Make a More Interesting Pizza With One of These Alternative Sauces
Tomato sauce is one of the most important parts of pizza composition. But are the tomatoes really important or can any sauce stick to the filling? Pizza has a lot more choice than we think. For example, Roman-style pizza may have no sauce and may not even be round . I’m not trying to completely rock your pizza world (maybe a little), but let’s give tomato-based pizza sauce a break. Whether you love tomato sauce or you’ve simply run out of it, you might be able to make an even better pizza using one of these alternatives.
Sweet chili sauce
If you really want to take your taste buds on a journey, cover the crust with a layer of sweet chili sauce. There are many options; some have a hint of garlic or ginger and others are spicier, but overall the flavor is mild and sweet. Sprinkle with cheese and top the pizza with something salty or sour. Let me recommend pineapple and SPAM.
barbecue sauce
Tomato sauce can strike a delicate balance, but barbecue sauce makes a bold statement. Trader Joe’s makes a great frozen version of their BBQ Chicken Pizza, but you can easily make it at home with results that will put store-bought pizza to shame. Stretch out fresh pizza dough and spread with your favorite bottled or homemade BBQ sauce. Top with cheese, cooked chicken strips and red onion and cook as usual.
Baba Ganush
Baba ganoush isn’t a sauce, it’s a tangy and smoky sauce, but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t go well with bread and cheese. You can find baba ganoush bath in the refrigerated section of the grocery store, or you can make one at home using just a few ingredients.
Alfredo sauce in jars
Traditional Alfredo sauce consists of nothing more than cream, butter and Parmesan, which may not make much of an impact on your pizza. However, store-bought alfredo from a jar is thick, creamy, and the perfect adhesive for pizza toppings. Canned products may have a different list of ingredients depending on the brand, but they always have a mild flavor of garlic, onion and cheese. You can pair this sauce with any topping, but I especially like it with bitter green vegetables.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise has won my heart as a versatile sauce, and if it hasn’t won you over yet, give it a chance. The world has already come to love it as a sauce for French fries; we cover roasted corn with this stuffing; even grilled cheese has a love affair with the infamous emulsion. Why don’t we approve of pizza with mayonnaise then? Spread a couple tablespoons of regular mayonnaise on your pizza and make yourself a marinated pizza with sliced hot dogs. You could even keep it simple and add a layer of tartar sauce right away.
Coconut milk curry
Creamy coconut milk curry sauce is the perfect base for adding rich, flavorful flavors to your pizza. You can buy your favorite jar at the grocery store, make your own, or buy a concentrated paste that you can mix with coconut milk at home. A sauce that is thicker rather than waterier will stick to the crust better, but try it first. Some curries can be very tasty, and if you want to tone them down a bit, add a couple of spoons of coconut milk.
Pesto
Pesto needs no introduction. This rich, green Italian sauce will give your pizza a vibrant herbal flavor and an unforgettable garlicky aroma. You can make your own (it’s a great way to use up a lot of basil in the summer) or buy it ready-made. My local Shoprite sells these tiny six-ounce jars that are perfect for a few weeks of pesto drinking.
Cashew cream
If you want something creamy and dairy-free, try cashew cream. It’s easy to make at home and provides a broad base for a variety of flavors. Season your cashew cream with spices or let its nutty flavor shine through. This plant-based sauce makes a great substitute for Alfredo sauce, so add your favorite vegan cheese (or dairy cheese—hey, it’s your pizza) and bitter greens. Try this cashew cheese sauce recipe .
Harissa
Spice heads, I haven’t forgotten about you. To get the warmth you feel in your toes, replace the thick layer of harissa with tomato sauce. This bright red sauce is basically a mixture of chili peppers with smoky spices, herbs and a little butter to soften it all up. The heat level can vary greatly depending on how it’s cooked, so try it first before throwing the whole cake into it. If harissa is too spicy for you, tone down the heat by topping the pizza with tomato sauce for more balance.
Olive tapenade
Olives make a great topping, but for some of us, that’s not enough. Olives have a salty, salty flavor and, frankly, I’m tired of hunting for every meager olive ring. I’d rather have that flavor in every bite. It’s good that there is olive tapenade. You may have seen it on charcuterie boards, but this spreadable paste made from a mixture of olives, oil and brine would work great on your pizza crust, too.