New York Style Pizza Sauce Recipe (takes 5 minutes) (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to New York-style pizza? ›

A thin, floppy crust defines New York-style pizza. In most pizzerias, the dough is hand-stretched, but at home, rolling out the dough can be an easier technique to pin down. Either way, make the crust thin enough that a large, wide slice can be folded in half lengthwise and eaten one-handed while on the go.

Spread approximately 2/3 cup sauce evenly over surface of crust, leaving 1/2- to 1-inch border along edge. Evenly spread 1/3 of cheese over sauce. Slide pizza onto baking stone and bake until cheese is melted with some browned spots and crust is golden brown and puffed, 12 to 15 minutes.

Place water, tomatoes, and olive oil in a blender or food processor; blend until smooth. Transfer tomato mixture into a large pot. Stir sugar, garlic salt, and vinegar into tomato mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened, stirring occasionally, about 1 to 2 hours.

New York–style pizza gets its distinguishing crust from the high-gluten bread flour with which it is made. Minerals present in New York City's tap water supply are also credited with giving the dough in metro area pies its characteristic texture and flavor.

One of the oldest theories about New York City pizza is that the city's tap water is responsible for its superior taste. Many Americans might not know that here in the Big Apple, we're almost as proud of our water as we are of our pizza, and that the city has been adding fluoride to the water for more than 50 years.

For New York (NY) style pizza, known for its thin, foldable crust with a slight chew, a hydration level of 58-65% is typically used.

New York is usually baked in the 500-600 degree range. This temperature is ideal for heavy toppings , multiple toppings or heavy sauce pies since it allows for drying of the extra moisture associated with this type of pie.

Chef Felice recommends a good bread flour for New York, Chicago, Detroit, and Sicilian pizzas, such as Gold Medal Unbleached Unbromated flour or Caputo Americana. For Pizza Napoletana and Neo Neapolitan, he recommends 00 flour made from finely ground Italian durum wheat.

Some people will take the plunge and cook their pizza sauce before adding it to the pie. This method is in-line with variations like New York by-the-slice style or a Detroit pan pizza, but it must be done carefully to ensure that the sauce does not overcook and change its flavor too much.

If you've cooked your sauce, allow it to cool down before you add it to the pizza to avoid a sticky dough. Hot sauce can cause the dough to become soggy and difficult to work with, so let the sauce cool down to room temperature before spreading it on your pizza.

Should I simmer pizza sauce? ›

Don't Cook the Sauce!

If you'd like a thicker sauce, strain the tomatoes from their juices before blending. This isn't just for convenience — a no-cook sauce will actually taste better on your pizza, giving you that fresh, zippy tomato flavor, even after it has been baked in a hot oven.

The Ovens That Turn Dough into Magic

To achieve that iconic texture, the pies must be baked in a blazing hot oven. New York Pizza Department's ovens reach the high temperatures required for crispiness while still allowing the crust to retain its signature chewiness.

New York-style pizza has slices that are large and wide with a thin crust that is foldable yet crispy. It is traditionally topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, with any extra toppings placed on top of the cheese. Pizza without additional toppings is called “plain,” “regular,” or “cheese.”

So, yes, New York City water is unique and does contain properties that likely make it more conducive to better dough for bagels and pizza.

New York-style pizza has slices that are large and wide with a thin crust that is foldable yet crispy. It is traditionally topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, with any extra toppings placed on top of the cheese. Pizza without additional toppings is called “plain,” “regular,” or “cheese.”

A New York pizza dough differs from a Neapolitan one in the addition of sugar and oil. The sugar helps feed the yeast during refrigerated fermentation and promotes browning (via the Maillard reaction), and the oil helps tenderize the dough—helpful during the relatively longer bake times of a New York pie.

New-York style pies are often easily distinguishable because of their extra-large and thin crust. The crust isn't as chewy as that in the traditional pie. Because the base isn't as complex as that of traditional pizzas, it is the perfect backdrop for loading up on layers of toppings and cheese.

The result was the most elemental form of NY pizza, often called Neapolitan-American, that shares much in common with the original Neapolitan type: a thin crust, a judicious covering of tomato sauce, and a smattering of fresh mozzarella cheese.