Can we all agree that the vast majority of people love pizza? It doesn’t matter the event, you can throw a bunch of pies on the table and you’ll become everyone’s hero.
While anyone can pick up the phone and have mouthwatering pizzas delivered to their door – if you want to really impress guests, you go homemade. That’s right, straight from your own oven pizza.
There are tons of yummy pizza recipes out there to try. But for those looking to take the freshness up a notch, why not make the sauce too! After all, it’s one of the few main components that a pizza calls for.
Chef John from Food Wishes shared a “top-secret” sauce recipe that’ll be the perfect addition to your next homemade pizza. It’s received tons of 5-star reviews online, not to mention, his demonstration video has over 45K “likes” on YouTube.
So, head over to the kitchen, and let’s get this pizza party started! Below you’ll find steps to make Chef John’s “Secret Pizza Sauce.”
Ingredients (Makes 8 servings, 3 cups)
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 2 anchovy fillets
- 3 cloves of garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoons of fresh oregano (finely chopped)
- 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1 28-oz can of whole peeled tomatoes (crushed, salt to taste) (San Marzano is preferred)
- salt (to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon of white sugar
- 1 pinch of fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tiny pinch of baking soda
Step One:
Add the olive oil to a saucepan and place over medium-low heat. Then, put in the anchovy fillets and allow them to cook until they sizzle (approximately 1 minute). Be sure to stir often.
Step Two:
Add the minced garlic and cook the oil for 1 more minute (you don’t want to brown the garlic). Mix in the fresh oregano and turn the heat down to low. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes while continuing to stir.
Step Three:
Toss the red pepper flakes and dried oregano into the saucepan.
For those wondering why you would use both fresh and dried oregano, Chef John explains:
“Dry herbs and fresh herbs do not have the exact same flavor.”
Step Four:
Next, crush your canned tomatoes in a separate bowl, then pour them into the oil mixture.
The chef recommends using “San Marzano” tomatoes from Italy, and not just “San Marzano-style” tomatoes. In his chef notes, he says:
“I think San Marzano tomatoes from Italy are the world’s best sauce tomatoes, without a doubt.”
Turn the heat up to medium, stir the mixture, and bring it to a simmer. During this time, add in the salt, sugar, and black pepper.
Step Five:
Now, turn the heat back down to low and simmer for 35-40 minutes. Stir occasionally, and don’t skim the oil off the top.
Step Six:
This is a “top-secret trick” he got from his grandparents, according to Chef John. Add the tiny pinch of baking soda to the sauce and mix.
He shares:
“What it does theoretically is that soda neutralizes some of the acid … and that’s supposed to mellow out the sauce a little bit, make it a little less acidic, and also possibly prevent heartburn.”
Does the trick really work? He’s not sure! But his grandma did it, so Chef John does it too.
Your delicious pizza sauce is now done and ready to enjoy! It’s a fantastic addition to a homemade pizza that will have your guests cheering.
Below are a couple of five-star reviews posted on the All Recipes website, from people who’ve tried it:
“EXCELLENT RECIPE!! My wife could not stop raving about the sauce. Definitely a keeper.”
Another person wrote:
“No changes needed. Hands down the best pizza sauce recipe. I use it with my homemade pizza dough. A winner every time.”
Watch Chef John make his “secret” pizza sauce in the video below!
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