Different types of pizza dough - igneus wood fired pizza ovens uk

A Guide to The Different Types of Pizza Dough and Pizza Styles

Pizza, boasting a rich and fascinating history, earns its place as one of the world’s most beloved foods. The dough plays a key role in contributing to the deliciousness of pizza. This article explores all the classics you can try in your Igneus pizza oven, whether your preference leans towards a thin crust with a satisfying crunch or a more doughy thick crust. It’s time to delve into the realm of different types of pizza dough!

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Neapolitan Style Dough

Originating from Naples, Italy, Neapolitan pizza dough is a classic Italian recipe with centuries of history. It is crafted using the basic elements of flour, water, yeast, and salt. The dough undergoes a traditional rising process of at least 24 hours, allowing the yeast to ferment and enhance the flavour. Artisans delicately stretch the dough thin and adorn it with fresh mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, and fragrant basil. The final step involves cooking it in a wood-fired oven at a high temperature, resulting in Neapolitan pizza’s distinctive features of a crispy crust, soft center, and slightly charred edges.

New York Style Dough

A relatively recent addition to the pizza landscape, New York-style pizza dough emerged in the early 1900s through Italian immigrants who settled in New York City. Crafted with high-gluten flour, water, yeast, salt, and sugar, the dough boasts a chewy texture and subtle sweetness. Typically rolled out thin, it undergoes cooking in a deck oven at a high temperature. The distinct characteristics of New York-style pizza include its large slices, crispy crust, and chewy texture.

Sicilian Pizza Dough

Originating in Sicily, Italy, Sicilian pizza dough is a thick and chewy mixture made with flour, water, yeast, salt, and olive oil. After allowing it to rise for at least an hour, the dough is pressed into a rectangular pan. Following this, it is generously topped with tomato sauce and cheese before being baked at a lower temperature than other pizzas. Sicilian pizza is renowned for its thick, airy crust and abundant toppings.

Chicago Deep Dish

Chicago deep dish pizza dough, a creation of Ike Sewell, the owner of Pizzeria Uno in Chicago during the 1940s, features a thick, buttery crust. Crafted with high-gluten flour, water, yeast, salt, and butter, the dough attains a rich, flaky texture. Pressed into a deep dish pan, it is then adorned with cheese, tomato sauce, and other ingredients before undergoing baking at a lower temperature compared to other pizzas. Chicago deep dish pizza distinguishes itself with its thick, crispy crust and deep layers of toppings.

St. Louis Style Pizza

Originating in St. Louis, Missouri, St. Louis Style Pizza stands out as a unique pizza style, recognized for its thin, crispy crust and distinctive use of Provel cheese, a white processed cheese crafted from cheddar, Swiss, and provolone. This pizza variation is cut into small squares or rectangles, earning it the title of ‘party pizza,’ ideal for easy sharing and enjoyment with friends and family.

California Style Pizza

California Style Pizza offers a modern reinterpretation of traditional pizza, incorporating fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients. Noteworthy for its thin crust, inventive toppings, and restrained use of sauce, this pizza style is often baked in a wood-fired oven, imparting a distinctive smoky flavour that sets California-style pizza apart as a culinary experience.

Detroit Style Pizza

Originating in Detroit, Michigan, Detroit Style Pizza boasts a thick, rectangular crust with a delightful contrast — crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The unique preparation involves placing the cheese directly on top of the crust, followed by the toppings, with the sauce added last. This sequence of assembly contributes to the creation of a unique flavour and texture in Detroit Style Pizza.

Greek Style Pizza

Greek Style Pizza, a traditional Greek dish, features a thick, chewy crust and an abundance of toppings. Typically adorned with tomato sauce, feta cheese, olives, and oregano, this pizza variety is often prepared in a brick oven, imparting a unique smoky flavour that elevates the taste profile of Greek-style pizza.

Grandma Style Pizza

Grandma Style Pizza, a classic Italian-style pizza, is distinguished by its thin, crispy crust and a minimalist approach to toppings. Typically featuring tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil, this pizza variety is commonly prepared in a rectangular tray within a brick oven.

48-Hour Fermented Pizza

48-Hour Fermented Pizza represents a unique pizza style crafted through a slow fermentation process. The dough undergoes an extended 48-hour rising period, resulting in a distinctive flavour and texture. Typically adorned with fresh, seasonal ingredients, this pizza is then cooked in a wood-fired oven, enhancing its overall culinary appeal.

100% Biga Pizza

100% Biga Pizza is a style of pizza made using a pre-fermented dough called “biga.” The percentage refers to the proportion of flour that goes into the pre-ferment. The dough is left to ferment for up to 24 hours before being used to make the pizza. This pizza is typically topped with fresh, high-quality ingredients and cooked in a wood-fired oven.

Carnotto Pizza

The Carnotto Pizza, a traditional Italian-style pizza, features a thick, chewy crust generously adorned with toppings. The term “Carnotto” or ‘dinghy’ specifically refers to the volume of air within the dough and its inflation during the cooking process. This pizza variety typically includes toppings such as tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese, and an assortment of meats like ham, salami, and pepperoni.

Sourdough Pizza

We’ve saved the most popular, on trend dough for last! Sourdough Pizza seems to be on every menu in just about every restaurant these days, and for good reason, it’s delicious! It’s a style of pizza that is made using a sourdough starter instead of commercial yeast. Because of this, it can take a lot more time and effort to achieve the perfect dough, but trust us, the results are well worth it! Sourdough has a light and chewy texture and an almost tangy flavour. Sourdough pizza is typically topped with fresh, seasonal ingredients and cooked in a wood-fired oven. We sell a box of frozen Igneus Sourdough Balls which are available to buy here.

Gluten-Free Pizza

Gluten-Free Pizza, designed for individuals with gluten intolerance or celiac disease, is crafted without wheat flour. Instead, alternative flours such as rice flour or almond flour are used for the crust, which is then topped with tomato sauce, gluten-free cheese, and various toppings. Similar to traditional pizza, gluten-free pizza can be cooked in a wood-fired oven, leveraging the high temperatures to burn away any residual gluten left behind from standard dough.

We hope this offers you plenty of inspiration for various pizza doughs and styles to cook in your Igneus Pizza Oven! If you don’t have a pizza oven yet, why wait?

We know it can be hard choosing a pizza oven, our team can help you choose the right one for your needs. You can get in touch by calling us on 01423 575885

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