What makes a truly authentic pizza? A dough base, sure. Cheese (lots of it) and tomato sauce to hold all of the delicious toppings like minced vegetables, anchovies, pepperoni, and even shrimp. Mmm, isn’t your mouth already watering just thinking about these ingredients?
But when it comes to truly authentic Italian pizza, we’ve got to go deeper than the surface. It takes five main levels to distinguish this delightful pie: the base, the sauce, the cheese, the toppings, and the chef!
The Base
Contrary to popular belief, authentic Italian pizza is not as thick and doughy as the pizzas we get in the corner store. The dough is much thinner and crispier. The key to making a delicious Italian pizza is in the dough. It must be made with a special Italian pizza flour, the finest and most refined variety available.
Going even further, one must ensure the proportions of yeast and salt to flour are accurate. Then, the dough should be rolled out and left to rest for at least 10 hours. After that, it should be stretched and cooked in a wood-stocked oven for 3 ½ minutes! This will give the pizza a distinct flavor and blisters characteristic of Italian pizzas.
Once you have the dough down, the rest is easy. Just add your favorite toppings and bake.
The Sauce
A special fresh tomato sauce is the base for truly authentic Italian pizzas. Note that the sauce is not cooked and is made with peeled Italian tomatoes, preferably with San Marzano peeled tomatoes. The sauce is blanched with salt, fresh basil, and extra virgin olive oil to get an original taste. There is no room for modifications here; if you cannot get it right the first time, you may have to start from scratch.
The Cheese
Italian pizza is not authentic without fresh fior di latte or buffalo cheese. It’s a kind of dairy product with a distinct texture that pairs well with the crispy crust of the pizza. It is important to use high-quality cheese when making this dish, as low-grade cheese can ruin the taste and harm your health.
The Toppings
After the dough is flattened, it is time to add the toppings. The toppings on an Italian pizza are usually simple, just fresh basil leaves, red tomato sauce, and white Mozzarella di Bufala cheese. However, you can also add oregano and fresh olive oil for a hint of spice.
If you’re feeling more experimental, there are loads of other textures and flavors you can try, such as
- Prosciutto San Daniele.
- Provolone, artichokes.
- Italian sausage.
- Salami.
- Black olives.
- Anchovies.
- Fresh basil.
You can also use
- Fresh tomatoes.
- Onions.
- Red peppers.
- Zucchini.
- Mushrooms.
- Eggplant.
- Ham.
- Capers.
- Shaved parmesan.
- Gorgonzola cheese.
- Tuna.
- Smoked bacon.
When it comes to pizza toppings, the possibilities are endless!
The Chef
The chef’s hands are the most important level of creating an authentic Italian pizza. They use their art, experience, and expertise to create a culinary masterpiece. While it is better if they are native Italians, any chef who has studied traditional Italian cuisine will do so!
The Conclusion
Now that you know how to make an authentic Italian pizza, you can create your recipe! Just remember these five levels, and you’ll be good to go!
Or, Order From The Sub-Way & Pizza
We have an online ordering page for those who don’t want to cook, or you can book a table, and we will serve you authentic Italian pizza in Framingham! Visit the link above to get started!