Zesty and Bold: Homemade Garlic Pizza Sauce Made Easy

Let’s make some garlic pizza sauce together.

This white sauce is ready in 15 minutes, and can be done with just a few simple ingredients from your nearest grocery store. It’s basically a garlic-flavored bechamel sauce that you can use to dress pizza dough before baking, and for many other things. And since I’m involved in the process, it’s going to be spicy as well 😀

What you need

The ingredients for this garlic pizza sauce recipe are:

Garlic cloves: quite obviously. Avoid store-bought garlic powder: get 5 or 6 fresh cloves and grate them.

Unsalted butter: I know that many people like to use olive oil to make garlic cream sauce. However, the first part of this recipe involves making a roux, which is a French thickening base for sauces that is typically made with butter. So, I’m going to stick with that. This will be a garlic butter sauce.

All purpose flour: the second ingredient for the roux.

Whole milk: you will add it to the roux in order to give your creamy sauce its final form. I’ve seen that some people like to use heavy cream or half and half, but to be fair I’ve never tried them. Maybe I’ll make a few tests next time – but for now, I’ll stick to my usual method.

Grated parmesan cheese: or, if you want to add some extra flavor, a 50/50 mixture of parmesan and pecorino romano cheese. If you don’t know the difference, I’ve written a simple guide for you. Go check the link 😉

Fine salt: you don’t want your garlic cream sauce to taste bland.

Italian seasoning: I have my own Italian seasoning recipe that involves red pepper flakes. It’ll give your garlic pizza sauce an extra kick.

Nutmeg & ground black pepper: most of the garlic pizza sauce recipes that I know don’t involve nutmeg. But as I was saying before, we’re practically making a spicy, garlic-flavored bechamel sauce recipe, so I figured I’d add some along with black pepper.

Now that you know what you need, let’s see how to use all these ingredients. As per usual, you can find the precise amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

How to make garlic pizza sauce

Step 1: Take fresh garlic cloves, remove their skin, and grate them into a small bowl.

Step 2: Melt the butter in a frying pan. After that, add the flour and cook at medium heat for about 90 seconds, whisking constantly with a hand whisk. This will allow you to avoid lumps, but try to use a silicone hand whisk so you don’t ruin the bottom of the pan.

Step 3: Add the milk and continue cooking for about 3 minutes, stirring well. It will gently thicken until creamy and bubbly.

Step 4: Now, add the grated garlic, spices, and parmesan/pecorino cheese. Stir again, and let everything cook for another 30 to 45 seconds.

Your garlic pizza sauce is ready. Now, place it in a small bowl and let it cool. While you wait, I’ll show you how to use it later.

What can you do with this garlic pizza sauce?

Well, as the name suggests, the most obvious thing is to use it for pizza. There are so many things you can do.

As I said before, you can spread it on homemade dough before baking and add it to any white pizza sauce recipe. But you can also combine it with a tomato sauce and make endless pizza toppings for the garlic lovers.

Personally, I would pair it with marinara sauce simmered with ground sausage, and add some pepperoni on top of the sauce.

In short, if you’re planning a homemade pizza night, this sauce should really be among your options.

You can also use it to make some easy appetizers. For example, you could spread it on a thick crust white pizza, as I did in the photo below, or on a focaccia or croutons. It is also a great dipping sauce for chicken wings and mozzarella sticks.

You can also use this garlic pizza sauce in nearly any recipe that calls for bechamel or Alfredo sauce. Try combining it with some red sauce and use it to dress some tagliatelle or fettuccine.

You can also use it to dress a broccoli salad. It may not be the healthiest side dish, but it’s sure to be delicious. And if you prefer other vegetables, this creamy garlic sauce also goes very well with carrots.

How to store it

If you are not going to use your garlic pizza sauce all at once, my advice is to put it in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator. That way, you can keep it for up to 7 days, but I would actually try to use it within 5.

What’s in a Garlic btw?

Garlic is known for its strong aroma and flavor, which comes primarily from sulfur compounds produced when a garlic clove is chopped, crushed, or chewed. The most well-known of these is allicin, but allicin is unstable and quickly breaks down into other sulfur-containing compounds which give garlic its characteristic smell and taste.

It is used in many cuisines worldwide to add flavor to dishes. As a pizza sauce ingredient, garlic offers several benefits:

Rich Flavor: Garlic has a distinct, robust flavor that can add depth and richness to a pizza sauce. It provides a savory base that complements other ingredients like tomatoes, herbs, and spices.

Aroma: The aroma of garlic can make a pizza sauce more appetizing. It provides a mouth-watering scent that enhances the overall sensory experience of enjoying a pizza.

Health Benefits: Garlic is nutritious and has very few calories. It’s rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and Manganese. It also contains trace amounts of various other nutrients. Furthermore, garlic has been associated with a number of health benefits, including improved heart health and enhanced immune function.

Variety and Versatility: There are many types of garlic (like fresh garlic, garlic powder, roasted garlic) that can be used in a sauce, each offering a unique flavor profile. This means you can create a variety of garlic-infused sauces to keep your pizza offerings interesting and diverse.

Garlic Pizza Sauce FAQs:

Can I use pre-minced garlic instead of fresh?

Yes, you can use pre-minced garlic, but fresh garlic will give a more robust flavor.

How long can I store this garlic pizza sauce?

You can store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to three months.

Can I make this sauce less spicy?

Absolutely! Feel free to reduce the quantity of chili peppers or red pepper flakes to lower the heat level.

Can I use this garlic pizza sauce for other dishes?

Yes, this versatile sauce can also be used for pasta, sandwiches, or as a dipping sauce.

Can I freeze this sauce for later use?

Yes, the sauce freezes well. Store it in airtight containers or freezer-safe bags. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.

What can I pair with this garlic pizza?

This pizza goes well with a fresh salad, garlic bread, or a glass of your favorite wine.

What type of cheese works best with this garlic pizza sauce?

Mozzarella is a classic choice due to its melting properties, but feel free to experiment with other cheeses like provolone, cheddar, or a blend of your favorites.

Recipe card

With this easy recipe, you can make a creamy, garlicky sauce that’ll bring your favorite pizzas to the next level, and will also taste well with many main courses and side dishes.

Here is the full recipe, with the precise amounts for each ingredient. You can scale them according to your necessities, and toggle them from your smartphone when you go shopping at your grocery store. This way, you won’t have to write them down. And if you like collecting recipe cards, you can print this one or save it in your digital archives.

Have fun making this garlic pizza sauce recipe at home, and let me know what you’ll use it for in the comments!

Spicy garlic pizza sauce

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★★★★★

5 from 1 review

• Author: Mortadella Head
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Ingredients

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7 garlic cloves

3 tbsp unsalted butter

3 tbsp all purpose flour

1 cup whole milk

a pinch of salt

Spicy Italian seasoning to taste

Ground black pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. Take fresh garlic cloves, remove their skin, and grate them into a small bowl.
2. Melt the butter in a frying pan. After that, add the flour and cook at medium heat for about 90 seconds, whisking constantly.
3. Add the milk and continue cooking for about 3 minutes, stirring well. It will gently thicken until creamy and bubbly.
4. Now, add the grated garlic, spices, and parmesan cheese. Stir again, and let everything cook for another 30 to 45 seconds.
5. Place your garlic pizza sauce it in a small bowl and let it cool for a few minutes.
6. Enjoy.

• Prep Time: 19
• Cook Time: 6
• Category: Sauces
• Method: Cooking