Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce (Fresh Tomatoes)
Ingredients:
- Fresh tomatoes (about 4 medium-sized)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (or fresh if preferred)
Construction:
- Prepare the Tomatoes: Wash and dice the tomatoes into small pieces.
- Sauté Garlic: In a pan, heat olive oil and sauté minced garlic until fragrant (about 1-2 minutes).
- Cook the Tomatoes: Add the diced tomatoes, sugar, salt, and oregano to the pan. Cook over medium heat until the tomatoes soften and break down (about 10 minutes).
- Blend: Remove the sauce from heat and let it cool for a few minutes. Then, pour it into a blender. Blend until smooth or leave it slightly chunky, depending on your preference for the sauce’s texture.
- Use or Store: Pour the sauce onto your pizza dough and bake. If you have leftover sauce, you can store it in the fridge for up to a week or freeze it for up to 3 months.
Variations:
- Whole Wheat Pizza Dough: Use 1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour and 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour for a healthier, denser dough.
- Gluten-Free Pizza Dough: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. You may also need to add a binding agent like xanthan gum.
- Herb-Infused Dough: Add 1 tablespoon of dried oregano or basil to the flour mixture for a flavorful twist.
- Thin Crust vs. Thick Crust: For thin crust, divide the dough into 2 parts and roll them thinner. For thicker crust, use the whole dough ball for one pizza.
Tips:
- Warm Water for Yeast Activation: Make sure the water is warm, not hot, as too much heat can kill the yeast. Ideally, it should be around 110°F.
- Knead Properly: Kneading is key to developing gluten, which makes your dough chewy and elastic. Don’t skip this step!
- Let the Dough Rise: Ensure your dough rises fully before baking to achieve the best texture. You can also let it rise in the fridge overnight for more flavor.
- High Oven Temperature: A high oven temperature (475°F) is essential to get that crispy, golden crust. If your oven goes higher (500°F), you can bake it at that temperature for a crispier finish.
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients: If possible, let the olive oil and water come to room temperature to make it easier to incorporate into the dough.
- Toppings: Don’t overload the pizza with toppings, as this can make the crust soggy. Less is often more!
With this homemade pizza dough and sauce, you can customize the flavors, textures, and toppings to suit your taste. Enjoy your pizza night!
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