Do you love pizza as much as I do? There’s something magical about the perfect combination of dough, sauce, and toppings. While the toppings may vary, the key to an amazing pizza lies in the dough and the sauce. And let me tell you a secret – making your own pizza sauce is a game-changer!
Elevate Your Pizza Experience with Homemade Sauce
Making pizza at home not only saves you money but also allows you to customize it to your liking. Imagine biting into a slice of pizzeria-style pizza without leaving your home. That’s the power of homemade pizza sauce!
A few years ago, my family ordered pizza every Friday night as a treat. But when the pandemic hit and lockdowns began, we couldn’t rely on our favorite pizza joint anymore. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and make pizza at home. And guess what? It tasted even better!
The Great Pizza Dilemma
Ordering pizza can be challenging, especially when everyone has different preferences. In my family, we had a pizza dilemma – my daughter only wanted mushrooms, I preferred pepperoni and bacon, and my husband had a thing for black olives (which I find disgusting). So, we ended up ordering three pizzas every time!
From Scratch or Store-Bought?
When it comes to making pizza, you have a few options for the crust. You can make the dough from scratch using your favorite recipe, buy raw pizza dough from the grocery store, or even use pre-baked pizza crusts. You can even get creative and use a flour tortilla for a super thin and crispy crust. The choice is yours!
The Ingredients You’ll Need
To make your own pizza sauce, you’ll need a few key ingredients:
- Tomatoes: Roma or plum tomatoes work best for canning.
- Onions: Use white or yellow onions.
- Garlic: Don’t be afraid to use plenty of garlic!
- Salt: Season your sauce to taste.
- Italian Seasoning: Choose your favorite blend.
- Sugar: Add a touch of sweetness if desired.
- Lemon Juice: Use bottled lemon juice for safe preservation.
- Olive Oil: For cooking the onions and garlic.
How to Make Canned Tomato Sauce
Now that you have gathered your ingredients, let’s dive into the process of making delicious canned tomato sauce for your pizzas.
Peeling the Tomatoes
Start by boiling a large pot of water. Meanwhile, prepare a bowl of cold water and ice. Score the bottom of the tomatoes with an X pattern. Place the tomatoes in the boiling water for one minute, then transfer them to the ice water. Once cooled, peel the tomatoes by pulling the skin off from the scored X pattern. Repeat this process until all tomatoes are peeled.
Prepping the Vegetables
Peel and quarter the onions and roughly chop the garlic. Puree the onions and garlic in a food processor until fine. Heat olive oil in a large stockpot and cook the onion and garlic mixture for five minutes. Quarter the peeled tomatoes and remove the stems. Puree the tomatoes and add them to the pot. Stir in the salt, sugar, and Italian seasoning. Cook the sauce for four hours, stirring occasionally.
Water Bath Canning
Canning your pizza sauce ensures its long-term preservation and safety. Here’s how you can do it:
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Prepare the Jars: Wash the jars in hot, soapy water and rinse well. Boil the jars for 2-3 minutes and transfer them to a preheated oven at 200 degrees F to keep them hot.
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Prepare the Seals and Rings: Wash the screw bands and separate the sealing lids. Pour boiling water over the lids to sterilize them.
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Prepare the Canner: Fill a canning pot with enough water to cover the jars by at least an inch. Insert a rack or mat at the bottom to prevent jars from touching the pot.
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Fill the Jars: Use a canning funnel to ladle the hot sauce into the jars, leaving half an inch of headspace. Remove air bubbles using a bubble remover or a clean wooden chopstick. Wipe the rim of each jar with a damp paper towel.
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Seal and Boil the Jars: Position the sealing lids on the jars and screw on the metal bands until firm. Carefully place the jars in the boiling water bath canner. Boil the jars for 20 minutes according to the recipe.
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Cool and Store: Remove the jars from the canner and let them cool for at least 12 hours. Wipe the jars clean, label them, and store them in a cool, dark pantry or cupboard.
Enjoy Homemade Pizza Anytime!
Now that you have your homemade pizza sauce ready, you can create delicious pizzas whenever the craving strikes. Whether you choose to make the dough from scratch or go for store-bought options, a jar of homemade sauce will take your pizza game to the next level.
So, why not embark on a culinary adventure and make your own pizza sauce? Trust me, the taste is unbeatable, and you’ll impress your friends and family with your pizzeria-style creations. Your homemade pizza nights will never be the same again!
