I like most people, you love both pasta and pizza. But have you ever wondered can you use pasta sauce for pizza? The answer is yes – and it’s a delicious way to spruce up your pizza! Keep reading for tips on how to make the perfect pasta sauce pizza.
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Can You Use Pasta Sauce For Pizza?
Yes, pasta sauce is good on pizza, but pizza sauce is even better. Both have their own distinct flavor, but it is not so different that they cannot be used interchangeably.
Pasta sauce can be used on pizza, but it should not be your first choice. Pizza sauce tastes better and will make your pizza taste more authentic.
If you are in a pinch and want to use pasta sauce for pizza, go ahead! But if you want to make a really delicious pizza, you should stick with the traditional pizza sauce recipe.
What Kind Of Pasta Sauces Are There?
Here are a few of the most Sauce For Pizza popular types:
- Alfredo sauce is a classic, creamy white sauce made with butter, cream, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. This silky smooth sauce requires no cooking and can be served on any type of pasta.
- Pesto is a creamy green sauce made with herbs (usual basil), olive oil, nuts, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. It can be tossed with just about any type of pasta for a simple and delicious meal.
- Marinara sauce is a classic Italian red sauce that’s simmered with tomatoes, garlic, herbs (usually basil), and sometimes onions. Marinara is traditionally served with spaghetti, but it’s also delicious over ziti or penne pasta.
- Bolognese is a meat-based red sauce that’s simmered for several hours until the flavors marry together perfectly. Simmer it for as long as you can — the more time the better!
- Carbonara is an Italian pasta sauce made with eggs, cheese (usually Parmesan or Pecorino Romano), bacon or pancetta, and black pepper. Carbonara is traditionally served with spaghetti or fettuccine noodles but can be served over any type of pasta.
Which Type Of Pasta Sauce Is Suitable For Pizza?
There’s no need to feel limited to just tomato-based pizza sauces. You can use virtually any pasta sauce for pizza, as long as you know how to adjust the ingredients.
Alfredo sauce can be used on its own or paired with white pizza toppings. Make sure it isn’t too thick; add a little water or broth if necessary to thin the sauce out so that it spreads easily.
Marinara is the most popular type of pizza sauce, but you’ll want to make sure that your marinara is thick enough. If it’s too watery, it will just slide off the pizza instead of clinging to the crust. Simmering it over low heat will help concentrate the sauce and make it thicker, as will adding a small amount of tomato paste.
Pesto makes an excellent choice for a white pizza. The rich flavor will complement the cheese and other toppings nicely while also giving pizzas an extra savory kick. Pesto doesn’t need to be cooked, so you can spread it directly onto your dough before baking your pies.
Difference Between Pizza Sauce And Pasta Sauce
Pizza sauce and pasta sauce are two sauces that taste great when served with the food items for which they are specifically made. The difference between pizza sauce and pasta sauce is that pizza sauce is used on pizzas while pasta sauce is used in pasta.
Pasta sauce is precooked since it is often designed to be mixed with cooked noodles. They also have a lot richer taste most of the time since they’ve been cooked and the components have had time to mingle. Some pasta sauces have a chunkier texture than pizza sauces.
Pizza sauce, on the other hand, is served raw. It also has a more straightforward taste profile. This is due to the fact that it is intended to complement the other toppings you place on top of your pizza dough. Otherwise, the flavor of the toppings will be overpowered.
Pizza sauce is also much thicker than pasta sauce. This is due to the fact that they are created from concentrated tomato puree. If the sauce is excessively liquid, this will keep the dough from becoming soggy.
Because pasta sauce is created from crushed tomatoes, it is more diluted and so has a thinner consistency. The texture also differs, with pizza sauce being smoother and pasta sauces being more chunky. Also, because it’s already cooked, frying it again when you bake your pizza would be redundant, and it may change the flavor of the sauce.
This funny video below will help you determine more information about the difference between pizza sauce and pasta sauce:
How To Make Pasta Sauce As A Base For Pizza?
Begin by straining the sauce to remove any extra water. Crushed tomatoes can produce more liquid than pureed tomatoes.
The pasta sauce will thereafter be thicker and smoother as a result of the processing. To do so, place it in a food processor, immersion blender, or high-powered blender such as a Vitamix. Allow it to process a couple more times to smooth it out while focusing on consistency.
Seasoning should be adjusted. You may need to season it with salt and pepper, as well as any other spices you like. While mixing, the juice from the tomatoes may cause it to be a touch bland.
Stir it again, then strain the sauce to remove the water. Based on your pasta sauce, you now have a sufficiently thick pizza sauce!
What Pizza Can You Make With Pasta Sauce?
There are countless ways to enjoy pasta sauce, but one of the most popular is on pizza. Whether you’re looking for a traditional option or something a little more unique, there are plenty of delicious possibilities.
One classic choice is to simply top your pizza with red sauce and mozzarella cheese. For a slight twist, you could add some Parmesan cheese or swap out the mozzarella for another type of cheese.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you could even create a white pizza by using garlic-infused olive oil or Alfredo sauce as your base. Topping options are endless, but some popular choices include mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, and olives.
No matter what ingredients you choose, you’re sure to end up with a delicious treat.
How Much Does Pasta Sauce Cost?
The cost of pasta sauce varies greatly depending on the brand, the size of the bottle, the retailer, and where you live.
Prices range from as little as $0.80 for a 14-ounce bottle of store-brand pasta sauce from discount stores such as Walmart and Target to as much as $8 for a 24-ounce bottle of gourmet pasta sauce from specialty stores such as Whole Foods.
The average price for a 24-ounce jar of pasta sauce is around $3, which breaks down to about 12 cents per ounce. Costco carries 24-ounce jars of Classico pasta sauce for $3.49, or about 15 cents an ounce. Trader Joe’s sells 26-ounce jars of organic tomato basil marinara for $2.69, or about 10 cents an ounce. This makes grocery store brands some of the most affordable options when it comes to buying pasta sauce by the jar or can.
FAQs About Can You Use Pasta Sauce For Pizza
Can I Use Ketchup Instead Of Pizza Sauce?
Many people use this as a topping for their pizza. Of course, a few of them realize its common ingredients also make it suitable for being used as the actual sauce. Ketchup is, after all, made mostly from tomatoes, which are the main ingredient in pizza sauce.
Can I Mix Pizza Sauce With Spaghetti Sauce?
You can use pizza sauce for pasta. Pizza sauce and pasta sauce are both tomato-based sauces. However, pizza sauce is usually uncooked and less seasoned, while pasta sauce is ready cooked and flavored.
You need to cook pizza sauce and add other ingredients to get it to taste like pasta sauce. Also, you might need to experiment with the number of spices you use. This will differ from recipe to recipe and from brand to brand.
How Can I Tell If Pasta Sauce Is Bad?
The best way is to smell and look at the pasta sauce: if the pasta sauce develops an off odor, flavor, or appearance, or if mold appears, it should be discarded.
Discard all pasta sauce from cans or packages that are leaking, rusting, bulging, or severely dented.
Conclusion
So can you use pasta sauce for pizza? In short, yes, you can substitute with spaghetti sauce. However, you need to be aware that it won’t taste like using real pizza sauce on your pizza. Thanks for reading!