Opener

Ingredients

  • 1 can Crushed Tomatoes (1 lb or 400 g) See Notes #1
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tbsp Dried Oregano Leaves
  • 1 tbsp Garlic Minced Optional
  • 1 tbsp Basil Leaves

Instructions

  • Pour tomatoes in a bowl. If the tomatoes are whole, crush them with a masher or fork.

  • Add salt, oregano, garlic (optional), chopped basil leaves

  • Mix well, and your pizza sauce is ready to spread.

Notes

Note#1: If the tomatoes are whole, crush them with a masher or fork. You can also use a food processor to crush them.

Nutrition

Calories: 42kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 718mg | Potassium: 333mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 269IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 2mg

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Mention @caramel.and.spice or tag #caramel.and.spice !

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DISCLAIMER: We are not medical professionals or dieticians. Please consult your doctor if a diet or way of eating is suitable for you.

Nutritional Panel: Our nutritional values are calculated by Spooncular API. While we try our best to ensure these values are correct, please confirm these independently.

Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Neapolitan sauce made of? ›

In Naples, Neapolitan sauce is simply referred to as la salsa, which literally translates to the sauce. Basil, bay leaf, thyme, oregano, peppercorns, cloves, olives, and mushrooms may be included depending on taste preferences. Some variants include carrots and celery.

What makes an authentic Neapolitan pizza? ›

This style of pizza is prepared with simple and fresh ingredients: a basic dough, raw tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and olive oil. No fancy toppings are allowed! One of its defining characteristics is that there is often more sauce than cheese.

How much salt for Neapolitan pizza sauce? ›

Add oregano, pepper, and about 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Bring sauce to a simmer and let cook for 10-15 minutes, smashing any larger tomato chunks with your spatula as it cooks.

What gives pizza sauce its distinctive flavor? ›

Traditional pizza sauce is made with a base of tomatoes and spices like garlic, onion, basil, and oregano. You might think that this makes a pizza simple or boring, but this isn't the case. There are so many varieties and recipes for it that you'll never get bored of this meal!

Can you buy Neapolitan sauce? ›

We feature offers with an Add to Basket button when an offer meets our high quality standards for: Price, Delivery option, and.

What is the difference between Neapolitan and marinara sauce? ›

The sauce that most Americans know as “Marinara” is actually more in line with “Neapolitan Sauce”, harking from Naples, Italy. Funnily enough, if you were an American in Naples and asked for “La Salsa”, you'd get Marinara!

What is the secret of Neapolitan pizza? ›

"Neapolitan pizza needs to be cooked in a wood-fired oven, low domes and a small vent, to keep the temperature at 400 degrees, and to cook in exactly one minute and a half”: this is the Salvo brothers' secret. Ciro Oliva says his own secret is to cook the pizza right by the entrance of the oven.

What's the difference between Napoli and Neapolitan pizza? ›

To this day, the differences are stark. Neapolitan pizzas are made with 00 flour, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozz (sometimes buffalo, sometimes cow's milk) & basil. Although in recent years, Neapolitan pizzaiolos have gotten more creative with their toppings, for centuries, the topping options were very limited.

What are the three types of Neapolitan pizza? ›

Others consider there to be three or four official variations (depending on how you count): Pizza Margherita - topped with tomato, cow's milk mozzarella, basil, and olive oil. Pizza Margherita extra - same as above, but with mozzarella di bufala. Pizza marinara - topped with tomato, oregano, garlic, and olive oil.

What are the best tomatoes to use for pizza sauce? ›

Plum tomatoes are ideal for making pizza sauce. Actually, the best tomatoes for pizza sauce are ones below Mt. Vesuvius' soil outside Naples in San Marzano, Italy. But, since everyone doesn't live around Vesuvius, canned San Marzano tomatoes are available in the supermarket.

How do you thicken Neapolitan pizza sauce? ›

Use Flour and Water

Combine 2 tablespoons flour with every 1/4 cup cold water and whisk until smooth. Add the mixture to your sauce over medium heat, and continue to stir and cook until you've reached your desired consistency. Test with a spoon.

What sauce is most used on pizza? ›

Pizza fans regularly utilize marinara sauce to give their recipes a boost of flavor. Fresh ingredients are vital when it comes to producing marinara from scratch.

Why do you put sugar in pizza sauce? ›

Spices: Basil, oregano, onion powder, salt & pepper. Taste and adjust these spices to your liking. Sugar: I know it sounds like a weird addition but granulated sugar is an essential ingredient as it mellows out the acidity of the tomatoes.

What seasoning makes pizza taste better? ›

Popular Seasonings and Herbs to Add to Pizza
  1. Parmesan Cheese. Parmesan cheese is a hard cheese that can be grated, shredded or shaved over the top of pizza after it has finished baking. ...
  2. Italian Seasoning. ...
  3. Oregano. ...
  4. Garlic. ...
  5. Red Pepper Flakes. ...
  6. Parsley. ...
  7. Basil. ...
  8. Thyme.
Apr 21, 2023

Why do Americans call Napolitana sauce marinara? ›

We call it marinara because that is what it is by definition. marinara | Definition of marinara in English by Oxford Dictionaries tells us: Denoting a sauce made from tomatoes, onions, and herbs, served especially with pasta. From the Italian phrase alla marinara 'sailor-style'.

What's the difference between Bolognese and Napolitana sauce? ›

Two distinctive features are the type of meat and how it is used, as well as the amount of tomato in the sauce. Bolognese versions use very finely chopped meat, while Neapolitan versions use whole meat, taking it from the casserole when cooked and serving it as a second course or with pasta.

Does spaghetti napolitana have meat in it? ›

Basicallly a Napolitana sauce contains no meat, but will generally be made with tomatoes, sometimes onions, olive oil and herbs. A Bolognese sauce contains meats and tomatoes but again, is a very subjective thing.

What are 3 foods that are Neapolitan specialties? ›

8 Must Try Traditional Naples Foods
  • Minestrone napoletano. Minestrone is a soup. ...
  • Ragù Ragù Napoletano is one of the great dishes of the region, and perhaps encapsulates the spirit of Italian cooking better than any other. ...
  • Buffalo Mozzarella. ...
  • Pastiera. ...
  • Mussel Soup. ...
  • Frittatina napoletana. ...
  • Casatiello.
Dec 10, 2022

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