Easy Way to Make a Pizza: A Guide to the Best Ingredients, Recipes, and Techniques
When it comes to the ultimate convenience food, pizza is right at the top of the list. From delivery giants like Domino's Pizza and Pizza Hut to more artisanal local offerings, pizza has become an international favorite and can be customized in many ways. Making a pizza at home can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. The following guide will explain how to make a delicious pizza at home, including the best ingredients, recipes, and techniques.
Ingredients for Pizza
The foundation of any great pizza is the ingredients. When selecting what goes on a pizza, start with the dough. Pizzeria-style pizza dough can be purchased pre-made from most supermarkets and specialty stores. If wanting to make a dough from scratch, all-purpose flour, salt, yeast, and water are the classic ingredients. For store-bought and homemade dough, use a rolling pin or an electric pizza roller to shape it into a disc or rectangle, depending on the type of pizza desired.
Next, consider the pizza sauce. Store-bought pizza sauces can be simple to use, or a more complex and flavorful homemade sauce can be created. To make a homemade sauce, garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, and tomato paste can be cooked and then simmered in a saucepan - this classic approach will take some time.
Choosing the cheese and toppings can also be exciting. Cheeses like mozzarella, Monterey Jack, provolone, and Gouda all work great, as do toppings like mushrooms, peppers, onions, and sausage. If feeling creative, a blend of cheeses or different toppings can be used for an interesting flavor combination. Additional ingredients like olives, fresh basil, and garlic may need to be cooked ahead of time, depending on the recipe, but are a great way to elevate pizzas.
Pizza Recipes and Techniques
When cooking a pizza at home, it helps to have recipes and techniques to draw inspiration from. Homestyle pizzas, like those from traditional pizzerias, use a pizza stone to give the crust a crisp, toasty texture. The pizza stone needs to be preheated in a super hot oven, typically around 500 degrees F. The dough is then stretched out and placed on the stone before the other ingredients are added. It's important to be careful when transferring the pizza to the stone, since it is so hot.
For an unique and delicious experience, a deep-dish pizza can be made. Deep-dish pizzas are cooked in a deep pie dish coated in olive oil and then loaded up with sauce, cheese, and any desired toppings. It is also important to preheat the oven to a high temperature before baking. Deep-dish pizzas can take up to an hour to bake, so be sure to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't burn.
An effortless alternative to traditional pizza recipes is flatbread pizza. Using a pre-made flatbread, like naan or pita, will save time. Spread the sauce and toppings out, and then place the pizza in the oven to bake. Depending on the types of ingredients used, flatbread pizzas can bake in as little as 10 minutes.
Fast Food Pizza
As mentioned earlier, quick and easy delivery pizza can be found at national pizza chains, like Domino's and Pizza Hut. The large selection of menu items: from classic Margherita and pepperoni to veggie and barbecue chicken, have something for everyone. Additionally, many fast food establishments now offer vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free pizzas.
No matter what kind of pizza is desired, pre-made or homemade pizza dough, fresh ingredients, and creative recipes can all make for a satisfying pie. For those wanting a quick-fix, fast-food pizza is always a go-to. Whether making Pizza from scratch or ordering from a chain, pizza has solidified its rightful place in the international food scene.
