The main components of pizza are dough, sauce, and cheese. We’re going to talk all about the sauce here. The most common sauce for pizza is a red sauce. But should you use a tomato sauce or a pizza sauce? Is tomato sauce pizza sauce? If not, what is the difference?
No, tomato sauce is not pizza sauce. The main difference is their consistency. Tomato sauce is thinner and lighter than pizza sauce. Pizza sauce has a thicker consistency. Usually, tomato sauce uses fresh ingredients, while pizza sauce comes from cans.
Now don’t get us wrong, you can use tomato sauce on a pizza, but it is best to use a thicker sauce so that the toppings stay in place on the pizza.
There is no wrong way to make a sauce, especially since you can decide which flavors you want to highlight.
Is Tomato Sauce Pizza Sauce?
Both tomato and pizza sauce are red and flavorful. Tomato sauce is cooked before it is served on pasta, while pizza sauce is thrown together and used to top a pizza. Pizza sauce bakes while on the pizza, so it doesn’t need to be simmering on the stove beforehand.
Although tomato sauce is lighter than pizza sauce, its flavor is more profound due to its longer cooking time. It is crucial for pizza sauce to be thicker to uphold the crust’s integrity while baking. A liquidy sauce can end up creating a soggy pizza, something no one wants!
Tomato Sauce is best made from natural crushed tomatoes, fresh herbs, garlic, salt and pepper. Basil is the most prevalent herb here. On the other hand, pizza sauce has more of an oregano flavor mixed with tomato puree and tomato paste. Both should have their share of garlic.
Ingredients Tomato Sauce
- crushed tomatoes
- garlic
- basil
- salt and pepper
- virgin olive oil
- grated Parmesan cheese
Ingredients Pizza Sauce
- pureed tomatoes
- tomato paste
- oregano and Italian seasoning
- garlic
Pay Attention
There are some things you should pay attention to when you are making red sauces.
- Sugar: Many people believe sugar enhances the flavor of tomatoes. Yet, we consume so much sugar; should we add more to our sauce? You can decide what to do when you make your sauce homemade.
- Pizza sauce usually comes from a can and is, therefore, quicker to throw together.
- Do you like a chunky sauce or do you prefer a smooth one? You can always use your immersion blender if you want a more even consistency.
- Either way, unprocessed is the way to go. Using natural ingredients ensures a high-quality product.
- When describing red sauce, keep these adjectives in mind: bright, intense, rich, fresh, garlicky, light or thick, and tomatoes (canned or fresh).
- Since you should add fresh herbs at the end of the cooking time, it is best to use them in tomato sauce or add them on top of the pizza once you take it out of the oven. This is so the herbs maintain their flavor. Add dried herbs at the start of cooking since they release flavor as they cook.
Times to Use a Tomato Sauce
So when do you use tomato sauce? It can add flavor to many types of food. Here are our favorite things to top with tomato sauce.
- eggs
- pasta
- fish
- chicken
- eggplant
- as a dipping sauce, like with mozzarella sticks
Do you prefer something other than red sauce?
If you are ready to step it up a notch in the kitchen, you might try other sauces on either your pasta or pizza. Let’s look at some popular pizza substitutes some like to use to change up the meal. There is no right or wrong way to make a pizza. You can add whatever you find yummiest!
- ricotta cheese
- BBQ sauce
- buffalo sauce
- olive tapenade
- pesto
- alfredo sauce
- olive oil and garlic
More about Pizza
If you decide to make homemade pizza, then you can add anything you want. You can make everything from scratch, or to save time, buy a pizza oven kit.
If you decide to buy a pizza oven, find the best pizza oven covers here.
Have you ever had a Jersey pizza? If you want to know more, read this article.
Do you know if pizza is a heterogeneous mixture? If not, click here to find out more.
Are you adding sausage to your pizza? Find out the best kind to add here.