Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce Recipe- So easy!

If you are making a Neapolitan pizza, then you need this authentic Neapolitan Pizza sauce recipe that pairs well with Neapolitan pizzas.

This Neapolitan pizza sauce recipe will elevate the flavor of the Neapolitan pizza and serve as an inseparable companion to your pizza.

Let’s be honest- there is no Neapolitan pizza without an authentic Neapolitan pizza sauce that compliments it.

Authentic Neapolitan Pizza sauce takes literally 2 minutes to make, and that is how easy and simple it is!

To create this pizza sauce, you simply require the right ingredients, and the freshness of these ingredients is crucial.

Best tomatoes to use for Neapolitan Pizza Sauce

San Marzano tomatoes are the preferred choice for Neapolitan pizza sauce. These tomatoes, known for their sweetness and juiciness, are grown in Campania, Italy, near Naples.

They are typically harvested from July to September in Italy and are only available fresh during that season in Italy.

For the remainder of the year, people often turn to canned San Marzano tomatoes. It’s perfectly acceptable to use canned San Marzano tomatoes for this sauce as long as they are authentic.

However, if you have access to fresh San Marzano tomatoes for this recipe, it’s highly recommended to use them over canned ones.

In the event fresh tomatoes are not available, you can opt for canned San Marzano tomatoes with a D.O.P. (Denominazione di Origine Protetta) marking on the can.

This label ensures that the tomatoes are authentic and ideal for making Neapolitan pizza sauce.

I used the same sauce for authentic Italian pizza sauce recipe which is a slight variation of this sauce.

Other Ingredients for making Neapolitan Pizza sauce

Salt- A necessary ingredient is salt, and it is recommended to use 1 gram of sea salt for every 100 grams of sauce. However, if you are preparing it for yourself, you can start with less salt initially and adjust it according to your personal preference.

Olive Oil- Olive oil is another crucial ingredient that significantly contributes to the flavor of the pizza sauce. Olive oil imparts richness to the sauce and amplifies the other flavors.

Basil-
Basil is another fresh ingredient, and while some people consider it optional, I believe it imparts a fresh flavor to the sauce. I personally enjoy basil, so I would never skip it.

 Ingredients

• 300 grams of whole, skinless San Marzano tomatoes(check out what to do if you don’t have these tomatoes)
• 3 grams of sea salt
• 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
• 3 leaves of fresh basil

authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce Recipe

Making Neapolitan pizza sauce is easy, just follow these simple steps.

1. First, place the San Marzano tomatoes in a mixing bowl, then add the salt. Mixing in the salt, you can use your fingers to tear the San Marzano tomatoes, aiming to achieve a chunky sauce consistency as much as possible.

 2. Now, take the basil leaves and either chop them up or tear them with your hands and add them to the sauce mix.

3. In the end, mix the olive oil thoroughly and complete your sauce.

The sauce should maintain a slightly runny consistency with small tomato bits.

Tip- Avoid pureeing the tomatoes, as using a mixer can grind up all the tomato seeds and other components, resulting in a different taste than intended.
Instead, gently press them further with a spoon or spatula while mixing to crush them into smaller bits.

Alternative to San Marzano tomatoes

If you cannot find San Marzano tomatoes, cherry tomatoes can be a suitable alternative since they share the same sweet and juicy qualities.

If cherry tomatoes are also unavailable, you can use other types of tomatoes and incorporate a small amount of sugar to balance the flavor. However, it’s important to note that this variation would not result in an authentic Neapolitan pizza sauce.

If you find San Marzano tomatoes to be expensive, feel free to use any locally available tomatoes. I have another homemade pizza sauce recipe for this situation, which I will share soon.

You can enjoy your pizza even without spending a lot so don’t let that hold you back!

How to store this pizza sauce?

Once you have completed making this pizza sauce, simply pour it into an airtight jar and store it in the refrigerator.

It should remain good for up to a week without any problems. I’ve personally used pizza sauce that was two weeks old without any issues. Just ensure it stays in an airtight container and is handled without contamination when removing and returning it to the fridge.

Make sure to watch out for any mold formation or any unusual odors in the pizza sauce. If you detect any of these signs, it’s advisable to discard the sauce immediately.

If you choose to freeze this pizza sauce, it can last for nearly 6 months. Although I haven’t frozen pizza sauce for such an extended period, you can certainly do so without any concerns.

This method allows you to prepare large batches of sauce and store them for future use.

Can I Use Canned San Marzano Tomatoes? 

This pizza recipe calls for fresh ingredients; however, since San Marzano tomatoes are not readily available year-round, many pizzerias opt for canned versions.

Using canned tomatoes for this recipe is perfectly acceptable, as it won’t alter the flavor too much, and you will still enjoy the flavourful pizza sauce.

What if you are using fresh San Marzano Tomatoes?

If you are using fresh San Marzano tomatoes or any other fresh tomatoes, you may want to follow these steps, which differ slightly from the main recipe:

1. Boil the tomatoes in water until the skin slightly wrinkles.
2. Peel off the skin and transfer all the tomatoes to a bowl. Allow them to cool.
3. Once the tomatoes have cooled down, either squash them with your hands or use a masher.
4. Now, you can add all the other ingredients mentioned above to create the perfect pizza sauce.