Classic Pizza Sauce

“Juicy and sweet tomatoes with a hint of garlic, salt and basil make this the ideal pizza sauce for enhancing the flavor of your Classic Pizza Dough base,” says Ooni CEO Kristian Tapaninaho. And we couldn't agree more!

Featured in our cookbook, “Ooni: Cooking with Fire,” and made on a stovetop in less than 30 minutes, this recipe is sure to become your go-to pizza sauce.

The secret to this classic pizza sauce recipe is choosing high-quality tomatoes that will make a noticeable difference to the flavor. We like canned San Marzano tomatoes, the traditional choice for Neapolitan pizzas. With their fleshy texture, low amount of seeds and slightly sweet flavor, this variety of plum tomato has been used in Italy and across the world for generations. 

Add fragrant garlic, fresh basil, olive oil, sugar and a dash of salt and pepper and you’ve got a sauce that would make any nonna proud.

Difficulty

Servings

Makes enough sauce for eight 12-inch (30 centimeter) pizzas

Prep Time

1 minute

Cook Time

45 minutes

By Ooni HQ

Classic Pizza Sauce

Note

Make more sauce than you needed or just want to have some on-hand in a pinch? No problem. This pizza sauce freezes well for quick and easy use. Just place the sauce in sealable freezer-safe bags, remove all of the air, then lay them flat in the freezer. They’ll be great for up to six months. To use, defrost overnight in the fridge or use your microwave setting. If you find that the sauce has thinned out at all, give it a quick reheat on your stovetop until warmed through!

1: Place the oil in a pan over medium heat.

When warm, add the garlic and cook until softened but not brown (not more than a minute).

2: Pour the can of plum tomatoes into a bowl and use a masher or fork to break them apart and crush them down.

Pour the tomatoes into the pan.

3: Add all the remaining ingredients, then simmer on low heat for 45 minutes, or until the flavor has deepened and the sauce has thickened slightly.

Adjust seasoning to taste.

4: This sauce can be used straight away, or placed in an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to a week, ready to be used as required.

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Ooni HQ

Make pizza. From wood-fired flavor to gas-powered consistency to electrified convenience, you can use Ooni's portable pizza ovens in the kitchen, backyard or beyond.

  • Saucepan
  • Masher or tomato mill (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons (30 grams) extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed or finely chopped
  • 4 cups (800 grams) canned whole plum tomatoes (we like San Marzano)
  • 1 teaspoon (5 grams) sugar, heaped
  • 1 teaspoon (8 grams) salt, or more to taste
  • Handful of basil leaves, roughly chopped
  • Pinch of freshly ground black pepper