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    Home » Pizza

    Best Neapolitan Pizza Sauce- Fresh or Canned Tomatoes

    March 26, 2023 by Lima 10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Ready in just 5 minutes this easy-peasy Neapolitan pizza sauce recipe is light, fresh, sweet yet tangy. A simple, no-cook recipe relying on just the quality of its two ingredients: fresh or canned tomatoes and salt. For a guaranteed showstopper, spread it on our perfectly chewy yet crispy, Neapolitan Pizza Dough and top with puddles of gooey, fresh mozzarella.

    Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce
    Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce

    Traditional Neapolitan Pizza Sauce

    Fresh and light, true Neapolitan pizza sauce is traditionally made with only two ingredients: tomatoes and salt. The recipe relies completely on the quality of the tomatoes without any additional seasoning.

    Neapolitan Pizza is also known as "Napoletano" Pizza and "Naples-style" pizza. This type of pizza is so famous that it is registered as a Traditional Specialty Guaranteed (TSG) product in the European Union and the United Kingdom. The art of making both the pizza and the sauce is included on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage.

    While it is not always possible to reproduce a regional dish from another country due to the lack of local ingredients, the widespread availability of the key ingredient, San Marzano tomatoes, in canned form, makes it surprisingly easy. Using canned versus fresh tomatoes is not an issue since even the pizza makers in Naples (the Pizzaioli) use canned tomatoes! Why? Because fresh tomatoes are only in season from July through September.

    Naples Style Pizza Sauce spread over a pizza crust
    Authentic Neapolitan pizza sauce spread over pizza

    Why you will love this sauce

    • Fresh, flavorful, and delicious. This world-famous recipe is pure delicious tomato flavor. Try it once and you will know what I mean. Its so much better than store-bought pizza sauce.
    • Easily available, authentic ingredients. The main ingredient, canned San Marzano tomatoes are available, year-round, in local grocery stores.
    • No cook recipe. Unlike slow simmered, heavily seasoned New York Style pizza sauce, traditional Italian pizza sauce is a no-cook sauce. Light and fresh, it's more like a salsa.
    • Ready in 5 minutes. Just blend and you are done. It's super easy and my go-to sauce whenever I am making pizza.
    • Perfect on just about everything. It's not just for pizza! Use it as a salsa, a dip for crusty Artisan Bread, a soup or a sauce - the possibilities are endless.

    Ingredients

    Authentic Neapolitan Pizza sauce is made with only two ingredients - sun ripened tomatoes from the San Marzano region and fine sea salt. For additional flavor, you can add fresh basil leaves and olive oil. Both canned and fresh tomatoes are used by Italian pizza makers since fresh tomatoes are only available when in season.

    Pizza Sauce with Canned Tomatoes

    Ingredients for pizza sauce with canned tomatoes which includes canned tomatoes from San Marzano, salt and fresh basil leaves (optional)
    Ingredients for pizza sauce with canned tomatoes

    Ingredients for Pizza Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes

    Ingredients for pizza sauce with fresh tomatoes - includes fresh, sun ripened tomatoes and salt.  Optional ingredients of fresh basil leaves and olive oil is also shown
    Ingredients for pizza sauce with fresh tomatoes
    • The most popular choice for Neapolitan pizza sauce is canned, peeled San Marzano tomatoes which is easily available at the grocery store. The next best alternative is to use canned, peeled plum tomatoes. If using fresh ingredients, use sun ripened plum, cherry or Campari tomatoes as fresh San Marzano tomatoes are not easy to find in the U.S.
    • Fine sea salt is used to season the sauce. If you do not have fine sea salt, you can use regular table salt. Do not use salt with large crystals as it may not dissolve evenly.
    Fresh Roma Tomatoes
    Fresh Roma Tomatoes

    Best tomatoes for making Authentic Neapolitan Sauce

    Canned Tomatoes

    Canned San Marzano tomatoes are highly recommended for Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce because the quality, flavor and taste are consistently reliable and the canned tomatoes are available in local grocery stores year-round. Using canned tomatoes is also delightfully efficient - the tomatoes in the can are sun ripened, of a consistent quality, and come in skinless form. As a result, all you need to do is open the can, add a little salt and blend.

    If canned San Marzano tomatoes are not available, the next best alternative is canned, whole, plum tomatoes.

    Fresh Tomatoes

    Authentic Neapolitan pizza sauce is made with sun-ripened  San Marzano tomatoes or Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio. These tomatoes have a strong, sweet tomato flavor which is less acidic than other types of tomatoes. The fresh version is not easily available in the US. and is available in Naples between July and September.

    Since the signature flavor of this sauce depends on the quality of its simple ingredients, I would recommend using the freshest, in season, sun ripened tomatoes available. The best fresh tomato varieties include sweet plum (closest cousin to the San Marzano tomato) and cherry tomatoes.

    Pizza Sauce - Fresh Tomatoes
    Pizza Sauce - Fresh Tomatoes

    How to make Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce

    Sauce with Canned Tomatoes

    Step One. Make the sauce. Pour the canned Italian San Marzano tomatoes into a bowl. Break up the tomatoes with a potato masher or immersion blender. Season the tomato puree as needed.

    Pizza sauce made with canned tomatoes
    Pizza sauce made with canned tomatoes

    Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes

    Step One: Prepare the tomatoes. Cut an "x" at the bottom of each tomato.

    Step One - Cut an 'X' at the bottom of each tomato
    Step One - Cut an 'X' at the bottom of each tomato

    Step Two: Blanche the tomatoes. Fill a large mixing bowl with ice water. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil on medium-high heat. Add the whole tomatoes to the boiling water. When the skin starts to curl (about 30 seconds), carefully remove the tomatoes with a spoon and put them into the ice water. After about 2 minutes, or when the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, remove and discard the tomato skins.

    Step Two - Blanch the tomatoes
    Step Two - Blanch the tomatoes

    Step Three: Make the sauce. Pour the blanched, skinned tomatoes into a bowl. Add the salt. Break up the tomatoes with a potato masher or immersion blender. Season the tomato puree as needed.

    Step Three - Make the sauce
    Step Three - Make the sauce

    Expert Tips

    • The sauce texture depends on the tool used to mash the tomatoes. This simple sauce will be finer or pulpier depending on the tool used to mash the tomatoes. For a chunkier sauce use a spoon or potato masher. For a smooth sauce, use a food mill, blender, or food processor.
    • Add olive oil and fresh basil leaves to add more layers of flavor. For a richer and more complex flavor, add a tablespoon of olive and a handful of basil.
    Sun ripened tomatoes
    Sun ripened tomatoes

    Using Authentic Neapolitan Style Pizza Sauce

    Paired with our Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Dough recipe, this is the best pizza sauce recipe for recreating your favorite classic and gourmet brick-oven pizzas at home.

    Classic Pizza's

    • Pizza Margherita or "Neapolitan Pizza" is one of the best pizza recipes in the world. Toppings include, extra virgin olive oil, our authentic pizza sauce, fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese and fresh basil leaves.
    • Marinara Pizza or "Pizza a la Marinara" is another famous pizza which is topped with extra virgin olive oil, tomato sauce, dry oregano, and sprinkled with thinly finely minced garlic cloves. For additional flavor, top with red pepper flakes.

    Artisan Pizza Toppings

    • Anchovy, Goat Cheese and Fig
    • Shitake Mushroom and Thyme
    • Anchovy, Fig and Pecorino
    • Hot Honey, Arugula and Pepperoni

    Non-traditional Uses for Homemade Pizza Sauce

    In addition to spreading it on a pizza base, this Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce recipe can also be used as a marinade, a dipping sauce, as fresh homemade salsa (add chopped onions and cilantro), instead of tomato juice for drinks like Bloody Mary, as a base for pasta sauce, marinara sauce, curries and chili.

    You can add more flavor to this delicious sauce by adding a drizzle of olive oil, some minced garlic or garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and fresh herbs. Fresh oregano, fresh chili flakes, black pepper and fresh basil go very well with this authentic pizza sauce.

    Storing Pizza Sauce

    In the refrigerator: Stored in an airtight container, pizza sauce will last for about 1 week in the fridge.

    In the freezer: Pizza sauce will last for about 3 months if stored in airtight container. If freezing a large batch, the best way to store pizza sauce quickly is to divide them into individual freezer-safe Ziploc bags. After adding the sauce to the bag make sure to press out all the air from the bag before sealing. Mark the bag with the date for easy reference. Flatten down the bags and freeze in a stack.

    To thaw: Slowly defrost the pizza sauce by leaving it in the refrigerator overnight. For faster thawing run cold water over the pizza sauce (in the airtight container) in a large bowl until thawed.

    Nutrition

    A single serving of this Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce Recipe has about 39 calories, 0g of fat and 11g of carbohydrates. 

    This recipe yields approximately 9 servings. The nutrition guidance is intended for informational purposes only. Please use it as a general guideline. If the nutrition information is important to you, you should independently verify it using your preferred tool.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can you make Neapolitan Pizza Sauce without San Marzano Tomatoes?

    While San Marzano tomatoes are highly recommended, you can still enjoy this sauce without them. Canned plum tomatoes are a great substitute as they are similar to San Marzano tomatoes. If the tomatoes are not sweet enough, just add a pinch of sugar to plum tomatoes.

    How much pizza sauce do you need?

    Homemade 12-inch pizzas require about 3 tablespoons of pizza sauce. This is a little less than the amount used commercially due to the longer baking time needed because of the lower temperature of the home oven. While the amount used is based on personal preference, it is better to be safe and use a little less sauce, as too much will result in a soggy, undercooked bottom crust.

    6-inch pizza: 2 teaspoons
    10-inch pizza: 2 Tablespoons
    12-inch pizza: 3 Tablespoons
    14-inch pizza: 4 Tablespoons
    16-inch pizza: 6 Tablespoons
    18 inch pizza: 7 Tablespoons

    What sauce makes authentic Neapolitan pizza?

    Authentic Neapolitan pizza is required to made up of crushed San Marzano tomatoes or Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio and fine sea salt.

    Lima and Tareq

    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

    We'd love to hear how it turned out. Please take a picture and tag us on Instagram @cloveandcumin

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    Neapolitan Pizza Sauce
    Print Recipe
    5 from 5 votes

    Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce Recipe

    Ready in just 5 minutes this easy-peasy Neapolitan pizza sauce recipe is light, fresh, sweet yet tangy. A simple, no-cook recipe relying on just the quality of its two ingredients: fresh or canned tomatoes and salt.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Total Time5 minutes mins
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: authentic neapoilitan pizza sauce, fresh pizza sauce, neapolitan pizza sauce, pizza sauce
    Servings: 9 servings
    Calories: 39kcal
    Author: Lima

    Ingredients

    • 14 ounce Canned San Marzano tomatoes (whole, skinless) or 1 pound sun ripened tomatoes
    • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt to taste
    • 1-2 Tablespoon olive oil optional
    • ½-1 cup fresh basil leaves optional

    Instructions

    Pizza Sauce with Canned Tomatoes

    • Pour the canned Italian San Marzano tomatoes into a bowl. Add salt, fresh basil leaves (optional) and olive oil (optional) Break up the tomatoes with a potato masher or immersion blender. Taste for seasoning.
      Pizza sauce made with canned tomatoes

    Pizza Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes

    • Prepare the tomatoes. Cut an "x" at the bottom of each tomato.
      Step One - Cut an 'X' at the bottom of each tomato
    • Blanche the tomatoes. Fill a large mixing bowl with ice water. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil on medium-high heat. Add the whole tomatoes to the boiling water. When the skin starts to curl (about 30 seconds), carefully remove the tomatoes with a spoon and put them into the ice water. After about 2 minutes, or when the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, remove and discard the tomato skins.
      Step Two - Blanch the tomatoes
    • Make the sauce. Pour the blanched, skinned tomatoes into a bowl. Add salt, fresh basil leaves (optional) and olive oil (optional) Break up the tomatoes with a potato masher or immersion blender. Taste for seasoning.
      Step Three - Make the sauce

    Video

    Notes

    • The sauce texture depends on the tool used to mash the tomatoes. This simple sauce will be finer or pulpier depending on the tool used to mash the tomatoes. For a chunkier sauce use a spoon or potato masher. For a smooth sauce, use a food mill, blender, or food processor.
    • Add olive oil and fresh basil leaves to add more layers of flavor. For a richer and more complex flavor, add a tablespoon of olive and a handful of basil.

    Storing Pizza Sauce

    In the refrigerator: Stored in an airtight container, pizza sauce will last for about 1 week in the fridge.
    In the freezer: Pizza sauce will last for about 3 months if stored in airtight container. If freezing a large batch, the best way to store pizza sauce quickly is to divide them into individual freezer-safe Ziploc bags. After adding the sauce to the bag make sure to press out all the air from the bag before sealing. Mark the bag with the date for easy reference. Flatten down the bags and freeze in a stack.
    To thaw: Slowly defrost the pizza sauce by leaving it in the refrigerator overnight. For faster thawing run cold water over the pizza sauce (in the airtight container) in a large bowl until thawed.

    Nutrition

    A single serving of this Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Sauce Recipe has about 39 calories, 0g of fat and 11g of carbohydrates. 
    This recipe yields approximately 9 servings. The nutrition guidance and is intended for informational purposes only. Please use it as a general guideline. If the nutrition information is important to you, you should independently verify it using your preferred too
    « Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Dough Recipe - Chewy Crust
    How to make cappuccino at home without a machine »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cynthia | What A Girl Eats

      March 26, 2023 at 11:30 pm

      5 stars
      I spent a week in Naples in the fall and couldn't get enough of the Napoli pizza! Looking forward to trying this!

      Reply
      • Lima

        March 27, 2023 at 3:57 pm

        Please let us know what you think! We are thrilled that you might try our recipe!

        Reply
    2. Colleen

      March 26, 2023 at 6:31 pm

      5 stars
      So often, simple recipes are the best ones, and this neapolitan sauce is a good example. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Lima

        March 27, 2023 at 3:57 pm

        Thank you! Please let us know if you try it!

        Reply
    3. Caitlin

      March 26, 2023 at 4:03 pm

      5 stars
      Such a delicious recipe with only a few ingredients! You are so right that the best pizza sauce doesn't have a million ingredients in it!

      Reply
      • Lima

        March 27, 2023 at 3:58 pm

        Agreed! We use it in so many other recipes - not just as pizza sauce!

        Reply
    4. Sara Welch

      March 26, 2023 at 3:45 pm

      5 stars
      This was everything a gourmet sauce should be, and then some! So bold and flavorful; easily, a new favorite recipe!

      Reply
      • Lima

        March 27, 2023 at 3:58 pm

        Thank you Sara. Really appreciate your kind words.

        Reply
    5. Tara

      March 26, 2023 at 12:12 pm

      5 stars
      I love how you can make this sauce with either fresh or canned tomatoes depending on the season. Such an easy and delicious recipe.

      Reply
      • Lima

        March 27, 2023 at 3:58 pm

        Thank you Tara. We were surprised at how tasty it was!

        Reply

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