PIZZA ESSENTIALS: THE ULTIMATE SWEET PIZZA SAUCE

Pizza Essentials: The Ultimate Sweet Pizza Sauce image

I have two favorite pizza sauces, one is a tart sauce that I have already posted, and this one is more of a sweet sauce. Not a sweet, sweet sauce but just enough sweetness to let you know that it is there. It was used quite a bit at the mom-and-pop Italian pizzerias that I grew up with. This is my go-to sauce whenever I am...

Provided by Andy Anderson !

Time 40m

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

PLAN/PURCHASE
2 Tbsp olive oil, extra virgin
1 clove garlic, minced
3 Tbsp tomato paste
1 pinch red-pepper flakes, or to taste
28 oz diced tomatoes, 1 can
1 tsp dehydrated onions, crushed into a powder
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp dried parsley
1 - 2 Tbsp fresh clover honey, or to taste
salt, kosher variety, to taste

Steps:

1. PREP/PREPARE
2. A good solid saucepan, without any hotspots, is essential to this recipe.
3. What gives this sauce its unique flavor is not just the honey, but the proper cooking of the tomato paste. We are going to cook it, almost to the point of caramelization. One minute it will be nice and brown, and the next it will be a burned mess. Once that process is started, you will never leave the pan unattended.
4. One of my favorite brands of tomatoes is Cento. I think that they have the perfect balance of tomato flavors to compliment this recipe.
5. Gather your Ingredients (mise en place).
6. Add the olive oil to a saucepan, over medium-low heat.
7. When the oil heats up, add the chopped garlic.
8. Cook until it turns a golden brown, about 2 - 3 minutes.
9. Use a strainer to remove the garlic from the oil, and then return the oil to the saucepan.
10. Add the tomato paste, and red-pepper flakes, if using.
11. Raise the heat to medium, and cook until the tomato paste begins to turn brown, and almost caramelizes, about 5 - 7 minutes.
12. Add the tomatoes, dehydrated onions, basil, oregano, and parsley.
13. Bring up to a light boil, then lower the heat, and lightly simmer for 20 - 30 minutes.
14. Chef's Note: Give the sauce a swirl with a spoon, about every minute or so.
15. Remove from the heat, and add the honey, and salt, to taste.
16. Add to a blender or food processor, and blend until smooth.
17. Allow to completely cool, place in a jar, with a tight-fitting lid, and place in the fridge until needed.
18. PLATE/PRESENT
19. Use whenever you are looking for an awesome, slightly sweet pizza sauce. Enjoy.
20. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.