We all love pizza, from deep dish to Chicago-style thin crust. But the key to a great pizza is the sauce! You’d be shocked to find out how simple it is to make a sweet and savory batch all on your own. We spoke with Chef Hector Godinez of Grimaldi’s Pizza, who’s unlocking a few secrets to making the perfect sauce.

 

1. The Tomato

First, let’s start with the main ingredient – the tomato, which Hector says is super important. “It’s all about the tomato. That’s it. A basic, very good ripe tomato,” insists the chef. He recommends the San Marzano tomato, grown in the shadow of Italy’s Mount Vesuvius. “That’s where you get a really good tomato. From the sunlight and the ashes – the way it balances through the vine, it just makes a really nice, evenly ripe tomato throughout,” he adds.

Chef hector says don’t turn your nose up at these canned tomatoes, as the Italians peel and prep them perfectly. You can easily find these in most grocery stores. With a pinch of sugar, the sauce is done! Chef Hector says adding sugar helps develop more of the tomato’s natural sugar, as well as balance its acidity. Talk about yum!

2. The Right Blend

Next up, the right blend is crucial! “Another key to this is to not overblend it,” warns Hector. “You want it on thicker side. Blend it until the tomatoes just break down.” Duly noted!

3. The Saucing Technique

The third step is the saucing technique. After you’ve added the cheese and toppings – now it’s finally time for the sauce! “If you want to keep the actual, natural flavor of the tomato and the sauce, you want to put it on and let it cook with the pizza itself,” explains Hector. “So now, it’s absorbing all the flavors as it’s cooking. You can lose that if you pre-cook it prior.”

4. Spice it Up

Our final step is to spice it up! “We also add a little spice blend of our own, which is a little pepper, oregano, [and] a little cheese,” shares Hector. “We just sprinkle it on top so it covers the whole pizza.” Sounds delish!

 

5. Get Saucy

Looking to make Grimaldi’s Simple and Spice Blend sauces at home? Read on for the recipes below!

Grimaldi’s Super-Simple Pizza Sauce

Ingredients

8 ounces San Marzano tomatoes

A pinch of sugar per 12 inch pizza crust

Instructions

Blend 8 ounces of San Marzano tomatoes until the tomato starts to break down. Don’t over blend! Then add a pinch or two of sugar. Pro tip: Do not freeze the leftover sauce. Instead, store in a plastic container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Grimaldi’s Pizza Sauce Spice Blend

Ingredients

1 Tsp. Romano cheese
1 Tsp. oregano
1/2 Tsp. black pepper

Instructions

Blend together, add to pizza sauce after you top the pizza.

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