Patrick Oconnell
Cheese pizza is a classic dish that can be made in a variety of ways, from the traditional to the innovative. While some may enjoy the simplicity of a plain cheese pizza, others may prefer to add toppings to create new flavours and textures. The type of cheese used is an important consideration, with options like mozzarella, cheddar, provolone, and parmesan, each offering unique tastes and meltability. In addition to cheese, toppings can include herbs like basil, meats such as meatballs, vegetables, and sauces. With so many possibilities, cheese pizza provides a versatile base to experiment with different combinations of flavours and ingredients.
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What You'll Learn
Meatballs, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, Italian seasoning
Pizza is a delight, and a cheese pizza is a classic! But if you want to add some extra toppings, meatballs, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning can make for a delicious combination. Here is a recipe you can try:
Ingredients:
- Pizza dough
- Tomato sauce/pizza sauce
- Meatballs
- Fresh mozzarella
- Ricotta
- Parmesan
- Italian seasoning (oregano, basil, etc.)
Method:
- Prepare the pizza dough: Start by mixing warm water (around 90-100°C) with yeast and sugar. Let it sit until bubbles form. Then, add flour, olive oil, and salt. Mix until you have a sticky dough.
- Prepare the meatballs: Mix ground sausage, ground beef, panko, egg, parsley, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Form the mixture into meatballs.
- Preheat your oven to a high temperature, ideally around 400-550°F (205-285°C).
- Roll out the dough: Use your hands to stretch the dough into a circle or rectangle on a floured surface. Make sure it slides off the board easily.
- Spread the sauce: Cover the dough with your favourite tomato or pizza sauce.
- Add the meatballs: Slice the meatballs in half and place them on the sauce. You can scatter them evenly or place them in a pattern.
- Add the cheeses: Shredded mozzarella can be scattered over the meatballs. Then, add dollops of ricotta cheese. Finally, sprinkle Parmesan over the pizza.
- Season: You can add Italian seasoning, such as oregano, pepper, or basil, to taste.
- Bake: Place the pizza in the oven and bake for around 10-22 minutes. The baking time will depend on your oven and the desired crispness of the crust. Keep an eye on it after the 16-minute mark.
- Garnish and serve: Once the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted, remove the pizza from the oven. You can garnish with fresh basil and some extra Parmesan. Let it cool slightly, slice, and enjoy!
Feel free to adjust the quantities and cooking times to your taste and oven specifications. Enjoy your meatball, ricotta, and cheese pizza!
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Cooked beef, black olives, pico de gallo, avocado, sour cream, cilantro
There are many different toppings that can be added to a cheese pizza, including cooked beef, black olives, pico de gallo, avocado, sour cream, and cilantro. This combination of toppings creates a Mexican taco pizza with a unique and delicious flavour profile.
To make this pizza, start with a base of homemade or store-bought pizza dough. For the sauce, you can use a traditional tomato sauce or get creative with an enchilada bean sauce made from refried black beans, tomato sauce, garlic, chicken stock, and spices.
Next, layer on your toppings. Start with a generous amount of cooked ground beef, followed by your choice of cheese. You can use a Mexican blend, cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a combination of these. Add a layer of pico de gallo, a fresh blend of chopped onion, tomato, peppers, salt, and cilantro. Sprinkle on some sliced black olives and fresh cilantro leaves.
Before baking, you can add a dollop of sour cream and some sliced avocado. Bake the pizza at 400 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes. Allow it to cool slightly before serving. You can also add some shredded lettuce or guacamole on top just before serving for an extra touch of freshness.
Feel free to experiment with additional toppings and ingredients to make this pizza your own. Some suggestions include sliced jalapeno peppers, corn, refried beans, or even a sprinkle of taco seasoning. Enjoy your delicious and unique creation!
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Green peppers, Kalamata olives, feta, grape tomatoes, cilantro
Green peppers, Kalamata olives, feta, grape tomatoes, and cilantro are all delicious toppings for a cheese pizza. This combination of toppings creates a Greek pizza, which is a fresh and satisfying meal.
To make a Greek pizza, start with a soft and chewy pizza crust, either store-bought or homemade. The dough can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator. Then, add your tomato sauce. You can use a simple mixture of crushed tomatoes, olive oil, grated garlic, balsamic vinegar, and seasonings, or get creative with a roasted red pepper sauce.
Next, it's time to add the cheese. A blend of mozzarella and feta is a great option for Greek pizza. Mozzarella provides that classic, stretchy, gooey texture, while feta adds a creamy, salty, and tangy flavor. You can use fresh or low-moisture mozzarella, or a combination of both, for a textural contrast. Crumble the feta over the pizza to add a sharp, tangy flavor that is distinctively Greek.
Now, it's time to add the remaining toppings. Slice your green peppers and Kalamata olives and scatter them over the pizza. Kalamata olives offer a rich, fruity, and salty flavor, while green peppers add a fresh crunch. You can also add grape tomatoes, which can be baked on the pizza or added after it comes out of the oven. Finish the pizza with a sprinkle of cilantro for a unique flavor profile.
Bake your pizza until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted. Now you have a delicious Greek pizza with green peppers, Kalamata olives, feta, grape tomatoes, and cilantro!
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Fresh basil
However, if you are using a wood-fired oven at 400°C or above, you can add the basil before cooking, as the pizza will only be in the oven for around 60-90 seconds, and the basil will remain relatively fresh. In this case, you can add the basil at the same time as the cheese or towards the end of the cooking time to allow some of the flavours to infuse with the toppings.
If you are using a home oven, it is recommended to add the basil to your pizza after it comes out of the oven. You can tear or slice the basil leaves and scatter them on top of the pizza immediately before serving. This will result in a brighter, fresher-tasting basil with a better texture.
One tip is to put the fresh basil under the cheese and other toppings before baking if you want to add it before cooking. This will help prevent the basil from drying out, but it may still become soggy and shrivelled. Another option is to chiffonade the basil, which involves thinly slicing the basil leaves into delicate ribbons. However, these small pieces will oxidize and shrivel, whether added before or after baking.
Adding fresh basil to your cheese pizza is a great way to enhance its flavour and presentation, but it is important to consider the type of oven and cooking time to ensure the basil remains fresh and tasty.
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Cheddar, Manchego, Pecorino Romano
A blend of freshly grated mild white cheddar, Manchego, and Pecorino Romano is a great mix for a cheese pizza. The cheddar provides the desired stretchiness, the Manchego lends a rich flavour, and the Pecorino Romano adds a salty taste. This combination of cheeses can be paired with a variety of toppings to make a delicious pizza.
For the dough, start with warm water at about 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a thermometer to check the temperature; water that is too cold will slow down rising, and water that is too hot can kill the yeast. Next, add a little sugar to feed the yeast and speed up fermentation. Then, add flour, oil, and salt to the mixture. After mixing the dough ingredients, it might appear wet, but that is okay. This dough is a little more hydrated than other pizza doughs, but it will be easier to work with after resting. If you don't have time to make the pizza, you can cover the dough and store it in the refrigerator for the next day.
For the sauce, you can make a simple and tasty tomato sauce by combining crushed tomatoes, olive oil, grated garlic, balsamic vinegar, and seasonings. You can also try making an Italian cacio e pepe pizza, which uses Pecorino Romano cheese and coarse, freshly ground black pepper as toppings. If you want to add more ingredients, you can sauté onions in extra virgin olive oil until soft and golden, then add garlic. After spreading the sauce on the dough, sprinkle on the cheese, caramelized onions, garlic, and herbs like marjoram, thyme, or rosemary.
Once you've assembled your pizza, bake it in the oven until the dough is crisp and the toppings are lightly browned. The baking time will depend on your oven and the size of your pizza, but it usually takes around 15-20 minutes. After baking, you can brush the crust with olive oil and sprinkle basil leaves on top for added flavour and freshness.
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Frequently asked questions
Some good toppings to add to a cheese pizza include cooked beef, black olives, pico de gallo, avocado slices, sour cream, cilantro, meatballs, ricotta cheese, green peppers, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and grape tomatoes.
Some good cheeses to add to a cheese pizza include mozzarella, parmesan, cheddar, fontina, gouda, jack, muenster, provolone, swiss raclette, gorgonzola, havarti, and parmigiano-reggiano.
Some good herbs and seasonings to add to a cheese pizza include basil, oregano, garlic, and olive oil.
