Part 4/8:
While the dough flourishes, it’s time to prepare the sauce. Drawing from techniques learned in an Italian restaurant, the homemade sauce starts with a can of whole tomatoes. The chef crushes these by hand for a authentically rustic texture, incorporating dried oregano, basil, crushed red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt, and fresh cracked pepper. Each ingredient works to create a balanced and flavorful sauce, which will be the perfect counterpart to the richly layered cheese.