White Garlic Pizza Sauce Recipe
A creamy, flavorful White Garlic Pizza Sauce that is easy to make and versatile. This sauce combines roasted or sautéed garlic with cream, butter, and Parmesan cheese to create a rich base perfect for pizzas, pastas, and more. Optional herbs and seasonings enhance the depth of flavor, with vegan alternatives available, making it suitable for various dietary preferences.
- Author: lea
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: About 1 cup (enough for one 12-inch pizza or 3-4 servings pasta) 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Main Ingredients
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced or roasted
- 2 tbsp butter or olive oil
- ¾ cup heavy cream, milk, or plant-based milk
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese (optional)
Seasonings
- ½ tsp salt, or to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Pinch of nutmeg (optional)
- Fresh or dried herbs (thyme, basil, oregano – optional)
Vegan Option
- Use almond, oat, or cashew milk
- Omit cheese or use vegan Parmesan
Optional Additions
- Extra cheesy: Add mozzarella, fontina, or more Parmesan
- Prepare garlic and aromatics: Roast or sauté the garlic cloves until they become fragrant. Optionally, sauté onions or shallots to add more aromatic depth to the sauce.
- Melt butter or heat oil: Place a saucepan over medium-low heat and melt the butter or warm the olive oil to prepare the base for the sauce.
- Add garlic: Add the roasted or sautéed garlic to the melted butter or oil. Cook for 1–2 minutes just until the garlic releases its aroma, taking care not to let it brown.
- Add cream or milk: Slowly pour in the heavy cream, milk, or plant-based milk while whisking continuously to combine everything smoothly.
- Incorporate cheese (optional): Gradually add the grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese to the pan, allowing it to melt and thicken the sauce while enriching its flavor.
- Season: Add salt, black pepper, optional nutmeg, and fresh or dried herbs like thyme, basil, or oregano. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning gradually until balanced.
- Blend (optional): For an ultra-smooth texture, use an immersion blender to blend the sauce directly in the pan.
- Adjust consistency: If the sauce is too thick for your intended use, thin it with additional milk or broth for a pourable consistency. Alternatively, simmer it gently to thicken if you want a denser sauce perfect as a pizza base.
- Use immediately or store: Apply the sauce on pizza dough or drizzle over pasta. Any leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
Notes
- Roasting garlic mellows its flavor and adds a subtle sweetness; sautéing garlic is faster for a more pungent taste.
- Using plant-based milk and vegan cheese makes this sauce suitable for vegans.
- Adjust the amount of garlic to your taste preference; more garlic will result in a stronger flavor.
- This sauce can be used as a base for white pizzas or as a creamy drizzle over roasted vegetables and pasta dishes.
- For a thicker sauce, simmer longer to reduce liquid; for a thinner sauce, add more milk or broth gradually.
- Fresh herbs provide brighter flavors, but dried herbs work well too—just add them earlier in cooking to release their aroma.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
Keywords: white garlic sauce, pizza sauce, creamy garlic sauce, Parmesan sauce, easy pizza sauce, homemade pizza sauce, garlic cream sauce, vegetarian sauce