White Pizza Sauce with Sourdough Starter [for sourdough pizza bases]
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Indulge your tastebuds in this white pizza sauce made with sourdough starter! This creamy white pizza sauce is flavored with fresh garlic and thickened using your very own homemade sourdough starter - which also adds a new depth of flavor to the white sauce.
If you're looking for something a little different from the usual tomato sauce for your next batch of pizzas, then you're going to want to try this! It might just be the star of your next pizza party!
I highly recommend using this white pizza sauce with sourdough starter with this sourdough pizza dough recipe. It's so easy to make! You might also like to check out these recipes for sourdough pizza bianca or sourdough zucchini pizza.
Why You'll Love This Recipe!
Something Different - the creamy, rich texture and flavor of this white pizza sauce recipe provides something different than the usual tomato based pizza sauce. It allows you to get creative with ingredients that pair better with a creamy base and will wake up your taste buds to a whole new experience.
Versatility - while this recipe is called white PIZZA sauce, you can actually use it for lots of other things too! Add it to a grilled cheese sandwich, toss it through pasta or use it for a creamy garlic sauce for prawns and rice, the possibilities are endless!
Garlicky Goodness - this white pizza sauce is flavored with garlic which gives it a punchy lift. The fresh garlic cuts through the creaminess ensuring the flavor and texture of this sauce isn't too rich and overwhelming.
How To Make White Pizza Sauce with Sourdough Starter
This white pizza sauce recipe has been based on my recipe for sourdough béchamel sauce, which is great for using in lasagne. It uses a very similar technique. To ensure this sauce works, I recommend having all the ingredients on hand before you start. You don't want to leave this sauce unattended.
In a medium sized saucepan, melt the butter gently over a low heat. You don't want to brown the butter, so just allow it to gently liquefy.
Now, add the sourdough starter (or sourdough starter discard) and around 50g of milk (a good splash) and gently loosen the sourdough starter with a whisk so that the butter, sourdough starter and milk form a loose paste (this is like a roux but with a slightly different technique because you're using sourdough starter instead of flour). Don't worry if it's a lumpy mess, it will all come together. If you're having trouble with the paste, take it off the heat so the sourdough starter doesn't cook before it's dissolved.
Now, add the milk in small batches while continuing to whisk the white pizza sauce. You can do this over a low heat.
Once all the milk has been added and the sauce is starting to thicken, add the minced garlic, crumbled sharp cheddar, salt, pepper and onion powder.
Continue to whisk until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is thick and smooth. I usually increase the heat to medium for this to ensure the milk is heating adequately.
Once the sauce is thickened to your liking, remove from the heat and transfer to a container or bowl. Allow to cool before adding to your pizza base.
If you like a super smooth sauce, you could use a stick mixer to smooth it out or add it to a food processor. I don't do this because I find that it's fine once it's on a pizza and there's cheese melted on top.
Tips for Making The Best White Pizza Sauce with Sourdough Starter
This sauce is really easy to make, but there are a few things you can do to ensure you have success with it each and every time you make it.
- Ensure your sourdough discard is at room temperature before adding it to the melted butter. This will ensure that it mixes into the butter more easily. Cold starter tends to be stiff and harder to dissolve.
- You want a crumbly cheese that will melt well to make this sauce. A sharp aged cheddar cheese or parmesan cheese both worth really well. You can add a little of each if you like too.
- Whisk the sauce continuously while cooking to avoid lumps and ensure a smooth consistency. This also helps the sauce thicken gradually.
- Allow the sauce to simmer gently over low to medium heat. This slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld and results in a rich, cohesive sauce.
- Be cautious not to bring the sauce to a boil, as this can cause it to separate. Keep the heat low and simmer until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
- I've used black pepper, but you can use white pepper if you prefer. This will keep your white sauce lighter than using black pepper.
What Pizza Toppings Pair Well with White Pizza Sauce?
Making "white pizza" might just be my new favorite thing! I absolutely love a white sourdough pizza, just sourdough pizza base, white pizza sauce made with sourdough starter and a little bit of mozzarella cheese on top. A sprinkle of dried herbs for a little pizazz. It's so good! But there are lots of ways to top your white pizza sauce that might just tickle your fancy too! Here are some of my favorite toppings:
Chicken: Grilled or roasted chicken adds a savory and protein-packed element to the pizza, creating a satisfying and hearty flavor profile.
Prawns: my favorite pizza topping to add to this sourdough white pizza sauce are delicious prawns! They work so well - it's an easy way to create a garlic prawn pizza!
Sun-Dried Tomatoes: For a burst of sweetness and concentrated tomato flavor, sun-dried tomatoes are an excellent choice, adding complexity to the pizza.
Caramelized Onions: Sweet and golden caramelized onions provide a subtle sweetness that enhances the overall flavor profile of the pizza.
Prosciutto: The saltiness and delicate texture of thinly sliced prosciutto add a gourmet touch, creating a perfect harmony with the creamy sauce.
Ricotta - use some creamy homemade ricotta on top of this white pizza sauce for a delicious twist on white pizza.
Other Ways to Use White Pizza Sauce with Sourdough Starter
While using this white pizza sauce on your favorite sourdough pizza base is the best, there are also a lot of different ways you can use this white pizza sauce, because let's face it, food waste is not cool. Here are some of the ways I use this white pizza sauce outside of pizza:
- Add it to a sourdough grilled cheese sandwich to increase the cheesiness and some garlic flavors to the ultimate comfort food!
- Use it as a dipping sauce for sourdough bread or sourdough crostini.
- Use it as a creamy white garlic sauce for seafood, fish or chicken. It even pairs well with a steak!
Homemade White Pizza Sauce with Sourdough Starter
Equipment
- Medium Saucepan
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 40 g Butter (I use salted)
- 4 Cloves of Fresh Garlic (minced or finely chopped)
- 100 g Sourdough Starter (or sourdough discard)
- 250 g Whole Milk
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder (around 1 g)
- 1 teaspoon Salt (6g)
- 1 teaspoon Pepper (3g) - I used ground black pepper but you can use white pepper if you preer
- 100 g Sharp Cheddar Cheese (crumbled) (you can use parmesan if you prefer)
Instructions
- In a medium sized saucepan, melt the butter gently over a low heat.
- Now, add the sourdough starter (or discard) and around 50g of milk (a good splash) and gently loosen the sourdough starter with a whisk so that the butter, sourdough starter and milk form a loose paste (this is like a roux but with a slightly different technique because you're using sourdough starter instead of flour).
- Now, add the milk in small batches while continuing to whisk the white pizza sauce.
- Once all the milk has been added and the sauce is starting to thicken, add the minced garlic, crumbled sharp cheddar, salt, pepper and onion powder.
- Continue to whisk until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is thick and smooth.
- Once the sauce is thickened to your liking, remove from the heat and transfer to a container or bowl. Allow to cool before adding to your pizza base.
Notes
Nutrition
