Wood-Fired Margherita Pizza: A Slice of Italy, Straight From Your Kitchen
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At Dude Food Fire, we’re all about bringing the magic of wood-fired cooking into your home, and this Wood-Fired Margherita Pizza recipe is no exception. Picture this: a crisp, blistered crust, ripe tomatoes, whole milk buffalo mozzarella, and the unmistakable aroma of woodfire. You might not have a woodfire pizza oven, but with our secret weapon, the Baking Steel, you can achieve the same results right in your trusty kitchen oven.
Margherita Pizza – Ingredients:
- 1 baseball-sized tomato, sliced
- 3 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
- A pinch of salt
- A pinch of pepper
- A pinch of Italian herb seasoning
- Prepared pizza crust
- ¼ cup of red sauce
- 8 ¼-inch slices of full-fat buffalo mozzarella
- 8 fresh basil leaves
- 4 teaspoons of extra-virgin olive oil (divided)
- 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons of shredded provolone
- Additional fresh basil leaves
Directions:
Step 1: Candied Tomatoes
- Begin by crafting the candied tomatoes. Heirloom tomatoes like Cherokee Purple work wonders for this recipe. You’ll want tomatoes that are meaty and not too watery.
- Slice these beauties into half-inch slices.
- Lay the tomato slices on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil over the tomato slices, followed by a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle a pinch of Italian herb spice over each tomato.
- Bake these tomato slices for 1 ½ hours at 300 degrees.
Step 2: Prepping the Pizza
- Place your pizza peel and sprinkle wheat flour or cornmeal under your prepared pizza crust. You can use a store-bought pizza crust for this recipe.
- Lay the pizza crust on the peel. Now, it’s time to start building your pizza masterpiece.
- Begin by spreading ¼ cup of red sauce on the crust, leaving about 1 inch from the edge.
- Layer the pizza with 8 ¼-inch slices of buffalo mozzarella.
- Add 8 fresh basil leaves, one on each slice of mozzarella.
- Drizzle 2 teaspoons of olive oil over the pizza and sprinkle freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Sprinkle a generous layer of shredded provolone over the top of the pizza.
- Now, it’s time for the star of the show – those beautifully candied tomato slices. Layer them on top of your pizza.
Step 3: Wood-Fired Magic (or Oven Wizardry)
- For the lucky ones with an 800-degree wood-fire pizza oven, you’re in for a treat. Cook your pizza for about 3 minutes, turning it near the fire to ensure even cooking.
- If you’re using your trusty kitchen oven, preheated to its maximum temperature, you’ll still achieve pizza perfection. Place it on a preheated Baking Steel or pizza stone.
- Bake until the crust is blistered and the cheese is bubbling and golden. This usually takes around 8-10 minutes.
- When your pizza emerges from its fiery journey, drizzle the remaining 2 teaspoons of olive oil over the outer crust for that extra burst of flavor.
- Add a final flourish with some fresh basil leaves. Then, cut and serve your Wood-Fired Margherita Pizza to the delight of your taste buds.
Conclusion: Elevate your pizza game with this Wood-Fired Margherita Pizza recipe. Whether you’re basking in the glow of a wood-fired oven or mastering the art of oven wizardry, this pizza is a true Italian classic. With the Baking Steel as your trusty sidekick, you can create that wood-fired magic right in your own kitchen. Buon appetito!
