I’m so lucky – every time I visit my parents at home in North Carolina, my mom is so generous and offers to make some of my favorite dishes for dinner. I always have my go-to dinner items that my mom makes better than anyone else, and one of my very favorite requests is homemade pizza. Homemade pizza may sound silly and not all that exciting, but I especially love it because my sweet momma makes the world’s best pizza sauce – seriously! It’s like no other boring pizza or marinara-like pizza sauce, but it’s delicious, bursting with flavor, and has so much depth and taste. All you really need (since the pizza sauce is clearly the star of the pizza) is dough (I recommend Pillsbury pizza dough) and mozzarella cheese. I don’t even put any other ingredients on the pizza because the sauce is that good! Adding in coffee granules is so unexpected but so very perfect. This recipe has been in the family for years (I believe Mom got it from my aunt decades ago), and it’s a staple. I made homemade pizza this past week & simply devoured it. Thankfully, this recipe makes enough pizza sauce for two pizzas, so I have plenty leftover!

World’s Best Pizza Sauce

recipe from my momma!

1   8 oz can tomato sauce

1   6 oz can tomato paste

1   C water

1   t dried oregano

1   t dried basil

½-1   t instant coffee granules (key ingredient for richness and depth!)

½-1   t dried hot red pepper flakes

½ t sugar

1 beef bullion cube

1 bay leaf

Heat all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to simmer for 10-15 minutes.  Discard bay leaf.  Makes enough for 2 large pizzas. Enjoy!