Cooking Time: 20 mins
Recipe Type: Veg
The pizza sauce recipe can be experimented with according to your tastes. It can be made in different flavors, from sweet, to sour, to spicy.
The pizza crust recipe, however, follows a set of standard proportions and procedures to ensure better results.
The pizza crust recipe starts with a predefined amount of yeast, which is dissolved in warm water. Flour, salt and sugar are then added to the mixture to make dough. Make sure that the dough is elastic — not too hard, and not too soft.
Knead the dough into a round sheet, but make sure not to make it too thin!
Finally, bake the dough in your wood fired oven.
The main ingredients for the pizza sauce include:
You can add other ingredients as you see fit.
Mix all the ingredients of the pizza sauce recipe into a bowl until the flavors blend together. Make sure to stir continuously over heat to make sure clumps don’t form.
The last step would be to take your homemade dough, and spread the sauce over it. You can then add cheese gratings over the sauce to enhance the flavor.
]]>Cooking Time: 20 mins
Recipe Type: Vegetarian
The deep-dish pizza recipe was invented in Chicago and is very popular. The recipe is quite unique and the flavors are not easily achieved.
The fruit pizza recipe is a modification of the standard pizza where different fruits have been added so as to enhance the flavor of the pizza.
The deep-dish pizza recipe and the fruit pizza recipe use the standard ingredients that are required for pizza dough. These include:
You might also want to add oregano or an apple-flavored juice to the standard mixture.
Prepare the dough, and bake it in your wood-fired oven in a deep-dish pizza pan.
The most important part of the deep dish pizza recipe is the filling. This is what distinguishes this recipe from any other pizza recipe.
The filling can be done with cheese, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms or olives, or anything according to your taste. You can also use meat products to make the fillings. This can be quite heavy.
For the deep dish pizza recipe, the sauce used should be very thick. The toppings should be done along with the fillings of your choice.
For the fruit pizza recipe, the topping is done with small cuttings of different fruits. You can also add small cut vegetables. This is also a great way to increase the nutrition level of the pizza.
The best thing about homemade pizza is that you can alter the flavor depending on what you feel like eating.
The deep-dish pizza recipe is quite unique in its preparation. It is a far cry from the usual Italian pizza recipe.
This thick crust is also observed in the fruit pizza recipe, as the crust is made up of different fruits and their juices are used as the ingredients of the sauce. This gives the pizza quite a different flavor.
]]>It’s best to make your pizza dough fresh from scratch, it’s really easy, and it can be made the same day or a day ahead and kept in the fridge to proof.
(enough for two 12” pizzas)
Cut off the fennel stalks, you are not going to use them in this recipe. Cut off the best looking green tops and fronds, chop them, and set aside in a small bowl. Trim the bottom of the bulb and peel off any wilted or browning layers from the outside of the bulb. Cut the bulb in half, lay the halves on their flat side, quarter, and slice thinly or up to ½” thickness, as you like.
Slice the onion the same as the fennel.
In a cast-iron pan, add a tablespoon of olive oil. Then add the sliced fennel and onion. Salt lightly (the cheese will add more salt to the garnish later). Slide the pan into the heated wood-fired oven, keeping it towards the front of the oven so the vegetables won’t burn.
Sauté the fennel and the onion for about 15 minutes, until tender and browned. Slide the pan out of the pizza oven and set aside.
Garnish your pizza pie by placing the fennel and onions. Remember to garnish sparingly so that your pie is not overloaded with food, particularly in the center. Place half of the mozzarella cheese cubes and then sprinkle the shredded Gruyere on top. Bake in the oven for 3 minutes.
Before serving your piping hot pizza, pour about a teaspoon of olive oil uniformly over the pie, then add some ground black pepper to taste, and sprinkle with some green fennel fronds for a nice final touch.
Buon appetito, and enjoy your black pepper on pizza!
]]>Makes one 10-inch pizza
Proofing: 1 hour at room temperature, 70°F to 72°F.
1/3 recipe Basic Pizza Dough, about 10 ounces
5 sprigs of fresh thyme 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 cup, Bright Tomato Sauce, recipe follows, about 2 ounces
1 medium fresh tomato, sliced 1/4 inch thick
6 anchovy fillets
1/2 cup, feta, crumbled, about 2 ounces
1/3 cup, about 12 black olives, pitted
3 or 4 large fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
Red Pack Italian-style Plum Tomatoes are consistently sweet and a good value. This is a simple sauce and therein, like everything Italian, lies its genius.
3 cups 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 28-ounce can Italian-style plum tomatoes
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 pinches sugar
Covered, this sauce will keep for one week in the refrigerator.
Enjoy your Provencal pizza!
]]>This pizza Napoletana recipe makes four, 8 to 10-inch crusts that can be garnished with the toppings of your choice.
In a large bowl, combine all the sponge ingredients. Whisk well. Cover with a cloth and let sit for 15 minutes. The sponge mixture should look foamy. If it does not look foamy, redo by either cooling or lowering the temperature of the water. If you do this 2 times and the yeast does not look foamy, you may need new yeast.
To make the dough, add 4 cups of flour (setting aside the half a cup for dusting later), 1 cup of warm water, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and 1 tablespoon of salt into the bowl with the sponge mixture.
Mix well in a mixer or a food processor with a dough hook for 5 to 6 minutes. Alternatively, you can mix by hand, keeping in mind that the dough will be and should be very sticky, so flour your hands.
Divide the dough into 4 quarters and shape into slightly round disks for ten-inch pizzas. For larger pizzas, divide into three pieces. Lightly flour four 8-inch Tupperware type containers and put one ball of dough in each one. Put the lid on and let the dough rise 2 hours in a consistently warm environment.
Tip: Spread one cup of flour on a good size dinner plate, remove the dough from the container, and lay it on the flour in the plate and press gently. Then, flip it over and flour the other side as well. This will make the job easier when you shape and work your dough.
Place your shaped pizza dough on a pizza peel. Your oven should be preheated to about 750°F and the fire pushed to one side. Garnish your pizza and place it on the hot oven floor. After about 1 minute, rotate your pizza so that the other side is facing the fire. This is easily done with a pizza turner. It takes your pizza about 3 minutes to be bubbly and ready to enjoy.
The better the quality of the ingredients, the tastier the pizza. This is especially true in the choice of cheese. Aim for fresh mozzarella cheese for your pizza. Other good cheeses that can be used with great success include:
Tip: Cut your cheese into cubes instead of shredding it, this stops it from getting burned.
For this pizza Napoletana recipe, there is no need to cook tomato sauce as you would for pasta. Just use crushed tomato sauce from the can, spooning it over the dough in a circular motion.
Buon appetito!
]]>Pizza ovens can be anything from wood-fired to gas models. While electronic ovens are more convenient to set-up and use, several households still prefer the use of wood-fired pizza ovens. They are more authentic and are known to deliver a crisp and well-cooked pizza.
Numerous affordable and easy to construct models of pizza ovens have convinced people from different parts of the world to try this exciting and fast pizza preparation for the entire family to share.
Imagine a pizza oven installed perfectly in the corner of your kitchen or even at the back of your garden. You surely wouldn’t want to miss too many days without a pizza on your table. Though some people consider baking pizza as a tough task, this is not the case for households who have mastered the art of pizza preparation. Normally such households take less than an hour to prepare everything.
You don’t have to be a master pizza baker to produce the perfect pizza. Nor do you have to be the finest chef to learn the pizza cooking tricks. Preparing pizza only requires you to remember some basic steps which you can easily access online or in cookbooks.
This is extremely important for bakers who are cooking wood-fired pizza in their backyard. The increasing heat from the wood might damage the surrounding plants or could attract the attention of curious kids. A spot away from the home and any electrical wires or garden trees is ideal for outdoor pizza ovens.
If you are cooking pizza inside your home, ensure a space that is not too crowded to allow the right amount of air to circulate. This will reduce the extreme rise in heat that can sometimes result in damage. While ensuring a secure and flat surface, also keep your pizza oven away from the water source to avoid the risk of shocks and short-circuits if you’re not using a wood-fired oven.
You should always clean your pizza oven right after every use.
If you are dealing with outdoor ovens, make sure to put out the fire completely before doing the clean-up. For outdoor options, you would only need a strong brush and bin to dispose of burned firewood.
Buying a pizza oven is not just about looking through a series of expensive options. There are also many affordable ovens that you can freely purchase in the market or construct using a kit.
Hardwood or gas are just some of the most popular types of affordable pizza ovens available at present. Buy the one that best suits your needs and observe these oven safety hints to ensure you have many years of delicious enjoyment.
]]>So are you looking for the right clay pizza oven for your home? Making pizza in your own backyard is all about enjoying the taste of a great pizza cooked in a traditional oven. It’s visually pleasing, interesting to make, and economical as well. Just think about all the fun you and your friends are going to have as you enjoy fresh and crisp pizza right on your own property!
]]>So are you looking for the right clay pizza oven for your home? Making pizza in your own backyard is all about enjoying the taste of a great pizza cooked in a traditional oven. It’s visually pleasing, interesting to make, and economical too. Just think about all the fun you and your friends are going to have as you enjoy fresh and crisp pizza right on your own property!
The great news is that you won’t just use your clay pizza oven for making tasty pizza. You can use it to bake other goodies as well, like cooked meats, roasts, casserole dishes, bake cakes, and more!
This article outlines the top 5 reasons why you should consider your own clay pizza oven. Let’s find out why having your very own home pizza kit is probably the best purchase you’ll make for your family!
Who can resist a perfectly baked crisp pizza, especially when it’s baked in an outdoor pizza clay oven? This is the best way to have a professional pizza right in your home and have your friends over to enjoy your masterpiece. More and more people have started to buy their own pizza ovens, as they’re fast becoming the trademark of a happy lifestyle and healthy eating.
Just imagine the thin, crispy base covered in hot cheese, olive oil, garlic, and juicy tomatoes. The sky's the limit when it comes to ingredients and the number of pizzas you can make using your fantastic pizza oven!
Indeed, pizza ovens are really amazing things because they look great and add style to any garden, large or small. Most traditional ovens are covered with a simple roof structure and allow you to bake your tasty pizza directly on the stone. The surrounding heat makes the pizza cook fast and consistently while retaining some of the moisture, making the dough stay fluffy.
Clay has some wonderful insulating properties, making it a great component in the cooking process. One of the main benefits of a clay oven is that it distributes the heat evenly so your pizza is perfectly baked.
No matter your budget, you’ll still find a pizza clay oven for every taste and cooking style. The initial cost will be offset by the savings you make over time. For example, Californo has a wide selection of home pizza ovens to choose from so you can compare models and prices.
Although a pizza oven is designed especially for baking pizzas, you can use it to cook other foods, such as bread and roasted meats. The oven heats up fast and retains heat for many hours, allowing you to cook several food types simultaneously in a short amount of time.
You can choose the proper size for your clay oven to match other appliances in your garden. But first, decide exactly what you need. Some smaller or medium-sized ovens are about 3 feet wide (the interior), which allows them to heat up in less than one hour. By using a medium oven you can perfectly cook between 2-10 pizzas at a time.
Smaller clay ovens usually take longer to cook because they heat slower and retain heat for a shorter period of time. If you plan to make pizzas on a daily basis, then medium pizza ovens are the best option.
Since pizza ovens are affordable, easy to install and energy-efficient, more and more people are buying their own clay oven to make pizza right at home. What’s better than having your friends over and treating them with a tasty, crispy pizza in your backyard?
Many families have already decided to have their own clay pizza oven to allow them to prepare several pizzas at a time effortlessly. Become the host of some very exciting pizza parties, bring everybody in and get absorbed in the pleasure and joy of baking your own tasty and crispy pizza!
]]>Most of the finest pizzerias in the world use this style of cooking because it is similar to the way authentic Italian pizzas are made. The tastes and aromas that result from using this old-school process are unsurpassed. Standard ovens cannot produce what brick ovens can.
Brick ovens are typically built on top of a stone or ceramic base. The pizza is cooked on the stone surface over an open fire. The wood used in the cooking process burns slowly and for a long time. Radiant heat from the base of the oven gives the pie a crispy crust. Because there is a certain amount of moisture that circulates in the oven, none of the ingredients on a brick oven pizza will dry out.
]]>Most of the finest pizzerias in the world use this style of cooking because it is similar to the way authentic Italian pizzas are made. The tastes and aromas that result from using this old-school process are unsurpassed. Standard ovens cannot produce what brick ovens can.
Brick ovens are typically built on top of a stone or ceramic base. The pizza is cooked on the stone surface over an open fire. The wood used in the cooking process burns slowly and for a long time. Radiant heat from the base of the oven gives the pie a crispy crust. Because there is a certain amount of moisture that circulates in the oven, none of the ingredients on a brick oven pizza will dry out.
The stone and brick in the oven retain heat well and distribute it evenly. Many of these ovens can reach temperatures close to 700°F. A steady high temperature is maintained, so pie dough bakes evenly without becoming overcooked. Brick oven pizza provides more consistent results than pizzas baked in a standard convection oven.
Brick oven pizza can be cooked to perfection, no matter what type of dough or toppings are used. By shuffling the pizzas around in the oven, chefs can ensure that the crust and the toppings cook thoroughly. Cheese gets melted quickly and develops a tasty browned surface. Pizzas baked in a brick oven can be made to order as well. Because the turnaround time is so fast, customers can get exactly what they want quickly.
What is unique about brick oven pizza is its taste. The crust on this type of pizza is unique because it has a crispy texture but maintains a moist, fresh flavor. The cheese and other toppings are infused with a rich smokiness. Depending on which type of wood is used for burning, the pizzas may also develop a deep, woody taste.
Pizza baked in a brick pizza oven is the most flavorful, fragrant, appetizing pizza in the world. The old-style cooking method is reminiscent of days gone by. This type of cooking will take anyone back to the old world where flavor and quality were the most essential components of baking a pizza. So what is brick over pizza? In short, it’s delicious!
]]>Cooking at home can be a simple way to save serious amounts of cash in the long term. In this article, we will talk about some of the advantages of making special meals in the comfort of your home and how getting the right wood fired pizza oven plans can help you make that happen.
In recent years, the affordability and flavor of Italian food have propelled the popularity of wood-fired pizza through the roof. Although going out to a local Italian restaurant is usually an engaging experience, making pizza at home has several advantages. Let’s look at some of them.
]]>Cooking at home can be a fun, simple way to save serious amounts of cash in the long term and eat great too. Let’s talk about some of the benefits of making amazing meals in the comfort of your home by getting the right wood-fired pizza oven plans that will impress your family and your guests.
In recent years, the affordability and flavor of Italian food have propelled the popularity of wood-fired pizza through the roof. Although going out to a local Italian restaurant is usually an engaging experience, making pizza at home can just as exciting and well worth the effort.
Although it might seem like a complicated project for some people, the process is much simpler if you have a good wood-fired oven plan to follow. It is all about having a clear idea of the materials and specific tasks you need to accomplish. Remember, your residential wood-fired oven will need solid foundations and a durable exterior cover that is able to resist high temperatures.
Building an oven at home can be an excellent bonding opportunity for parents who are interested in spending more time with their kids. It can be a fun project that allows them to learn a thing or two about teamwork.
Having a wood-fired oven can be a good way to increase the property value of a home with a relatively small investment. By adding the right materials and finishing touches, the decorative appeal and nostalgic feelings evoked by wood-burning ovens can have a significant impact on the overall value of a property, whether they are easy-to-assemble stone ovens or large brick ovens.
Eating healthier is another indirect benefit of selecting the right wood fired oven plans. Instead of eating greasy pizzas at a local restaurant, cooking at home will allow you to select high-quality ingredients of good nutritional value. And remember, you can cook just about anything in your wood-fired oven, so it’s not just limited to the best-tasting pizza you could imagine. Besides being a fun activity to share with the people you love, cooking in a wood-fired pizza oven is an additional incentive to eat all kinds of healthy and delicious food.
In the end, finding ways to spend quality time with friends and family is a valuable tool in the process of building strong personal relationships. Cooking at home is a popular activity that has motivated many families around the country to purchase wood-fired pizza oven plans and create this sharing atmosphere of traditional food preparation together.
]]>Preparing a delicious pizza wouldn’t be possible without pizza ovens. In the early years, vendors on the streets have perfected baking pizza by only using charcoal in a metal bucket. This type of early pizza survived for many years until experts developed the modern-day pizza ovens. Today there are even several ways to make pizza with much more ease.
At present, you can find numerous types of pizza ovens that come in various forms and sizes. To avoid wasting your money and time when looking for pizza ovens, here are two things to consider when deciding which pizza oven is best for your situation.
]]>Both the young and adults adore pizza, which has made this food so popular all over the world. Several fast food and high-class restaurants have included stone-baked pizza on their menu, making it obvious that indeed this food is an all-time favorite.
Preparing a delicious pizza wouldn’t be possible without pizza ovens. In the early years, vendors on the streets had perfected baking pizza by only using charcoal in a metal bucket. This type of early pizza survived for many years until experts developed the modern-day pizza ovens. Today there are several ways to make pizza with much greater efficiency.
At present, you can find numerous types of pizza ovens that come in various forms and sizes. To avoid wasting your money and time when looking for pizza ovens, here are two things to consider when deciding which pizza oven is best for your situation.
What does your budget allow? This can help narrow things down for you.
To save money, you can use a prefabricated oven kit to build your own oven. Otherwise, avoid the hassle by purchasing a ready-to-use oven.
Do you have enough space at home where you can comfortably place the oven? Is it a place free from dirt or pets that might damage the equipment? Before you decide to purchase a pizza oven, make sure that you have enough room at home to keep the oven safe and secure. If you have small children at home who love to play around your potential pizza oven location, instruct them to stay away from the area, especially when you are baking.
Now that you know how to choose a pizza oven, you should know that they are not only limited to preparing pizza. They are also good for bread, cooking meals and keeping your food warm. They are perfect for anyone looking for convenient baking equipment as you can use them anytime you want for nearly all types of recipes you have in mind.
With the evolution of technology and countless innovations, making pizza these days is a fun family activity. Everyone can join in to help and smell the wonderful aromas of freshly made pizzas baking in your new pizza oven.
]]>It truly is a well-founded, proven fact that the very first modern pizza was created by Raffaele Esposito from Naples, Italy. Esposito’s invention was created to honor the visit of Queen Margherita who came to Naples in the year 1889. He decorated the pizza using the colors in the Italian flag, utilizing white-colored cheese, green basil, along with red tomatoes. He cooked his creation in a wood pizza oven.
As time went on, and the new century came about, Italian immigrants took this formula along with them to the United States, where the 1st pizzeria in the country was opened in 1905.
The pizza was mostly popular among the immigrants, and it stayed this way at least until the end of The Second World War. During WWII, American soldiers returned home with an appreciation for pizza that they discovered overseas. With that, the pizza boom in the United States began.
Pizza also grew to become something closer to an everyday dinner, rather than an in-between-meals Italian snack food.
New York had a lot of Italians. And in those early days, many people felt that you had to go to New York to experience authentic pizzeria-style pizzas. Indeed, New York is where the pizza pie got its start in the United States.
Today, New York is known for their pizza shops. Genuine New York-style pizza is made up of a rather thin, broad crust packed with plenty of different toppings, including tomato sauce, and some serious Italian seasonings.
During the early 1940s, the city of Chicago had taken pizzas in a whole new unique direction. It’s believed that the 1st pizza place in Chicago was Pizzeria Uno, opened in 1943 by Ike Sewell. Men and women flocked to this brand new pizza shop, along with a completely new way of cooking pizza that they created.
The Chicago-style deep dish pizza pie was really a brand new twist on the old New York City tradition. With the deep dish style, the pizza is placed low into a deeper pan, and the brown crust area is allowed to rise in thicker bubbles around the edges.
Even today, you will find yourself in some fairly heated discussions if you try to argue which type of pizza is best. However, whatever crust style you select, pizza can be a distinctive meal that has a cloudy history and a certain attractiveness which has held up throughout many variations.
So if you happen to be fortunate enough to find yourself around New York or Chicago, or anywhere that has a genuine wood pizza oven pizzeria, be sure to indulge yourself in the old tradition and buy a piece of delicious pizza pie.
]]>Another one debate: when making pizza, does cheese go first, or last?
]]>Another debate when making pizza: cheese first, or last?
This deep-dish style pizza goes against the grain. Instead of positioning the toppings on top of the pizza sauces, the cheese lies on a level with the crust. This is then put into the bottom of a deep-dish pizza pie pan. Over the mozzarella cheese lie your toppings of choice, and the level following that is the pizza sauce.
For most people that are not from Chicago, this is certainly something that will be completely new. It may even seem backward to people that live elsewhere in the United States, who tend to be used to a different style of pizza pie.
Lots of people say that Chicago Style is the best, as it keeps the crust crispy, as the sauce is on the top and not on the crust. Otherwise, the sauce would make the crust soggy.
Other pizza styles place the sauce right on the crust. Cheeses are then placed on top of the sauce, and toppings are scattered on top of the cheese. This is what most people in America imagine when they think about pizza. Many people really do not even know of an alternative way of creating pizza pies. Many say that people in America love the traditional way of making pizzas with the sauces directly on the crust.
The debate about whose style is “the best” is an ongoing battle. The argument will likely never be settled. Whether you like making pizza cheese first or last is just a matter of personal preference.
Nevertheless, the great thing is that the USA has grown to be more and more open-minded when it comes to food. The true winners here tend to be the ones who are open to different kinds of pizza. The genuine winners realize that there’s basically no best, only different.
If you are interested in getting your own wood-burning pizza oven, have a look at our residential oven kits.
]]>Everyone knows that your standard pizza pie includes pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, ground beef, peppers, different types of onions, and anchovies.
Now, gourmet and wood-fired pizza can be created with just about any type of food. There are premium pizzas meant for breakfast that could be made along with scrambled eggs, bacon and different cheeses. You will also find vegetarian gourmet pizzas that are made along with a mixture of veggies.
The gourmet pizza has gained popularity within virtually every home in America. Pizza shops are appearing all across the nation and wood-fired pizza shops are becoming more popular than ever. A Monday night of football will be an absolute hit when a gourmet pizza cooked in an authentic wood-fired pizza oven is served. A certain pleaser meant for delicious chocolate buffs is often a dessert pizza topped off with marshmallow topping.
Only the finest quality meats and the freshest cheese should be used. The main difference between a normal pizza and a gourmet pizza is going to be confirmed with each and every mouthful.
A normal shopper, with a little imagination, can produce a gourmet pizza in their own home. Various already-cooked pizza doughs can be found in different types of food stores, and wood-fired pizza ovens can be found online. With some imagination and also a bit of experimentation, pretty much everybody could produce a delicious gourmet pizza. Many grocery stores carry a variety of pizza doughs, cheeses, as well as gourmet sauces. And don’t forget that cheeses other than Mozzarella can be used as well.
Gourmet pizza parlors continue to pop up everywhere, supplying a variety of pizzas coming from numerous ethnicities. And wood-fired pizza shops are few and far between, but when you can find them you will see why they are so popular.
Each and every culture brings a cutting-edge way to make the premium pizza. These types of scrumptious gourmet pizza recipes provide eating pleasure for quite a while.
This is also a great way to put your wood fired oven to use. After all, cooking pizza in a wood fired oven gives your food a distinct flavor. It’s also quick and easy, once you get going.
High quality ingredients are key to having a great backyard pizza party.
You have two options for your pizza dough. First, you can buy pre-made dough from the store. This is probably the fastest option. Your second option is to make your own dough. This adds a homemade twist to your pizzas. It might seem difficult, but there are plenty of recipes online for making your own homemade dough.
Get your pizza toppings ready before the party even starts. This will help things go smoothly once your guests arrive.
Most vegetables, proteins, and fruits work well as pizza toppings. But when choosing toppings, remember to keep your guests in mind. You should also include creative toppings that speak to your guests’ distinct palates. For example, you might want to offer apricots, asparagus, roasted pine nuts, and smoked trout.
You will also need tablecloths, napkins, plates and utensils.
Then, make sure to get your pizza oven fire ready.
Finally, make sure to keep your pizza peel handy, so you can easily cook the pizzas using your wood fired oven.
It’s easy to please everyone when you have a DIY pizza menu. Just lay out your toppings, and let your guests do the rest.
Note that cooking times in wood fired pizza ovens are short. Typically, it only takes a few minutes for a pizza cooked in a wood fired oven to be ready. This makes it a great option for feeding hungry guests at a backyard party.
]]>Think pizza means pepperoni and cheese?
Most pizza parlours feature at least a few vegetarian options, offering everything from classic combos like broccoli, peppers and tomatoes to exquisite gourmet pies. Here are a few basic and gourmet pizza topping ideas.
Homemade or store-bought doughs work here, as do pre-baked pizza crusts and alternative crusts like mini pitas. Just be sure to follow the cooking instructions for your specific type of crust – those made form fresh dough may need to be pre-baked, adding time to the meal.
Most pizzas have to cook at a hot temperature – about 425 F, for up to 12 minutes. For best results, check the instructions on your dough recipe or crust package.
The quantity of ingredients used to build a pizza varies with the size of the crust and each individual’s taste. Here are some guidelines for a standard 12-inch pizza:
For the complete pizza experience, serve with vegetarian Caesar salad.
See the recipe below for tantalizing topping combos, or combine your own.
Cut toppings into small pieces so that every bite combines several flavours.
Canned Vegetable (and Fruit) Toppings
Try using a base of mozzarella cheese and blend in or top with a sharper, stronger cheese.
Try one of these great vegetarian pizza combinations.
Using pesto or another sauce (even sour cream!) is a trendy alternative to tomato-based pizza; perfect for those who don’t like tomatoes.
Making pizza at home can be much less expensive than pizza delivery. And homemade pizza can also be healthier than restaurant pizza. This is because you can top it with healthy veggies. But you can use many different pizza toppings. You can even make dessert pizza!
It is surprisingly easy to make a basic dough. You will only need a few ingredients. Homemade pizza dough is also suitable for vegetarians, vegans and people who have certain food allergies.
The following recipe has been adapted from the "Yeast Pizza Crust" recipe in the cookbook How It All Vegan by Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer. This dough makes a pizza crust with good flavor and texture. Use this quick and easy dough recipe to make homemade pizza recipes for movie nights or family dinners.
Makes two 12 inch pizzas (4 - 8 servings)
This basic homemade pizza dough recipe is great for making an easy main dish. And you can also use it to make dessert pizzas.
]]>
The basics of a pizza are fairly simple, and generally are healthful ingredients. There's the crust, the sauce, the meat, the cheese, and the seasonings. That's where the "basics" end and the creative juices can begin flowing.
While you may have given up a weekly visit to Pizza Hut, California Pizza, Sbarro's, or Domino's, it is not the end of the world. You can put together a heart-healthy and fantastic tasting pizza that has half the sodium of the average cheese (no meat) pizza at any of these pizza parlors - and this recipe includes meat!
Prepare your pizza oven.
Grill the pizza directly on the oven rack placed in the center of the oven. Set the temperature according to directions on the package (start at 450 degrees, to preheat the oven, turn down to 425 and cook for 7-10 minutes.) Cut into 6 slices, 2 slices per serving. Serves 2-3.
Sodium totals will vary depending on the toppings you choose. The basic combination of sauce, olive oil, ground beef, tomato, onion, and Swiss cheese will be approximately 1100 mgs of sodium for 2 slices. If your diet restricts you to 2000 mgs daily or less, this is the amount in half a day's allowance. A half of a cheese pizza (no meat) at a pizza fast-food chain averages 2100 mgs of sodium.
The pleasure in making your own low-sodium pizza is in the variety of toppings you can add to add interest to your diet, while being in control of your sodium intake. You don't have to deny yourself the yumminess of "real" pizza!
]]>Feeding children for a party, special occasions, or just dinner doesn't have to be difficult, time-consuming, or unhealthy. Try the following pizza kids can make, and offer them a tasty and nutritious meal.
Serves 10, two bread pizzas per person
Invite older children to prepare the bread, vegetables, and cheese ahead of time and set up the stations.
Allow children to make a design with pepperoni or vegetables on top of their pizza's cheese layer so that they can tell their pizzas apart.
Offer a taste of toppings and seasonings ahead of time, to make sure children like their pizza toppings before they make their pizzas to prevent wasting food. This activity also encourages children to eat and try vegetables.
Offer a green salad and fresh fruit for desert to round off a healthy meal.
Explain to children that vegetables are a healthy part of dinner, and offer a cut raw vegetable plate with light dressing to entice them.
Healthy bread pizzas are an easy, healthy, and fun way to make a children's dinner or party memorable.
]]>No special equipment is required although some people like to bake on a pizza plate which is usually a large round oven proof tray. This gives the well known round pizza. In Italy, larger pizzas are usually square or rectangular in shape as they are baked and sold by the half meter or meter.
This classic half meter is the simplest to make as it is much easier to slice into portions and uses the oven space more efficiently; a large rectangular baking sheet about the same size as the oven shelf is ideal.
The ideal option for making a delicious homemade pizza is to use a pizza oven kit or, if you want to make things even more practical, you can also use a mobile pizza oven allowing you to take it all around.
Before making the base, grease the chosen baking surface and turn the oven on to a medium to hot heat; around gas mark 7 or 220 degrees.
Directions:
Depending on the toppings chosen and the thickness of the base, pizza will take different amounts of time to cook. In general, fifteen to twenty minutes in a medium hot oven should suffice but check the pizza twice within this time as fragile toppings can burn.
Important: Do not overload the pizza. Too much sauce or wet toppings can make your pizza soggy.
The entire cooking process should take approximately one hour with a pizza stone and half an hour for a regular pizza pan. As long as the Italian pizza isn't under or over cooked it will be ready to eat as soon as it cools down, and then Parmesan cheese, Tabasco sauce or other seasonings can be added to this delicious pizza.
]]>Chopped or shredded veggies works best.
Restrictions with allowed meats vary too. Many yeast-free diets restrict processed meat and limit others.
Pizza lovers tend to overlook fish and seafood as a topping choice; the exception being the infamous anchovies. Seafood is a great way to add flavor and protein to a yeast-free pizza.
Some yeast free diets allow for cheese and others don't. Because mold is sometimes part of the cheese- making process, many diets restrict or eliminate foods that are made with fungus. Some people use to smaller amounts of cheese. Individual preference varies.
Pizza is a great way to add variety to a restrictive diet. If a yeast-free eating plan allows for flour, eating pizza one night a week makes a nice treat. Experiment with toppings for variety.
]]>Americans are passionately in love with pizza. One source claims 93% of Americans eat pizza at least once a month and another study says that each man, woman and child consumes an average of 23 pounds of pie a year.
I grew up in a time and place when instant, convenient and semi-prepared food was seen as "modern". Chef Boyardee, indeed. Me and pizza, we've come a long way, baby. I've eaten it in Italy. I've had it in New York. I've eaten at a number of the revered spots that show up on most of the authorities' lists. Like anyone else, I can tell you what is wrong about bad pizza (thick, doughy crust or worse, the Bisquik grade school cafeteria style crust) and what is right about good pizza (thin, crispy crust, no soggy, sagging middle, no pooling of grease from cheap toppings, made with great commercial pizza ovens.) I've never once seen mention of that venerated Chef of my childhood on any list. Go figure.
At the highest level, broad strokes, most would agree that pizza came to the US from Naples, via New York. What much of middle-America gets delivered to their door at halftime, bears little resemblance to the real thing. (Sorry, sometimes the truth hurts.) Some say it came back with WWII soldiers returning from Italy, others claim it came with earlier Italian immigrants.
Regardless of the timing, it's well established that New York City and New Haven Connecticut are two of the legendary pizza cities. One thing these places have in common is a thin, charred crust from coal-fired ovens. The crust which bakes quickly at temperatures between 600- 800 degrees is impossible to replicate in a regular home oven. A pizza stone helps, but a good oven is the key.
]]>If you’re into making healthier food choices, I will share my favorite Homemade Pizza tips this week. Also, stay tuned for my homemade pizza dough recipe. It's worth a try and a good recipe to get small hands involved in if you want to cook with kids.
A real pizza stone and good quality pizza oven kit makes a huge difference. I've been through two of the high-end volcanic or some such model at W-S. The first one cracked and the second shows signs of going that way. Next one I am going to try will be the Californo kit I found out from an online catalog of a restaurant supply store.
Now, here comes my tips for making healthier and delicious pizza at your own home!
Tips:
Hardwoods are far better for burning than softwoods. Softwoods are great for kindling because they light easily and give a quick, hot flame. Hardwoods, on the other hand, have greater density and provide an intense heat that will burn for a long time.
All wood should be well-seasoned before use to reduce smoke and provide optimum cooking conditions.
Wood chips and chunks can also be used to add flavor to your wood-fired cooking
Ash, Beech, and Hornbeam are all very good woods for burning as they offer a great flame and decent level of heat. Ash is probably the best wood as it is very widely available. Beech follows closely behind.
These woods burn slowly which is perfect when you’re cooking something like a rack of meat in your wood-fired oven. Another great benefit of using blackthorn and hawthorn is that they smoke very little.
Oak is a steady burner. Using oak in a wood-fired oven guarantees a level, long-lasting burn that creates only a small amount of ash. Burning oak has a distinctive smell that’s sharp and bitter but doesn’t flame excessively.
These fruit woods burn steadily and slowly with very little flame. The real benefit of burning fruity woods is the delicious smell and smoky flavor given to the food.
Cedar smells delicious and also gives out a lot of heat. It’s important to dry cedar properly before you burn it to minimize popping.
Hazel and Holly are both okay hardwoods for burning but must be seasoned very well. If you can get hold of something like ash or oak, it’s best to go with one of these.
Similar to oak, maple hardwood provides a great deal of heat and burns slowly with small flames. A great hardwood for a wood-fired oven.
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Of course, once you have gathered up your best firewood, here are some tips on how to store firewood for your wood-fired outdoor oven.
Enjoy!
]]>Here are some questions you should ask yourself before getting a wood fired oven for your food truck.
Think about your food truck concept. Will a wood fired pizza oven make your concept stand out more? Yes, it is well known that a wood fired oven can really make a difference to the taste of your food. But does it make sense for your concept?
Don’t forget that you will also need to train your employees to use the oven.
First, you need to figure out how many sales you need in order to turn a profit. You should also have a look at the size of your kitchen. Both these things will help you figure out the size of the oven you can get.
Finally, have a look at the venting. Depending on your situation, the venting might cost even more than the wood fired oven. So make sure to take this into account.
Different woods add different flavors to your food. But you can’t just use any old wood to cook your food. Not only do you have to have the right type of wood, you also have to store it correctly.
When deciding if a wood fired oven is right for you, make sure to consider the cost of storing your firewood. Otherwise, you might end up losing profits.
Some places don’t allow you to cook over wood. So make sure to look into the wood burning codes in your location. If your area does allow you to burn wood, how will the vented smoke affect your neighbours?
Mobility is one of the benefits of food trucks. But make sure to look into this before parking in a new location. Bylaws may vary!
]]>Naples, the birthplace of the modern pizza, has cause for celebration. Traditional Neapolitan pizza, ‘Pizza Napoletana’, has been awarded a quality ‘Traditional Speciality Guaranteed’ (TSG) certification from the European Commission’s TSG committee.
Pizzerias that sell Neapolitan pizza in Europe and wish to use the TSG label must now conform to a series of regulations. These regulations cover not only the preparation and cooking of the pizza but the use of traditional ingredients.
The historic ruling is the product of years of lobbying by Neapolitan pizza-makers. Traditional pizzerias have fought for years to protect the authenticity of their Neapolitan pizza recipe.
Italian Agriculture Minister Luca Zaia hailed the decision. In a statement he said; "Europe has awarded the work and the tenacity of Neapolitan producers… for a product that too often and too long has been the subject of bad imitations that have nothing to do with the true Pizza Napoletana”.
According to the new ruling, a true Pizza Napoletana must have:
The pizzaiolo, or pizza maker, must also be up to the task of creating an authentic Pizza Napoletana. The pizza dough must be hand-stretched in quick, even movements to maintain its shape. Regulations also ban the use of rolling pins and other machinery. Finally, pizzaiolos must cook Pizza Napolenta in a traditional wood-fired pizza oven.
It is thought that the recipe for Pizza Napoletana evolved between 1715 and 1725 when it was one of the most common foods in the grand kingdom of Naples. A Neapolitan chef also created Pizza Margherita to honor the Queen Consort Margherita of Italy in the late nineteenth century.
]]>They say it’s easy to bake a pizza in the comfort of your own home. And sure, it can be. Once you have your dough ready, it’s as simple as putting on your toppings and turning on the oven.
But for many, getting homemade pizza dough ready for topping is an issue.
Here is a step-by-step guide to make stretching dough easier.
Often, you will need to warm your dough up for at least half an hour before it’s ready to stretch. This is because gluten is looser when warm. As a result, warm pizza is easier to stretch out.
Take your dough out of its packaging. Then, place it in a bowl that has been prepped with olive oil to reduce sticking. Next, make sure the bowl is covered, then let the dough warm up for at least half an hour.
After the first rise, and after you have split your dough into portions, you can start warming your dough.
Once your dough is relaxed and ready for stretching, prep your hands and workspace with olive oil. You will likely only need about 2 or 3 tablespoons of oil. This will prevent the dough from sticking. It will also help your dough achieve a delicious crispy golden crust in the oven.
You can also take this opportunity to line the sheet pan or pizza peel with parchment paper. Don’t have parchment paper? Not to worry! You can also sprinkle cornmeal on your surface to get the same effect.
Before stretching your dough, you need to flatten it into a disk.
Don’t use your knuckles to stretch the dough, and don’t toss the dough up in the air. It may look impressive, but it’s difficult to get right. Instead, carefully pick the dough up. Hold it by one edge with both your hands, allowing the rest of the dough to hang down. Then, gently rotate the dough. Gravity will help your stretching here, so work quickly. Make sure to also keep an eye on how thick your dough is. Your goal is a disk of dough measuring roughly 11 inches wide and about ⅓ of an inch thick.
Move your dough to your sheet pan or pizza peel. Next, pinch any thin or torn areas closed.
It’s not a problem if the edges of your pizza dough aren’t thicker than the center. The crust will puff up in the oven, while the center will be weighed down by toppings.
Versatility is one of the reasons why food trucks are so popular. For example, as a business owner, you will probably want to update your business’ branding at some point. It is much easier to redecorate a food truck than it is to renovate a restaurant. It is also more cost-effective. This flexibility allows for easier rebranding, a crucial aspect for any business.
Compared to sit-in restaurants, food trucks boast significantly lower overhead costs. With fewer staff requirements, daily labor costs are notably reduced. Unlike brick-and-mortar establishments with sizable employee teams, most food trucks operate with only a handful—typically around five—employees at any given time. This efficiency translates to larger profit margins.
The ability to relocate offers substantial advantages for any business. Imagine having the freedom to move your restaurant to the busiest spots at any time, any day. This mobility is the essence of a successful food truck and pizza trailer—being exactly where your customers are. Moreover, it facilitates participation in local events like food festivals, conferences, and state fairs, expanding your customer base significantly.
Traditional sit-in restaurants simply can't match the benefits of food trucks. Whether you're starting a new business or expanding your current one, explore Californo's mobile pizza trailers for an innovative and profitable venture.
Food trucks have benefits that traditional sit-in restaurants simply can’t give you. Whether you're starting a new business or expanding your current one, explore Californo’s mobile pizza trailers for an innovative and profitable venture!
]]>There is something undeniably romantic about cooking outdoors over a burning fire. Generally, we have an outdoor party in the summer. But there is no reason you can’t have a great outdoor party, even when it’s snowing. Even when temperatures drop below freezing, cooking outside by your wood fired oven offers a more interactive cooking experience. In many ways, it’s like having dinner with a show!
Here are some tips for hosting an outdoor party in the winter.
Choose meals that go well with slow cooking. In fact, the longer and slower the better. One of the great advantages of a wood fired oven is that it’s easy to maintain heat for hours of slow cooking. That means you can cook a variety of foods, from brisket to sourdough breads. You can also add wood chips to enhance flavor. It’s also a good idea to cook some sides, such as roasted potatoes, cauliflower, and mushrooms, for a more satisfying meal.
There is nothing better than a glass of warm mulled cider, or a dark spirit by the fire. Not only are these drinks easy to serve, they are also a great source of warmth!
Oven roasted chestnuts are a cold weather delicacy in most of Europe and Asia. And there is no better way to roast chestnuts than in a wood fired oven.
Start by cutting a small x on the underside of your chestnuts, using a sharp knife. Then, place the chestnuts on a pizza pan, and put them in your wood fired oven. Cook for 7-8 minutes at about 500°F. Depending on the age of the chestnuts, you might need to cook them for longer. You will know when they’re done because the skill and shells will pop open and curl back. Once they have cooled to the touch, peel and enjoy!
Everyone loves feeling cozy, especially in the winter. Stock up on quality wool blankets, so your guests can drape themselves in soft, fuzzy warmth by the candlelight. You should also make sure you’re not making your guests sit on freezing metal furniture by bringing in some cushions from indoors. Alternatively, you can also provide your guests with Lava Buns, which can be microwaved to stay warm for up to 6 hours. But overall, fire is still the number one way to stay warm. After all, your wood fired oven is sure to be the centerpiece of your winter patio.
Days are short during the winter. So it might be a good idea to start your party in the early afternoon. Otherwise, make sure that the way to your party is lit. Lanterns and fairy lights are great for this.
Snow is entertaining. So encourage any kids in your outdoor party to create snow angels, snowmen, and snow forts. You can even create an obstacle course out of the snow to keep children and adults entertained. If you don’t have enough snow in your area for that, you can also keep lawn games handy.
]]>There are different types of designs for pizza ovens, some of them use cooking techniques that have dated back centuries. These ovens can reach very high temperatures, meaning that once they have reached their required cooking heat (over 932°F/500°C in some cases) the pizza can actually be ready to eat in 60 seconds. Obviously in this instance you need to let the food cool down before you tuck in. As a result, you get a different and unique taste to your pizza compared to other forms of cooking such as a normal home oven.
Most good pizza ovens will use bricks as part of their external structure. Within the oven, there will be a section where the heat is retained and a section where you will be able to place the pizza. Some designs are quite big, allowing you to accommodate a large number of people. In this instance you can cook a decent sized pizza or two smaller pizzas for your guests, depending on what toppings they feel like eating.
Ovens of this nature can take up to an hour to heat up; although once they are ready, they can retain the heat within the oven for up to four hours. Therefore, should you want to cook more food as the evening progresses, or more guests arrive at your party, you don’t have to worry about preparing the oven again.
It doesn’t matter which toppings you decide to choose for your pizza either as they will cook nicely in a pizza oven. So whether it’s bacon, sausage, chicken, Parma ham, peperoni, or just plain cheese and tomato, you can enjoy a range of toppings and keep everyone happy.
Depending on the pizza oven you purchase you may have additional space to store your food when preparing to cook as well as space for the logs that you will use for the fire. Some designs also feature a plate warming shelf, so that once the pizza has cooled down you can still retain the heat and enjoy your meal. As mentioned, the oven can reach very high temperatures, so make sure you buy oven tools to prevent burning yourself when putting the pizza in the oven and taking it back out too.
If you are looking for a unique and quality tasting food that you can quickly prepare for yourself, your family and your guests, then an authentic pizza oven is an ideal choice for your cooking needs.
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