What sauce is suitable for pizza?

No pizza recipe is complete without sauce, as it’s one of the essential components of the Italian dish. To determine which pizza sauce is best, you need to know a few classic combinations of toppings and sauce.

The Most Common Ingredients for Making Sauces

A classic pizza sauce contains a number of basic ingredients:

• tomatoes or tomato-based products;
• cream or milk;
• olive oil;
• cheeses;
• nuts;
• spices, including herbs.

Depending on the type of sauce, tomatoes may be included in the recipe for a red pizza sauce, or omitted for a cream-based white sauce. Here are some basic ingredient combinations for creating sauces:

Tomatoes pair well with basil and oregano, and pair well with mozzarella or Parmesan.
White sauces made with cream or milk love mushrooms, mozzarella, garlic, parsley, and basil. Pesto, which contains nuts, pairs well with cherry tomatoes, olives, feta, or mozzarella.
Olive oil is the most versatile, so it pairs well with vegetables, garlic, herbs, and cheeses.

By following these basic sauce ingredient combinations, you can create your own delicious pizza sauce or choose a ready-made product whose recipe adheres to classic traditions.

The Best Pizza Sauce – Italian Recipes

There are many different pizza sauces – the choice depends on personal taste preferences and the type of dish. Here are some popular pizza sauce options:

• Tomato – This is the most common classic sauce, made from both fresh and canned tomatoes with spices such as basil, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper. The tomato sauce is applied to the dough before the toppings and other ingredients are added. It pairs perfectly with any meat and cheese toppings; it’s a classic pepperoni pizza sauce that enhances the savory and spicy flavor of the finished dish.
• White sauce – made with full-fat milk or cream, along with cheese and butter, is often used for pizzas with white ingredients like chicken and mushrooms. It also pairs beautifully with greens like spinach and artichokes. White sauce imparts a rich, creamy flavor to pizza.
• Pesto – a pizza sauce made with basil, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, nuts (traditionally Italian pine seeds or pine nuts), and garlic. Pesto has the intense flavor and aroma of basil and pairs well with toppings like tomatoes, mozzarella, and chicken.
• Barbecue sauce – made with tomatoes and soy sauce, has a sweet and smoky flavor and is often used on pizzas with chicken, pork, beef, or vegetables. It can be used as a sauce base or added on top of other ingredients.
• Olive oil – instead of a traditional sauce, you can apply olive oil to the pizza base and add fresh herbs, garlic, and salt, which will add flavor and aroma to the finished dish. This option is suitable for those who don’t like certain sauces on pizza.

Pizza sauce is an important ingredient that defines the character and style of the dish, highlighting its flavors and aromas. By experimenting with toppings and ready-made sauces, you can find your favorite combination.