Bushra Griffith
Homemade cheese pizza is a fun, simple, and delicious meal that can be made in no time. With a few basic ingredients, you can create a mouth-watering treat that rivals any pizzeria. The process is straightforward: prepare your dough, add sauce, sprinkle with cheese, and bake. It's a great activity to do with family, and you can experiment with different cheeses, sauces, and toppings to make it your own. So, get ready to roll up your sleeves, fire up the oven, and create a homemade cheese pizza that's perfect for any occasion.
How to make homemade cheese pizza
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Dough | Any store-bought dough or homemade dough |
| Dough preparation | Mix yeast, water, and sugar in a bowl. Stir to dissolve the yeast and let it "bloom" for 15 minutes. Stir in 1 cup flour, add salt, and then stir in another cup of flour. Knead the mixture until the dough is soft and elastic, but not sticky. |
| Pizza sauce | Homemade or store-bought. |
| Cheese | Mozzarella, Parmesan, Cheddar, Provolone, Goat Cheese, Burrata Cheese, Romano, or Pecorino Romano. |
| Baking temperature | 450°F to 550°F (232°C to 288°C). |
| Baking time | 6 to 15 minutes, depending on the oven temperature. |
| Baking instructions | Place the dough on a non-stick baking sheet. Spread the pizza sauce onto the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Sprinkle the cheese and other toppings. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese has melted with golden spots. |
| Cooling instructions | Let the pizza cool for a few minutes before slicing. |
| Storage | Store leftover pizza in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. To freeze, wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. |
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What You'll Learn
Making the dough
To make the dough, you will need yeast, water, sugar, flour, and salt. The water should be below 100°F (37.7°C) to dissolve the yeast. Stir the yeast and sugar into the water and let the yeast "'bloom"' for 15 minutes. Next, stir in one cup of flour and add salt, then stir in another cup of flour. The remaining cup of flour will be your "bench" flour, used for kneading and dusting the work surface.
Dump the mixture onto a kneading board and work in the last cup of flour, kneading until the dough is soft and elastic, but not sticky. You can also use a food processor for this step, blitzing for 40 seconds instead of kneading by hand. If you have the time, let the dough proof for a more authentic pizza base. This will take 5 to 6 hours and two dough-proofing sessions.
Once your dough is ready, you can roll it out on a lightly floured surface. Use your fingertips to press a ring around the edge to create the crust, then use your knuckles to stretch the dough into a circle, turning it slowly and letting gravity do the work. Aim for a 12-inch circle, but you can also make three pizza dough balls for three 15-inch pizzas or four pizza dough balls for four 12-inch pizzas.
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Choosing the cheese
The cheese is the most important part of a homemade cheese pizza. It is the star of the show, so choosing the right one is crucial.
Mozzarella is a classic choice for pizza, and for good reason. It has a great melting quality, and its mild flavour and creamy texture are hard to beat. However, fresh mozzarella contains a lot of moisture, which can make your pizza watery. Instead, opt for low-moisture mozzarella, which will give you that desirable splotchy cheesy look. You can also use a mix of whole milk and part-skim low-moisture mozzarella to get that perfect balance of flavours and textures.
If you want to elevate your pizza, a sprinkle of parmesan or pecorino romano adds a nice salty kick to the overall flavour. Parmesan is loaded with savoury flavour and saltiness, and pecorino romano has a salty funk that makes your pizza slice addictive.
For a truly indulgent pizza, you could also try adding cheddar, provolone, goat cheese, or burrata cheese. These cheeses will add a unique twist to your pizza and make it extra special.
Remember, the key to a great cheese pizza is not to overload it with cheese. You want a nice, even layer that will melt and brown perfectly. Grating your own cheese is also recommended, as store-bought pre-grated cheese often contains anti-caking agents that can prevent it from melting properly.
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Preparing the sauce
Ingredients:
First, gather your ingredients. For a basic pizza sauce, you will need tomatoes, which can be fresh or canned. You can also use tomato sauce or pureed tomatoes as a base. Additionally, you'll need some olive oil, garlic, salt, and any desired herbs or spices. Common herbs and spices used in pizza sauce include oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, and onion powder. If you want to enhance the savouriness of your sauce, consider adding a pinch of sugar.
Preparation:
Start by heating a saucepan over medium heat and adding a generous amount of olive oil. Finely chop or mince some garlic cloves and add them to the pan, being careful not to let them burn. Sauté the garlic until it becomes fragrant, then add your tomatoes or tomato sauce. If using fresh tomatoes, you may need to cook them down until they break down and form a sauce-like consistency. You can use a wooden spoon or spatula to break up the tomatoes as they cook.
Seasoning:
Now it's time to season your sauce. Add salt to taste, keeping in mind that you can always add more later. This step is also where you'll add your chosen herbs and spices. If using dried herbs, add them early in the cooking process to allow their flavours to infuse into the sauce. If using fresh herbs, it's best to add them towards the end of cooking to preserve their delicate flavours. Let your sauce simmer for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavours to meld together.
Blending:
For a smoother sauce, you can use an immersion blender or regular blender to puree the sauce until it reaches your desired consistency. Be careful when blending hot liquids, and always follow the safety instructions for your blending device.
Adjusting:
Finally, taste your sauce and make any necessary adjustments. If it's too acidic, you can add a bit of sugar or a pinch of baking soda. If it's too thick, thin it out with a bit of water or tomato puree. Remember, the sauce should be slightly thicker than you want on the pizza, as it will cook down and reduce further in the oven.
Once you've prepared your sauce, you can spread it onto your pizza dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. Then, it's time to add your cheese and any other desired toppings before baking your pizza to perfection!
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Baking the pizza
When you're ready to bake your pizza, prepare a pizza peel or pizza pan by dusting it with semolina flour. If you're using a pizza stone or steel, place it in the oven before preheating. Preheat your oven to at least 450°F (232°C) for 30 minutes. If you're comfortable with it, a higher temperature of up to 550°F (288°C) will yield even better results. If your pizza dough is cold, let it warm up to room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes.
Dust a clean work surface with all-purpose flour and form your pizza dough into a round shape that fits your pizza peel or pan. You can stretch the dough into a 12-inch circle by using your fingertips to press a ring around the edge, forming the crust, and then using your knuckles, hold the pizza up in the air, turning it slowly, and let gravity stretch the dough into a circle. Transfer the dough to a non-stick baking sheet or pizza pan.
Spread your pizza sauce onto the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. You can use homemade or store-bought pizza sauce. If you're in a pinch, you can even use spaghetti sauce. Next, sprinkle your cheeses over the sauce. You can use a mix of shredded mozzarella and parmesan, or get creative with other cheeses like cheddar, provolone, goat cheese, or burrata. Just be careful not to overload the pizza with too much cheese. You can also add other toppings like sliced zucchini, mushrooms, or turkey Italian sausage.
Finally, bake your pizza for 8 to 14 minutes, depending on your oven temperature, until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted with golden spots. If you're using a pizza stone, you may need to bake for a longer time, up to 20 minutes. Rotate the tray halfway through baking to ensure even cooking. Once done, remove the pizza from the oven, cut it into slices, and serve immediately while the cheese is still melty and oozy. Enjoy the fruits of your labour!
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Adding toppings
Once you've prepared your pizza dough and sauce, it's time to add your toppings. For a classic cheese pizza, you'll need two types of cheese. Mozzarella is a popular choice for its melting quality and golden colour. For the best melting results, grate the cheese yourself. You can also add parmesan, which is loaded with savoury flavour and saltiness. A mix of whole milk and part-skim low-moisture mozzarella can give your pizza a desirable splotchy cheesy look.
You can also add other toppings to complement the cheese. Some recipes suggest adding string cheese to the edge of the crust and folding the dough over it, sealing it with a fork and brushing with egg yolk to create a cheese-stuffed crust. You can also add herbs like chives, oregano, or garlic powder. If you want to add some meat, try adding turkey Italian sausage, or keep it vegetarian with mushrooms, zucchini, and prosciutto.
If you're feeling creative, you can experiment with different types of cheese. Cheddar, provolone, goat cheese, and burrata are all great options. Just remember not to overload your pizza with too much cheese, as it might slide off. You can also sprinkle on some pecorino Romano for a salty kick.
Finally, don't forget to preheat your oven to get it nice and hot before baking your pizza. This will help create a super crispy base. Enjoy your homemade cheese pizza!
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Frequently asked questions
You will need pizza dough, pizza sauce, and cheese. For a classic pizza, mozzarella is a good option, but you can also use other cheeses like parmesan or parmigiano-reggiano for extra flavor. If you want to make your own dough and sauce, you will need yeast, flour, water, sugar or maple syrup, and salt.
To make pizza dough, start by bringing your yeast, flour, and sweetener (sugar or maple syrup) to room temperature. Then, pour some lukewarm water into a large mixing bowl and add the yeast, stirring until it dissolves. Let the yeast "bloom" for 15 minutes, then stir in the flour and salt. Finally, knead the dough on a board until it is soft, elastic, and non-sticky.
Bake your pizza for 12-14 minutes at 450-500°F (232°C). If you are using a yeast-based pizza dough, you can bake at a higher temperature of 480°F (230°C fan) for 8 minutes.
You can use any pizza base you want, including classic homemade, no-yeast, or store-bought. However, for a thick pizza base, a smaller oven may not cook it evenly, so it is recommended to use a thin crust.
Fresh mozzarella has a lot of moisture, so using pre-shredded mozzarella or another type of cheese will help prevent your pizza from becoming watery.
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