You don’t have to grow up in Northern Italy to become passionate about pizza. As long as you’ve tasted authentic Napoli pizza that has been cooked to perfection, you’re always going to look for nothing less. Now, if you’ve ever eaten real wood-fired pizza, then you will understand that it is a world away from what you can buy in fast food restaurants.
Why Wood Fired Pizza Tastes Better
Why does wood-fired pizza taste incredibly better than other pizzas? Well, it comes down to the high heat used, and that smoky flavour which is given off by the wood. Dating back to Roman times, wood-fired ovens gave the advantage of even distribution of heat. The hot currents inside the oven along with the hot bricks on the base ensure to cook the pizza evenly. What’s more, the high heat helps to produce blistered, light crusts while retaining most of the nutrients of the toppings.
Of course, you wouldn’t be able to achieve that delectable taste without the right dough recipe. It may take more effort to bake an authentic pizza. However, you won’t be disappointed with the resulting crisp and bubbled dough. Combine that with some delicious toppings, and you have the perfect, mouth-watering pizza to share with family and friends (or even just keep for yourself). Here are some of the best wood-fired pizza recipes we recommend:
Margherita Pizza
There is a good reason why Time Magazine named Margherita pizza as one of the most influential pizzas of all time. Legend has it that when Queen Margherita of Italy visited Naples in 1889, she wanted to try the famous Neapolitan flatbread. Of the three varieties she ate, she loved the one that was named after her the most—a Margherita pizza with toppings that represented the colours of the Italian flag. It had white mozzarella, red tomatoes, and green basil. We may never know if the origin of this pizza is made-up or true. However, we can all agree that it sets the bar for an incredible pizza.
You will be surprised to find how easy it is to make homemade pizza dough for your wood-fired oven. Most of the time, you’ll only be using four ingredients. So, it’s almost impossible for you to mess it up. What’s excellent about Margherita pizza is that it only requires a few toppings as well. This pizza recipe from Today.com is easy to follow, and it takes just two minutes to cook.
Breakfast Pizza
Unfortunately, a lot of Australians struggle with breakfast. Some even forget to eat at all, which can cause micro and macronutrient deficiency. This is also the reason why many do not feel energised in the morning. According to the Mayo Clinic, the essential breakfast components include whole grains, lean proteins, vitamins, low sugar content, and minerals. The good news is, you can have all of these in pizza. It may seem counterintuitive to consider pizza as a healthy option. However, with the right set of ingredients, you can still create a nutritious meal.
It will be easy for you to add this delicious dish to your collection of wood-fired oven recipes. As always, we recommend that you make your own dough. After all, doing so will allow you to control the grain content of your ingredients. Generally, like most types of pizza, this recipe is built on a base of tomato sauce, mozzarella, and red peppers. You can give it a breakfast twist by adding eggs and crispy bacon. Check out Patio and Pizza’s recipe to learn more.
Classic Neapolitan Pizza
If you’ve already tried to attempt a few pizza recipes in a wood-fired oven, then you will understand how rewarding it feels to smell the dough cooking. The feeling is even more satisfying when you make a classic Neapolitan pizza. It’s pure heaven when you notice those lovely charred ‘leopard’ spots appearing all over your perfectly puffed pizza crust. When it comes to this type of pizza, simplicity and quality of ingredients is critical. So, make sure you use premium olive oil, authentic San Marzano tinned plum tomatoes, freshly picked basil leaves, and fresh fior di latte cheese. This recipe from Fig and Olive Platter is a good starting point.
You Can Now Create Wood Fired Pizza in Your Own Backyard
You don’t have to build a brick oven in your backyard just so you can enjoy the recipes that we’ve shared. With the Ooni Pro, you can conveniently create epic meals outdoors. What’s great about this oven is that it can reach temperatures of up to 500°C. You can even adjust the heat using its dual airflow control feature. Aside from that, you can choose to use various sources of fuel. If you’re tired of chopping wood, you can connect it to a gas source. With the Ooni Pro, you can achieve the exceptional taste you want for your pizza, time and time again.
If you’re interested in the Ooni Pro or would like to discover more recipes, contact Alfresco Creations right away!
