Never Be Afraid to Try New Restaurants and Cuisines

If you're like most Americans, you love pizza! There's not much better than your favorite meats and veggies on a tangy tomato-based pizza sauce, topped with mozzarella cheese, and baked until golden and bubbly.

Pizza restaurants have been upping their game in recent years, however. Instead of traditional ingredients, like pepperoni, sausage, onions, and mushrooms, many family pizzerias are now offering unique ingredients combinations like artichoke, spinach, and chicken or herbed goat cheese and roasted peppers. They are also beginning to offer additional sauce choices. Here are seven sauces to consider making at home or asking for the next time you visit your favorite family pizza restaurant.

Hummus

Go Greek with this creamy spread made from chickpeas, tahini, and garlic. Top with feta cheese, tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and peppers. The hummus will provide extra protein, too.

Salsa

Whether it's a traditional tomato-based salsa or the green salsa verde made with cilantro and tomatillos, you can add spice to your next pizza. Just add chorizo sausage, corn, black beans, jalapenos, and black olives and then top with shredded Monterey Jack cheese. You can also crumble up corn chips for extra crunch. Try swirling on crema, a kind of Mexican sour cream, when it comes out of the oven for a tangy flavor boost.

Red Pepper Jelly

This sweet and spicy condiment may sound like an odd choice, but it provides a great flavor profile. Try it with sweet Italian sausage, sweet peppers, and herbed goat cheese.

Ranch Dressing

If you're looking for something the kids will like too, have your favorite family pizza restaurant use their ranch sauce instead of traditional pizza sauce. Top with diced chicken, crumbled bacon, and whatever vegetables they'll eat. The creamy ranch dressing means you can cut back on the cheese if you like, too.

Garlic Aioli Sauce

Add roasted garlic to mayonnaise, and you will have the perfect base for less conventional ingredients. Try artichoke hearts, shrimp, and green onions. They will go perfect with the creamy base.

Black Olive Tapenade

This thick sauce is made from black olives, garlic, and olive oil. It provides a great base for grilled or roasted vegetables. Try with zucchini, eggplant, and sun-dried tomatoes for the perfect vegetarian pizza.

Chimichurri Sauce

This classic Argentinian sauce is made from Italian flat leaf parsley, oregano, garlic, and olive oil. It is traditionally served over steak, which is the perfect topping for a unique meat lovers pizza.