Bushra Griffith
Quattro formaggi pizza, or four-cheese pizza, is a classic Italian dish that combines four distinct cheeses with a tomato sauce. The cheeses used vary but typically include mozzarella, gorgonzola, and parmesan, with the fourth cheese being a soft, creamy, or hard variety. The pizza is usually served on a Neapolitan-style crust, which is thin and crispy, and the tomato sauce is often a sweet and rich San Marzano variety. While some recipes include the tomato sauce, others suggest that it can be skipped, serving the pizza as a white pizza.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Pizza | Four Cheese Pizza, Quattro Formaggi Pizza |
| Number of Cheeses | 4 |
| Common Cheeses Used | Mozzarella, Parmesan, Gorgonzola, Goat Cheese, Fontina, Provolone, Cheddar |
| Sauce | Tomato Sauce |
| Base | Neapolitan-style, Crispy Crust |
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What You'll Learn
Four cheese pizza typically includes mozzarella
Four-cheese pizza, or Quattro Formaggi Pizza, is a classic Italian Neapolitan pizza that combines four distinct cheeses, usually including mozzarella. The pizza is made with a Neapolitan-style crust and other Italian cheeses, such as gorgonzola, parmesan, and fontina. The choice of cheeses is important, and they should be full-fat or semi-fat and vary in flavour and texture. Mozzarella is the most consistent cheese used in four-cheese pizzas, as it is the default cheese on most pizzas.
The pizza is typically made with a light and crispy crust, spread with a thin layer of tomato sauce, leaving a border to avoid a soggy pizza. The sauce is often made with sweet and rich San Marzano tomatoes, known for their low acidity. The cheeses are then sprinkled or dotted on top, with some recipes calling for the addition of olive oil before baking. The pizza is baked until the crust is lightly charred and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
While the four cheeses used in this pizza can vary, they typically include a blue or mature cheese, a soft cheese, a creamy cheese, and a hard cheese. Some common combinations include mozzarella, gorgonzola, parmesan, and goat cheese, or mozzarella, gorgonzola, parmesan, and fontina. The variety of cheeses provides a perfect balance of creaminess, tanginess, and saltiness.
Some recipes suggest using equal amounts of each cheese, while others recommend varying the amounts to create different flavour profiles. The pizza can also be made without tomato sauce, as a "white pizza". This style of pizza focuses on the cheeses and the quality of the dough, which should be prepared in advance to allow enough time to prove.
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Other cheeses include gorgonzola, parmesan, and fontina
Four-cheese pizzas, or Quattro Formaggi pizzas, typically have a tomato sauce base. However, they can also be served as white pizzas without the tomato sauce. The four cheeses are usually a combination of a blue or mature cheese, a soft cheese, a creamy cheese, and a hard cheese.
Gorgonzola, a veined Italian blue cheese, is a popular choice for four-cheese pizzas. It has a strong, sharp flavour and a natural tang that pairs well with other cheeses. Its ability to melt smoothly also makes it ideal for pizzas.
Fontina, a semi-soft cow's milk cheese from the Aosta Valley, is another option for four-cheese pizzas. It has a creamy flavour and a natural acidity that can complement the other cheeses. Fontina is also a good melting cheese, making it suitable for pizzas.
Parmesan, or Parmigiano Reggiano, is a hard, sharp-tasting Italian cheese that is commonly used on four-cheese pizzas. It has a rich, complex flavour that can enhance the overall taste of the pizza. Parmesan is often grated, allowing it to blend well with the other cheeses and provide a textural contrast.
These three cheeses, along with mozzarella, are commonly used in four-cheese pizzas, offering a range of flavours and textures that complement each other. While the specific cheeses may vary depending on region and availability, the combination of blue or mature cheese, soft cheese, creamy cheese, and hard cheese ensures a well-rounded and delicious Quattro Formaggi pizza.
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The sauce is made from San Marzano tomatoes
The four-cheese pizza, or Quattro Formaggi, is a classic for cheese lovers. The pizza typically consists of four cheeses, a pizza base, and tomato sauce. While the cheeses used may vary, the pizza dough recipe is usually the same across the board.
The San Marzano variety is also grown in the United States, and its seeds are widely available, allowing home gardeners to grow their own. However, only the tomatoes grown in the official region are given the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) label, which is a European Union regulation that defines where and how foods must be produced to carry the official designation. Due to their premium pricing, there is an ongoing battle against fraudulent products. To avoid being duped, look for the DOP label on the can, which indicates that the product contains genuine San Marzano tomatoes.
When making a four-cheese pizza, the dough is prepared and cut into two or four pieces, depending on the desired size. The dough is then rolled out and placed on a baking tray. The pizza base is then spread evenly with tomato sauce before being sprinkled with cheese. The pizza is then baked until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and golden.
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The dough is made from flour, water, yeast, and salt
Pizza dough is typically made by mixing flour with a small amount of water or other liquid, and sometimes includes yeast or other leavening agents, as well as ingredients such as fats or flavourings. The dough for a four-cheese pizza is no different.
Firstly, you will need to activate the yeast by combining warm water, sugar, and yeast. Give it a little stir and then let it sit for around 5 minutes. The water should be warm, not hot, otherwise, it will kill the yeast. Sugar is the yeast's food, so don't leave it out!
Next, in a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt with the yeast mixture. You can use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment to make this process easier. Keep mixing until the dough is smooth and elastic. Salt is important for flavour and structure but be sure not to add too much flour. Keep adding flour gradually until a soft dough is formed.
Now you need to let the dough rest for around 10 minutes. It will rise a little during this time. After the dough has rested, you can prepare it for shaping. If you are making a pizza, cut the dough in half to make two large pizzas with a thinner crust.
Finally, let the dough sit for another 10 minutes before putting it into the oven. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes. And that's it! You've made your pizza dough from scratch.
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The pizza is baked until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted
To make a four-cheese pizza, you'll need to prepare the pizza dough in advance. The dough typically needs around 3-4 hours to prove. For the dough, you'll need flour, fast-action yeast, salt, olive oil, and warm water. Once the dough has risen, divide it in half and shape it into two separate balls. You can then shape the dough with your hands or roll it out.
For the four-cheese topping, you'll need tomato sauce, mozzarella, gorgonzola, Parmigiano Reggiano, and goat cheese. However, you can choose whatever cheeses you like, as long as they are good melting cheeses. Other options include taleggio, stracchino, crescent, and parmesan.
Once you've shaped the dough and added your toppings, it's time to bake the pizza. Preheat your oven to a high temperature of between 400°F to 500°F. The baking time will depend on the thickness of your crust. For a thin crust, bake at 500°F (260°C) for 8-10 minutes. For a medium crust, roll out the dough to your desired thickness, around 1/4 inch thick, and bake at 475-500°F (245-260°C) for 10-15 minutes. If you're making a deep-dish pizza, press the dough into an oiled pan to form a 1-1.5-inch thick crust and bake at 400°F (205°C) for 20-30 minutes.
The pizza is baked until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbling. A properly baked pizza should have a golden-brown crust and evenly melted cheese when the recommended oven temperature and baking time are followed. The thickness of the crust will influence the baking time, with thinner crusts requiring higher temperatures and shorter baking times, and thicker crusts needing lower temperatures and longer baking times.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, 4 cheese pizza typically has tomato sauce. However, it can also be served as a white pizza without the tomato sauce.
The four cheeses used in a 4 cheese pizza are typically a combination of soft, creamy, hard, and blue or mature cheeses. Mozzarella is the most common cheese used, followed by Parmesan or another hard grating cheese. Other commonly used cheeses include fontina, gorgonzola, goat cheese, taleggio, stracchino, and crescenza.
A Neapolitan-style pizza dough is typically used for 4 cheese pizza, made with flour, water, yeast, and salt. This creates a thin and crispy crust that is slightly charred from cooking in a hot oven.
To make a 4 cheese pizza, start by preparing the pizza dough and letting it prove for several hours. Then, shape the dough, spread on a thin layer of tomato sauce, and sprinkle with the four cheeses. Bake the pizza until the crust is lightly charred and the cheese is melted.
4 cheese pizza, or quattro formaggi pizza, is believed to have originated in the Lazio region of Italy at the beginning of the 18th century. It is a classic Italian Neapolitan pizza that combines the rich and creamy flavors of four distinct cheeses.
