Patrick Oconnell
Mozzarella is the classic choice for a cheese pizza, but there are many other toppings you can add to enhance the flavor and texture. For example, you could add sliced Muenster, which is stretchy and flavorful, or shredded low-moisture whole-milk mozzarella, which gives your pizza crispy edges. If you're looking for something more interesting, try young pecorino, gorgonzola, or ricotta. These cheeses add dimension to your pizza without sacrificing meltability. To really elevate your cheese pizza, consider adding toppings like spicy sausage, hot peppers, mushrooms, bell peppers, black olives, onions, or arugula, slices of pear, and toasted walnuts.
Cheese Pizza Toppings
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Classic Cheese Choice | Mozzarella di Bufala or Buffalo Mozzarella |
| Vegan Cheese Options | Violife Mozzarella, Miyoko’s Creamery Vegan Pizza Mozzarella |
| Other Cheeses | Mature Cheddar, Gorgonzola, Parmigiano Reggiano, Parmesan, Provolone, Gouda |
| Meat Toppings | Pepperoni, Salami, Spicy Salami, Sausage, Bacon, Ham, Pancetta, Speck, Spicy Capicollo, BBQ Meatlovers |
| Vegetable Toppings | Basil, Spinach, Mushrooms, Artichoke, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Olives, Jalapenos, Onions, Red Onion, Potato, Scalloped Potatoes, Zucchini, Capsicum, Pineapple |
| Other Toppings | Tomato Sauce, Pizza Sauce, Bechamel Sauce, Olive Oil, Salt, Egg, Rosemary |
| Topping Placement | Toppings on top of cheese to avoid sogginess, unless using dry/low-moisture ingredients |
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What You'll Learn
Toppings that go well with cheese
When it comes to pizza, cheese is a fundamental component. The classic choice is mozzarella, which is produced with the milk of domestic Italian water buffalo and has a tangy, creamy flavour. It melts beautifully and goes well with most toppings. For a four-cheese pizza, you can pair it with mature cheddar, gorgonzola, and parmigiano reggiano. Cheddar adds a rich flavour dimension, while gorgonzola is a salty-sweet blue cheese that pairs well with toppings like mushrooms, spinach, and red onion. For a vegan option, try Violife Mozzarella or Miyoko's Creamery Vegan Pizza Mozzarella.
If you're feeling adventurous, you can experiment with different types of cheese on your pizza. Parmesan, for example, can be sprinkled directly on top of the sauce, while provolone can be added wherever you like. Feta is another option that pairs well with other toppings. For a Sicilian-style pizza, the cheese goes on the base first. This creates a crispy texture and deeper flavour.
When deciding whether to put toppings above or under the cheese layer, consider the moisture content of the toppings. Fatty meats like salami, pepperoni, and sausage, as well as high-moisture vegetables like spinach and mushrooms, need direct heat to crisp up and prevent a greasy pizza. Therefore, they should go on top of the cheese. On the other hand, vegetables with lower moisture content or thinly sliced lean meats, such as roasted vegetables, chicken, or copa ham, can go under the cheese.
Additionally, if you want to avoid mushy toppings, keep them on top of the cheese. Pineapple, for example, will turn to mush if placed under the cheese. Similarly, pepperoni placed under the cheese may become soggy. However, if you want to ensure your toppings cook through completely, it's a good idea to keep the cheese and sauce below the uppermost layer of toppings. This is especially important for raw meat or vegetables that need direct heat and browning.
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Toppings that require more heat
When it comes to crafting the perfect pizza, the type of toppings and their placement are crucial considerations. While the classic arrangement of crust, sauce, cheese, and then toppings is a tried-and-true method, there are times when certain toppings require more heat and attention. Here are some insights into toppings that typically need a little extra heat to reach their full potential:
Meat Toppings:
Raw meat toppings, such as pepperoni, salami, sausage, or chorizo, often require more heat and should be placed on top of the cheese. This placement allows the meat to cook thoroughly and achieve the desired crispness. The high heat of the oven renders the fat in these fatty meats, and having them on top ensures that the grease doesn't get trapped under the cheese, making for a less greasy slice.
Vegetable Toppings:
When it comes to vegetable toppings, it's essential to consider their moisture content. Moisture-rich vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, or onions are best placed on top of the cheese. This positioning allows the heat to evaporate the moisture, preventing a soggy pizza. However, if you're using delicate vegetables like spinach or fresh basil, it's best to add them in the final minutes of cooking or even after the pizza is fully cooked to prevent overcooking.
Cheese Placement:
The placement of cheese can also impact the heat distribution and cooking of your toppings. While most pizzas start with a layer of sauce and then cheese, some styles, like Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, reverse this order. In this case, a thick layer of cheese goes on top of the sauce, followed by toppings and then more cheese. However, this arrangement may not result in the crispy, crunchy texture that is characteristic of Neapolitan-style pizza.
To ensure that your toppings receive the right amount of heat, it's generally recommended to place them on top, especially if they need more cooking and browning. This way, they have direct contact with the heat source, and you can avoid the issue of toppings being trapped under a layer of cheese and not cooking thoroughly. Additionally, a light sprinkle of cheese on top, such as Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano, before baking can help hold the toppings in place and create a delicious flavour profile.
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Toppings that require less heat
When it comes to pizza toppings, there are endless possibilities. However, the placement of toppings in relation to the cheese is a crucial consideration. As a general rule, toppings that require more heat and browning, such as raw meat or vegetables, should be placed on top of the cheese to receive direct heat and become crisp. On the other hand, ingredients that may dry out or become mushy with excessive heat should be placed under the cheese.
For a cheese pizza, consider the following toppings that typically require less heat and can be placed under the cheese or used as a base layer:
Vegetables
Some vegetables with high moisture content, such as spinach and mushrooms, benefit from being placed under the cheese. This prevents them from drying out and allows their juices to infuse flavour into the cheese and sauce. Canned or cooked vegetables, such as roasted vegetables, can also be placed under the cheese.
Meats
Lean meats, such as chicken or copa ham, can be placed under the cheese. Pre-cooked meats, such as bacon or pancetta, may also be better suited for less direct heat.
Fruits
Fruits like pineapple should be placed under the cheese to prevent them from becoming mushy.
Herbs
Delicate herbs like basil or rosemary can be placed under the cheese to infuse their flavour into the other ingredients.
Cheese
When it comes to cheese, there are endless options to choose from. While mozzarella is a classic choice, you can also experiment with mature cheddar, gorgonzola, or even vegan alternatives. Placing a light scattering of cheese over the toppings can add structural integrity and hold everything together.
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Vegan cheese options
There are several options for vegan cheese to put on your pizza. You can make your own or buy it pre-made.
Making Your Own
You can make your own vegan cheese at home. One recipe involves blitzing raw cashews, sea salt, nutritional yeast, and garlic powder in a food processor until a fine meal is reached. This can then be sprinkled on top of your pizza.
Another recipe involves making a liquid mozzarella by combining simple ingredients. This is then poured on top of the pizza, and baking it will cause the cheese to coagulate into a solid form.
Buying Pre-Made
If you would rather buy pre-made vegan cheese, there are several options available. Miyoko's offers a cashew milk mozzarella that performs similarly to homemade cashew mozzarella in terms of melt and flavor. They also offer a liquid mozzarella that can be poured on top of the pizza. Follow Your Heart offers a mozzarella that has a good cheese pull and mouthfeel, although it does have a goopy and pasty texture.
Vegan mozzarella cheeses are generally made from soy, cashews, or macadamia nuts, vegetable oils, and a thickening agent. You can also buy pre-made pizza crusts and sauces at the grocery store if you don't want to make your own.
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Toppings order
When it comes to deciding the toppings order for your cheese pizza, there are a few things to consider. While you can arrange your pizza toppings in any order you like, the classic arrangement of crust, sauce, cheese, and then toppings is still the most popular. This is because toppings typically require the most cooking and direct heat, while sauce and cheese only need to be warmed through. As a result, placing the toppings on top ensures that every ingredient receives the right amount of heat.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if you're making a Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, you would reverse the order by layering sauce and cheese on top of the toppings. Additionally, certain toppings, such as pineapple or pepperoni, may become soggy if placed under the cheese. Therefore, these toppings should be placed on top of the cheese to allow them to cook and crisp properly.
On the other hand, if you have toppings that may dry out or burn easily, such as mushrooms, it's best to place them under the cheese. This will help protect them from the direct heat of the oven. Similarly, if you're using fatty meats like salami or sausage, it's best to place them on top of the cheese to prevent them from releasing their fat into the sauce and creating a greasy pizza.
When it comes to cheese placement, most people prefer to have at least some cheese on top of the other toppings. This helps to hold the toppings in place, adds flavour, and improves the overall appearance of the pizza. However, some people prefer to have all the cheese underneath the toppings, especially if they want to showcase the other toppings or prevent the cheese from overpowering the other flavours.
Ultimately, the order of toppings on your cheese pizza depends on your personal preference and the specific ingredients you're using. Experiment with different topping orders to find what works best for your taste and cooking setup.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many toppings that can go well with a cheese pizza. If you are using mozzarella, you could pair it with spicy sausage, hot peppers, mushrooms, bell peppers, black olives, or onions. For a more interesting cheese option, you could try young pecorino, gorgonzola, or ricotta.
If you are using mozzarella, it is recommended to shred the cheese yourself as pre-shredded cheese contains additives that can impact taste and meltability. For a New York-style pizza, it is recommended to use low-moisture mozzarella to avoid a soggy pie.
Yes, there are many other cheeses that can be used as a base for your pizza. Some options include provolone, havarti, cheddar, and parmesan.
There are many unique toppings that you can add to your cheese pizza. Some options include arugula, pear slices, walnuts, gorgonzola, honey, thyme, and chili.
