Pizza as we know it here is an American invention. It's been a looooong time since I've been in Italy but this is probably still true there and still the best.
Pizza in Italy is bread, focaccia mostly with some kind of simple topping. Sometimes just good bread, olive oil, a little herb and cheese. I recall I went in expecting Round Table and came out a changed person![]()
Toppings can range from grilled onions, grilled and or marinated vegetables, smoked or roasted chicken or meats, herbs, anchovies, tapenade which can be made from sooooo many combos.
Tapenade itself is usually finely chopped olives, garlic, herbs but you can also use fire roasted peppers etc. Lots of variations.
Speaking of peppers ....
I have made a faux tomato sauce from fire roasted or grilled red peppers, onions, garlic also grilled, and throw it in the blender. Simmer as you season to taste, add some wine as you simmer, a glass for the cook, some more in the pot, another for the cook ... This satisfies even the most tomato-loving pizza eaters need for rednessand tastes great.
Add to the "faux tomato" anything you want; clams, sausage, cheese of course or just as it is. So if you want red sauce you can certainly have it and your tomato loving friends and family will love it too.
And then there's pesto which is great on pizza whether traditional basil pesto or spinach pesto. Green is good.
So while I'm sorry that you have a tomato boo boo but pizza and pasta is not over. In fact, it's just begun!![]()
Have fun, use your imagination. Get some focaccia or good pizza dough, brush it with a nice Sonoma California olive oil of course and have fun! Let us know what turns out best.





and tastes great.
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