Can You Use Pizza Sauce for Pasta?

Italian cuisine is one of the most famous national cuisines all over the globe. Delicious kinds of pasta and pizzas are the favorite foods of many people, and variations of those two dishes are almost endless. If you’re fond of Italian cuisine, you might ask yourself: can you use pizza sauce for pasta and make this dish even more delicious? 

Yes, you can use pizza sauce for pasta, and with slight changes, it can become even tastier. Pizza sauce is based on tomatoes, and it is not necessary to cook it before it is put on a pizza. When you add it to pasta, ensure to cook it for a couple of minutes and add some garlic, basil, and oregano to intensify the taste.

What Is the Difference Between Pizza, Pasta, and Marinara Sauce? 

All three kinds of sauces are made of tomatoes, but there is still a difference in the taste. The reason for this is because of the various spices used and methods of cooking. Here are the main differences that will help you identify the sauces, which will, in turn, help you buy or make the right one!

Pasta vs Pizza Sauce – What Ingredients Are Used and How Those Are Cooked

The majority of pizza sauces in jars are made from tomatoes. However, they also consist of tomato paste, herbs, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, preservatives, and additives that extend the expiration date of the product. 

On the other hand, pasta sauces don’t necessarily have to be made of tomatoes. They can include other ingredients like minced meat – famous Bolognese, cheese – Quattro Formaggi, or be made of basil, cheese, and garlic, which is known as Pesto sauce. The simplest pasta sauce is actually marinara, which is made only from tomatoes, seasoning, and herbs. 

Not only are they different when it comes to ingredients, but they are also differently cooked, which gives specific texture and flavor to each. Namely, pizza sauce is usually made with uncooked tomatoes, so it is much thicker and more intense in flavor. Spaghetti and marinara sauces are much lighter, since they’re made with cooked tomatoes, and give space to the whole dish to be upgraded with other ingredients. 

Don’t Start Preparing a Tomato Sauce Before You Learn How to Cook Spaghetti Properly

Making spaghetti might seem like one of the simplest recipes ever. However, Italians would not agree with this statement. If you want to learn how to cook real Italian pasta at home and avoid some critical mistakes, check out the video below and learn useful advice from the Italian Food Ambassador. 

How to Make a Traditional Italian Tomato Spaghetti Sauce at Home? Here’s the Secret Revealed! 

Making a traditional Italian pasta sauce at home is easier than you could possibly assume. All you need is a lot of fresh tomatoes, one larger pot, and some herbs. 

All the Secrets of the Spaghetti Sauce Cooking Method 

The secret is to use different kinds of tomatoes and not to add a lot of water while boiling them. Tomatoes should boil in their own water they release during the boiling process, and to cook them faster, just ensure to put a lid on the pot. After 10 minutes or less, the first stage of cooking is done, and the next step is to drain the boiled tomatoes. 

Once tomatoes have been drained, you will put them into a milling machine which will separate the pulp from the seeds. Another secret for making an original Italian pasta sauce is to add milled tomatoes in a terra-cotta bowl (make sure it’s a larger one) and put all the spices in the blend, because this material keeps the taste of tomatoes better. 

And now it’s the right moment for the last step – putting the mixture into glass jars! Make sure those jars are washed and perfectly clean, and before you pour the sauce in them, add a basil leaf in each jar – this will intensify the taste. To preserve them for some longer time (if you’ve decided to produce larger quantities), you’ll want to boil filled jars for 15-minutes, and leave them to cool until the next day.  

Use Italian Seasoning to Upgrade the Taste 

If you don’t have time to prepare a homemade sauce, and you decide to go for canned tomatoes from the grocery store, there is still a way to upgrade the taste and give it a pinch of freshness

Namely, if you add some fresh Italian seasoning, you will tremendously improve the flavor. The best thing of all is you can prepare this blend of herbs and spices in advance and use it as needed. You can shop for the ingredients in the local grocery store, and here are all the spices you’ll need to get: 

  • Dried basil
  • Dried oregano
  • Dried rosemary
  • Dried parsley
  • Dried thyme
  • Chili flakes
  • Garlic powder. 

In addition to these dried spices, you can also use fresh ingredients that will intensify the flavor even more. The point is – there are no limits when it comes to cooking creativity, so let your next dish become a real piece of art. 

In Conclusion – Can You Use Pizza Sauce for Pasta? 

Although all mentioned sauces may seem pretty similar, the truth is that there are many specific details that make them significantly different from each other. However, the base is the same, and if you’re in a hurry and don’t have enough time to prepare your homemade spaghetti sauce, and all you have in your fridge is pizza sauce, go for it. By using pizza sauce in your spaghetti, you’ll get a more intense flavor, which could be pretty tasty. There is no way you’ll be dissatisfied with the results!