Homemade Pizza Sauce

I am a pizza fan just like most of u :) I love making it from scratch so I prepare my pizza sauce as well as dough at home then I simply play around with the toppings.. its fun :D

I experimented with different ingredients and measurements for pizza sauce and after getting 2-3 not-so-perfect ones I finally got this pizza sauce and I am proud to say that its my very own no fail recipe :)

I am sure you will also like this sauce as it is so freshly falvourful with perfect taste and the best part is that it has NO PRESERVATIVES. Making anything at home gives you satisfaction of its being hygienic and fresh.  I love this sauce so much that I even use it for making pasta n noodles and they always come out super yummy. Of course it too makes my pizza taste delicious :D

This time I made Pizza Packets / Veg Calzones with this sauce and they turn out to be awesome.  I will share that recipe soon.  Till then you try this sauce n let me know the results. Happy Cooking :)

Ingredients:

Tomato (big)	2 ½
Garlic	6 cloves (finely chopped)
Olive oil	1 tbsp
Onion (finely chopped)	3 tbsp
Freshly ground black pepper	¼ tsp
Red chilli flakes	¾ tsp
Origano	¼ tsp
Fresh basil leaves	5 (chopped)
Sugar	¾ tsp
Red chilli powder	1/8 tsp
Salt	¾ tsp or to taste

Makes: for one medium size pizza.

Method:

• Take the tomatoes and wash them thoroughly.  Dip them in hot water for about 10 minutes.  Take out and grate the tomatoes leaving the skin.  Discard the skin.  
• Heat oil in a non stick pan.  Add garlic and onion. Saute for 2-3 minutes.  Add dried origano and give a stir.  Add tomato pulp and cook for 2-3 minutes while stirring.  Add chilli flakes, chilli powder, crushed black pepper, salt and sugar.  Cook on medium heat till the tomato juice dries up and sauce becomes thick. At the end, add chopped basil leaves.  Give a stir and remove from flame.
• Let it cool.  Use as per requirement.
• Store in a dry glass jar or airtight container.  Keep refrigerated.

Notes:

1. With this recipe you would get a chunky pizza sauce. If you do not like chunks then after cooking the sauce, blend it and then use.
2. You can double or triple this recipe to make more sauce.
3. It can be used as a pasta sauce too.
4. If you are going to use this sauce for kids simply make it without red chilli powder and chilli flakes. 
5. If making in big quantity, here is a tip.  Make the sauce as per the recipe except adding the red chilli powder and chilli flakes.  Once done, take some sauce separately from the pan and add chilli powder and chilli flakes in the remaining sauce.  Add basil leaves in both the sauce and mix.  Sauce ready for kids.

Salted Caramel

Remember Alpenliebe candy..?? yummmm.. I love it.  Its still my favourite candy I must say.  Caramel candies are my all time favorites.

I like making caramel sauce at home for ice cream and pancake topping.  Few weeks back I tried my hands on salted caramel as I wanted to taste the caramel with a new ingredient i.e. salt.  Initially I was so apprehensive about the taste as to how my favorite caramel would taste with SALT :/  But trust me friends it was super duper yummy.  The sweet and salty taste of this caramel would make you crazy I can  bet.  You would want to dip the spoon in it and lick it, its that yum :)  

Salted caramel is famous for its awesome taste.  It is mostly used as ice cream topping, pancake topping, cake topping, baking etc.  In fact, wherever you want you can use it.  
Here in this recipe, instead of 8-10 tbsp I used only 2 tbsp butter and it came out so delicious.  Salt gave it a very unique flavour and I simply loved it.  I drizzled it on my pancakes and ice creams and it surprisingly doubled up the taste.  

I love my version of this sauce and would make it again and again.  By the way, there is a cheat version too that I invented :P  If you do not have time or you are so impatient just like me, add 1-2 tbsp water while caramelizing the sugar and it would get melted in a jiffy.  Then you can proceed as per the given recipe.  There would be a slight difference in consistency but no change in taste. I recommend this cheat version only if you are going to use it for topping and licking :) but if you want to use it in baking then make as per the original recipe that I am giving below.  So my dear readers, here is the recipe of an insanely delicious sweet n salty caramel.  Happy Cooking :)

Ingredients:

White sugar           -    1/4 cup
Brown sugar          -    1/2 cup
Unsalted Butter     -    2 tbsp
Fresh cream           -    1/2 cup
Salt                        -    1/2 tsp

Method:

• Take a non stick pan and add both the sugars in it.  On medium flame, slowly melt it.  Keep mixing gently.  It needs patience :)
• Once the sugar melts, cook it on slow flame for 2 more minutes till it gets a glossy brown color.  At this stage, add butter and mix well till it melts.  
• Add fresh cream and mix very well again.  Let it boil.  
• Remove from flame and add salt.  Mix well.
• Let it cool.  
• Now its ready to use.
• Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Notes:

1. Instead of brown sugar you can use white sugar too.
2. If using white sugar, it would be easy for you to see the sugar is getting caramelized by seeing its golden color.
3. Adjust the salt level as per your taste.  Initially use, 1/2 tsp then check and adjust it. 
4. If your fresh cream is a little sour then also you can use it in this recipe.  Still it would come out good.
5. Once the sauce get cool down, it would become thicker so do not overcook.
6. If making cheat version, do not store it for more days.  Consume it in a week.
7. For using in bakes, make the original version.
8. In case you don't like salted caramel, do not add salt and use simply as caramel sauce.