Description

A rich and glossy smoky red pepper pizza sauce featuring roasted red peppers and smoked paprika for a hearty, sweet flavor that won’t make the pizza crust soggy.

Ingredients

Scale

28 oz can crushed tomatoes
6.5 oz jar roasted red peppers, drained and roughly chopped
2 tbsp olive oil, plus 1 tsp reserved for finishing
1 medium onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp smoked paprika
0.5 tsp dried oregano
0.5 tsp dried basil
1 tsp granulated sugar
0.5 tsp fine sea salt, or to taste
0.25 tsp black pepper, or to taste
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
6–8 fresh basil leaves, torn, for garnish

Instructions

Sauté Aromatics: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
Bloom Garlic and Spices: Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the smoked paprika, dried oregano, and dried basil, cooking for 30 seconds to bloom the spices.
Simmer Sauce: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, roughly chopped roasted red peppers, granulated sugar, salt, pepper, and apple cider vinegar. Stir well to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook uncovered for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and flavors meld.
Adjust Seasoning and Serve: Remove the sauce from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, sugar, or vinegar if needed. Serve warm with the reserved olive oil and fresh torn basil leaves, or cool completely before freezing.

Notes

For a smoother sauce, puree the roasted red peppers before adding them to the saucepan. Adjust the sugar level based on the acidity of your tomatoes. Fresh basil should only be added as a garnish just before serving, as cooking diminishes its delicate flavor.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Sauce
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 cup (60 g)
Calories: 45 calories
Sugar: 3 g
Sodium: 180 mg
Fat: 2 g
Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
Unsaturated Fat: 1.7 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 5 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 1 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: pizza sauce, smoky, roasted red pepper, homemade, stovetop, vegetarian, easy recipe, weeknight dinner