Pizza sauce and pasta sauce are two essential ingredients in Italian cooking. While they share some key components, there are distinct differences between these tomato-based sauces in terms of ingredients, texture, flavor and how they are used.
Primary Ingredients
The base for both pizza and pasta sauce is tomatoes. Pizza sauce starts with tomato paste or canned tomato purée. Pasta sauce uses canned crushed or diced tomatoes as the foundation.
Seasonings
Pizza and pasta sauces both include savory seasonings like garlic, onion, oregano, basil and parsley. Pizza sauce uses less due to shorter cooking times. More herbs and spices give pasta sauce complex flavor.
Consistence and Texture
Pizza sauce has a thicker, pasty consistency thanks to tomato paste. It adheres well to dough without making it soggy. Pasta sauce has a looser texture that will fully coat noodles and meld with the pasta.
Cooking Time
Pizza sauce requires just a brief simmer to meld flavors before spreading on dough. Extended cooking would make it too thick. Pasta sauce benefits from a long simmer of at least 30 minutes for fuller flavor melding.
Flavor Profile
Pizza sauce tastes richer thanks to tomato paste and a touch of sugar. Herbs and spices take a backseat. Pasta sauce highlights fresh, bright herb flavors with tomatoes as a base rather than focus.
Typical Uses
Pizza sauce is meant specifically for topping pizzas before baking. It also works well in calzones, stuffed breads, and flatbreads. Pasta sauce goes on pasta as well as in lasagna and Italian entrées.
Pairing with Other Ingredients
Pizza sauce complements cheese, meats and veggies as pizza toppings. Pasta sauce goes well with meatballs, Italian sausage, mushrooms, olives and ricotta or Parmesan cheese in dishes.
Making Adjustments
To make a pizza sauce work better for pasta, thin it with crushed tomatoes and add more herbs. For pasta sauce on pizza, reduce the herbs and simmer down to thicken it.
In summary, while both tomato-based Italian staples, pizza and pasta sauce differ in texture, seasoning approaches, cooking times and ideal pairings. Understanding their distinctions helps use each where it shines brightest.
