If you love pizza, but you are not a fan of tomato-based pizza sauces, or if you are lacking the ingredients you need to make traditional pizza sauce, you are likely trying to figure out whether you can make pizza without sauce. You could also be questioning if there are any good substitutes for it.
Luckily for you, this article will provide you with detailed answers to those very questions, as well as a delicious pizza recipe. Keep reading and find out whether you can make pizza without sauce.
Does Pizza Without Sauce Taste Good?
Pizza without sauce can definitely still taste great. In fact, pizza did not include tomatoes nor sauce as an ingredient until after tomatoes were brought to Italy from the Americas in the middle of the 16th century.
Prior to that time, what was then known as pizza included toppings such as cinnamon, pine nuts, raisins, and figs, among other odd ingredients—vastly different from the pizza we know and love today. In the 19th century, there was finally mention of the use of tomatoes and cheese, as well as bacon, lard, and fish, on pizzas in Italy.
These days, pizza without sauce is termed “pizza bianca,” meaning “white pizza.” Many times, in place of tomato sauce, these pizzas are topped with soft cheeses that are extra melty, mimicking a sauce.
The key to making a good pizza without sauce is adding moisture to the pizza with a different ingredient, such as olive oil or another substitute for a tomato-based sauce, some of which are detailed in the next section. You also need to make sure you add bursts of flavor to your pizza with toppings other than sauce, such as with savory meats and leafy greens. Making a perfect crust for your sauceless pizza doesn’t hurt either.
What Can I Use Instead of Pizza Sauce?
There are loads of ingredients you can use in place of a traditional tomato-based pizza sauce. Take a look below at only some of the several toppings you can throw on your pizza instead of a tomato sauce. If you are still uneasy about making your own pizza after reading this section, you can simply try out the recipe that follows.
Vegetables
Some vegetables and vegetable-based spreads you can use to add flavor to your pizza include olive tapenade, caramelized onions, arugula, spinach, kale, a roasted pepper spread, mushrooms, slices of tomatoes, and potatoes.
Herbs
There are several herbs and spices you can add to your pizza to really enhance its flavors. These include fresh oregano, garlic, basil, crushed red pepper flakes, thyme, Italian seasoning, rosemary, and paprika.
Meats
A few favorite meats for pizza include salmon, scallops, bacon, chicken, steak, bacon, and Italian sausage. All of these meats can easily make up for having no sauce.
Cheeses
The best cheeses for a sauceless pizza are ricotta cheese, panna da cucina, shredded parmesan cheese, fresh pieces of mozzarella cheese, goat cheese, feta cheese, Gorgonzola, and Pecorino-Romano.
Liquids
A few liquid ingredients you can use in place of a traditional tomato-based pizza sauce include olive oil, pesto, balsamic glaze, alfredo sauce, Italian dressing, and sweet chili sauce.
You could also quickly whip up a homemade white pizza sauce using flour, butter, salt, parmesan cheese, milk, garlic, and pepper.
Pizza Bianca Recipe
If you do not want to attempt mixing and matching toppings to get the perfect sauceless pizza, you can use this recipe, which is guaranteed to please your taste buds.
Here are the ingredients you will need:
- Pizza dough (homemade or store bought)
- 8-ounce chunk fresh mozzarella, sliced thinly
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups baby arugula
- 1/3 cup Pecorino-Romano cheese
- 1/3 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
- Lemon juice
- Pinch of salt and pepper
The first step is to preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, and roll out your pizza dough to make it the size you want. Throw it in the oven for five minutes.
After you remove it, gently brush the garlic and olive oil onto your dough. Next, combine the kosher salt, ground black pepper, the herbs, and ricotta cheese in a bowl before spreading the mixture onto the dough. Add your mozzarella slices after that, as well as half of the Pecorino-Romano cheese.
Pop the pizza in your oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese on top is adequately melted. At this point, you can remove the pizza and add the remaining cheese on top, as well as arugula tossed in lemon juice and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Final Notes
As you have learned, pizza without sauce can certainly make for a tasty meal. Like many other people, you might even end up preferring pizza this way and never want to return to the sauced version again.