Mozzarella Magic: The Best Cheese For White Pizza

White pizza, also known as pizza bianca, is a pizza made without tomato or marinara sauce. It is typically topped with white cheeses such as ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, and pecorino. The dough is usually brushed with an olive oil and garlic mixture before baking, and some recipes also include crushed red pepper flakes, oregano, or rosemary.

Mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan

Mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan are a popular combination of cheeses used in white pizzas. White pizza, also known as pizza bianca, is a pizza made without marinara or tomato sauce.

To make a white pizza with these three cheeses, you'll need to prepare the pizza dough and prebake it in the oven for about 5 minutes. You can either make the dough yourself or buy it from a store.

For the cheese topping, you'll need to mix ricotta with salt, pepper, and herbs, and spread this mixture thinly across the prebaked pizza dough. Then, layer with thin slices of fresh mozzarella and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Bake the pizza in the oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

You can also add other ingredients to enhance the flavor, such as garlic, olive oil, crushed red pepper flakes, and fresh or dried herbs like rosemary or oregano.

• Use block mozzarella instead of fresh mozzarella, as it has less water content and works better with the other ingredients.
• The cut of each cheese matters. Tear mozzarella into cubes to create chewy shreds, and use a box grater for parmesan to prevent it from toughening.
• Be careful not to use too much ricotta, as it can overwhelm the other flavors and cause the dough to sag.
• If you like a crispier pizza crust, prebake the crust for about 5 minutes before adding the toppings.
• For a more sophisticated flavor, brush the crust with an herb and garlic-infused olive oil before adding the cheeses.

Olive oil and garlic

White pizza, or pizza bianca, is a pizza made without the traditional red tomato or marinara sauce. Instead, it is usually topped with white cheese and other ingredients such as olive oil and garlic.

The Base

Olive oil is a great alternative to tomato sauce on pizza. It adds flavour, helps the crust brown, and works well with a variety of toppings. Extra virgin olive oil is recommended for the best flavour. The higher the quality, the better it will taste.

Garlic is a crucial ingredient in white pizza. You can use fresh garlic cloves or garlic powder. Fresh garlic is recommended for the best flavour, but if you are short on time, jarred garlic will also work. For a more subtle garlic flavour, you can make a garlic confit by warming the oil in a pot over low heat, adding the garlic paste and shallots, and letting it simmer for five minutes.

To make a simple olive oil and garlic sauce for your pizza, you will need:

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Garlic
• Shallots
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Fresh rosemary (optional)

Finely mince the garlic, shallots, and rosemary. You can do this by hand or use a food processor. Combine the ingredients in a bowl and whisk well. You can make this sauce up to 24 hours in advance to allow the flavours to infuse the oil.

The Cheese

For an authentic New York-style white pizza, ricotta and mozzarella are the standard cheeses used. You can sprinkle either Pecorino Romano or parmesan on top for extra flavour. It is recommended to use block mozzarella, as fresh mozzarella contains too much water and will not cook properly in a home oven.

Toppings

White pizza is very versatile when it comes to toppings. You can add fresh or canned vegetables, meat, or spices. Here are some ideas:

• Fresh basil
• Spinach
• Red onions
• Sun-dried tomatoes
• Mushrooms
• Zucchini
• Artichoke hearts
• Italian sausage
• Bacon
• Chicken
• Red pepper flakes
• Oregano
• Thyme
• Parsley
• Arugula tossed in lemon juice, salt, and pepper

Putting It All Together

Prebake your pizza dough at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for five minutes. Remove from the oven and brush with your olive oil and garlic sauce. Mix ricotta with salt, pepper, and herbs and spread the mixture onto the pizza. Layer with thin slices of mozzarella and sprinkle with Pecorino Romano.

Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with additional Pecorino Romano and red pepper flakes, if desired.

Enjoy your delicious, cheesy, garlicky white pizza!

Dough

The dough for a white pizza is the same as for a regular pizza. You can buy store-bought dough or make it yourself.

Making the Dough

To make the dough, combine the yeast, warm water, and sugar in a food processor and pulse once. After 5-10 minutes, add the olive oil and pulse to combine. In a separate bowl, mix the flour and salt, then add this to the food processor and pulse until the dough pulls away from the side and gathers around the blade.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form into two even balls. Transfer to lightly oiled bowls, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 2-4 hours.

Preparing the Dough

When you're ready to make your pizza, remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it warm up for 2-4 hours, depending on the season.

Lightly flour a piece of parchment paper and flatten the pizza dough into a large circle, about 14” in diameter.

Pre-Baking the Dough

If you like a crispier pizza crust, you can pre-bake the dough before adding the toppings. To do this, stretch the dough to your desired size and pre-bake in the oven at 425°F for 5 minutes.

Shaping the Dough

To shape the dough, start by pressing down the center and forming a rim with your fingers. Be careful not to deform the crust or degas the rim. Leave more dough in the center and rotate the dough a couple of times to make it larger.

Once the pizza is about 8-9 inches, bring it into your knuckles to stretch it to the final size of 15 inches. Gently stretch the dough by pulling with your knuckles and rotating.

Transferring the Dough

After shaping the dough, transfer it to a wooden pizza peel or inverted baking sheet. Sprinkle the peel with semolina flour or cornmeal to create a barrier between the peel and the dough, which will help the pizza slide off easily.

Baking the Pizza

When you're ready to bake the pizza, place a pizza stone or large baking sheet on the lowest rack of the oven and preheat to 500°F.

Stretch the dough onto the hot stone or baking sheet and bake until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling, about 7-10 minutes.

Storing the Dough

You can make the dough ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze it for up to 2 months. Just be sure to bring it to room temperature before using.

Fresh herbs

Some popular herbs used on pizza include:

• Basil: One of the most popular herbs used on pizza, basil is often found on classic pizzas like Margherita. It has a fresh, vibrant flavour that complements other ingredients and toppings.
• Oregano: This herb adds a rich flavour and smell to pizza. It enhances the taste of tomato sauce and traditional pizza flavours with its earthy, warm and peppery tones.
• Parsley: Parsley has a strong flavour and smell and can be finely chopped or used in large sprigs as a garnish.
• Thyme: Thyme is often used in Mediterranean-style dishes and can be used individually or with mild or sweet toppings. It has a unique flavour and enhances the taste of tomatoes and onions.
• Rosemary: This herb has a savory, woody flavour and a fragrant aroma and taste. It is often paired with thyme, basil and oregano for a deep, complex pizza flavour.
• Dill: Use fresh or dried dill on your pizza for a unique flavour combination. Many pizza enthusiasts enjoy fresh dill for its robust and aromatic flavour.

Other herbs that can be used on white pizza include chives, coriander, and fennel.

Red pepper flakes

White pizza, also known as pizza bianca, is a pizza made without marinara sauce. It is typically made with ricotta and mozzarella, with either Pecorino Romano or parmesan sprinkled on top. It is drizzled with olive oil and often includes garlic in some form.

To make a white pizza, first pre-bake the pizza dough at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Then, remove it from the oven and brush with olive oil and minced garlic. Mix together ricotta, salt, pepper, and herbs and spread the mixture into a thin layer across the pizza. Layer with thin slices of fresh mozzarella and a sprinkle of pecorino cheese. Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Once removed from the oven, sprinkle with remaining pecorino and red pepper flakes, if desired.

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