Description
This homemade Italian pizza sauce recipe features roasted red peppers and smoked paprika for a rich, smoky flavor profile. It provides a deeper taste than traditional marinara and is easy to prepare for weeknight pizza nights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 800 g (28 oz) canned crushed tomatoes
- 2 large red bell peppers (about 400 g / 14 oz)
- 60 ml (4 tablespoons) extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 10 ml (2 teaspoons) smoked paprika
- 5 ml (1 teaspoon) dried oregano (use 3x amount for fresh)
- 2.5 ml (0.5 teaspoon) black pepper
- 5 g (1 teaspoon) fine sea salt, or to taste
- Fresh basil leaves, optional garnish
Instructions
- Roast Peppers: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Halve and seed bell peppers, place cut-side down on a baking sheet, and roast for 25-30 minutes until skins are charred and wrinkled.
- Steam and Peel Peppers: Transfer hot roasted peppers to a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap for 10-15 minutes to steam. Once cool enough to handle, peel off and discard the skins.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant; ensure garlic does not brown or burn.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir in smoked paprika and dried oregano, cooking for 30 seconds. Add crushed tomatoes, peeled roasted peppers, salt, and black pepper; mix well.
- Simmer Sauce: Bring mixture to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Blend Smooth: Carefully transfer the sauce to a blender or use an immersion blender to blend until completely smooth and velvety. Adjust seasoning as needed before serving.
Notes
If the sauce is too thin after simmering, cook uncovered for the final 10 minutes to reduce excess liquid. The sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen in portions for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Simmer
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Pizza sauce, Italian, Roasted red pepper, Smoky, Meal prep, Freezer friendly, Homemade