Pizza is a dish that originated in Italy and has become one of the most popular foods worldwide. It is a flatbread topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and other ingredients, such as meats, vegetables, and herbs.
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You can usually find a
A remarkably simple dish, flatbread (pizza crust), topped usually with a tomato-based sauce, different varieties of cheese, and then toppings including (traditionally) meat, vegetables, and herbs.
But you can make quality, delicious
Making the Pizza Dough
See our pizza dough recipe for a full guide, including measurements.
This
- Flour – 00
pizza flour, bread flour, or all-purpose flour - Water
- Active dry yeast
- Salt
- Extra virgin olive oil
Step-by-step instructions on how to make pizza dough
Using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or a mixing bowl and a rubber spatula, add yeast to a bowl of warm water and whisk.
Then add olive oil, flour, and salt and beat slowly for approximately 2 minutes.
Tip your
To knead the
Rotate the dough 90 degrees and repeat the process. This will help to stretch the gluten strands in the dough, making it more elastic and easier to work with.
Continue kneading the dough for about 5 – 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. If the dough feels too sticky, add a little more flour. If it feels too dry, add a little more water.
Use a
Once your dough is kneaded, form it into a ball and place it in a lightly oiled bowl.
Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place for at least an hour or until it has doubled in size.
After the dough has risen, it is ready to be rolled out and topped with your favorite ingredients, then into an Ooni pizza oven to make a delicious
How to Store Pizza Dough
You can store your homemade
You can also freeze the dough for up to 3 months. We recommend storing it in portion size so you can grab the right amount of
How To Make Pizza Sauce
The best homemade
- Tomato-based sauce
- White sauce
- Pesto sauce
- Barbecue sauce
How to Make a Tomato-Based Pizza Sauce
See our delicious homemade
You’ll need these ingredients to make the sauce:
- Crushed tomatoes – we recommend San Marzano Italian tomatoes, as they are sweeter
- Chopped onion
- Fresh garlic
- Italian seasoning
- Red pepper flakes
- Salt & pepper
Add olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to a pan over medium heat, bring to a simmer, then simmer for 45 minutes.
Remove the tomato mixture from the heat and let it cool. Once cool, add to a food processor or blender and blitz until the sauce is smooth.
Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Pizza Toppings Ideas
There are many popular
- Cheese
- Pepperoni – we use veggie pepperoni
- Mushrooms
- Peppers
- Onions
- Olives
Choose your favorite pizza toppings, the foods you love.
Tips for Creating Your Own Pizza Toppings
Tips on choosing ingredients that complement each other.
For example, in a Margherita pizza, the sweetness of the tomatoes complements the creaminess of the cheese, and the basil adds a fresh herbal note.
Layering Pizza Toppings
Start with the sauce: Begin by spreading a thin layer of
Use cheese as a base: Add a layer of cheese on top of the
Layer the vegetables: Add your vegetables on top of the cheese layer. This prevents them from burning and allows them to cook evenly.
Add (veggie) meats or proteins: If you’re using (veggie) meat or protein, add it to the vegetables. This will help prevent the meat from burning and allow it to cook evenly.
Add more cheese: Add another layer of cheese on top of the toppings. This will help to hold the toppings in place and create a delicious, gooey, cheesy layer.
Use small pieces: Chop toppings into small pieces to ensure they cook quickly and evenly and stay in place.
Spread toppings evenly: Be sure to spread them out evenly to ensure they cook evenly and don’t burn in one spot. It’ll also be much tastier when it’s sliced up.
Don’t overload: Be careful not to overload the
Top with fresh herbs: After your
The Best Pizza Cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- Parmesan
- Provolone – not suitable for vegetarians
- Cheddar
- Gouda – be careful to buy the vegetarian version
- Ricotta
- Fontina
- Pecorino Romano – choose a vegetarian Italian hard cheese alternative
The Best Cheese to Use for Different Pizza Styles
Thin Crust
Deep Dish
Neapolitan
Sicilian
Overall, the best type of cheese for any
We suggest experimenting with different cheeses to find the perfect combination for your favorite
Baking Your Homemade Pizza
You can either cook your
A
How to Bake Pizza in an Ooni Pizza Oven
Ooni pizza ovens can reach very high temperatures and are our ovens of choice; if you’re not using an Ooni, then the timings may vary.
Timings also vary depending on the type of toppings.
If you are baking a pizza Margherita, Neapolitan pizza, or marinara pizza, you only need to bake it in the
Pizzas such as veggie pizza, tomato pizza, or spinach pizza will take slightly longer.
Use a pizza peel to turn your
When the
How to Bake Homemade Pizza in an Oven
Preheat your oven to 500°F/260°C, and if using, place your pizza stone in the oven.
If baking a pesto pizza, cheese pizza, or white pizza, you’ll only need to cook it for 8 – 10 minutes.
If you’re cooking an olive pizza, vegan pizza, or mushroom pizza, it may take longer.
Watch your
When the
And if you have leftovers, you can reheat pizza in an air fryer.
How to Achieve a Crispy Pizza Crust
The best way to achieve a crispier crust in a kitchen oven is by using a
If you don’t have a
It’s totally possible to cook pizzas using a flat baking sheet or cookie sheet, but you don’t get the best homemade
Tools and Equipment For Making Homemade Pizza
If you’re cooking a homemade
- Pizza dough scraper – really useful when making your
pizza dough and scraping up the sticky bits of dough. - Pizza oven – the best way to cook a
pizza – period. - Pizza stone – the next best way to cook a
pizza . - Pizza pan – the cost-effective way to cook
pizza . - Pizza peel – transfer our pizzas safely into the
pizza oven or onto thepizza stone. - Pizza cutter – slice up your
pizza evenly and easily.
Troubleshooting Pizza Problems
One common cause of sticky dough is using too much water in the recipe. Try reducing the amount of water you add to the dough and see if that helps.
Another cause of sticky dough is not kneading it enough. Be sure to knead the dough for at least 10-15 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
If you’re in a humid environment, the extra moisture in the air can make your dough sticky. Try reducing the water in your recipe or adding more flour to help compensate for the humidity.
One cause of burnt crust is cooking the
Another cause of burnt crust is leaving the
One cause of toppings sliding off the
Another cause of toppings sliding off the
So we’ve shown you how easy
There’s never a better time to make homemade
Try our
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