Have you ever wondered how to make wood-fired pizza in a stone oven?Â
We make pizza from scratch quite regularly at home, so when we had the opportunity to road test a wood-fired pizza oven on a recent getaway, we were very excited.
Ingredients For Wood Fired Pizzas
- 3 cups of Flour strong
- 2 tsp yeast
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- dash oil
- extra water to form the dough consistency
- For Pizza Toppings, it’s your choice of tomato or BBQ sauce, cheese, cured meats, pineapple, herbs whatever floats your boat!
Food cooked in a wood fire adds so much extra flavor and is much more appealing.
How To Make Wood Fired Pizza
- I added 2 teaspoons of yeast and one teaspoon of sugar to half a glass of warm water.
- Set aside for 10 minutes or until the yeast has activated and is foamy.
- Put the flour and salt in a pile on the bench.
- Make a well in the middle.
- Add the yeast water and oil to the flour. Slowly add extra warm water as you mix with one hand and add with the other. You will need enough water to fully incorporate the flour.
- Once the flour is all incorporated knead it vigorously for five minutes.
- Rest the dough covered in a warm spot to rise. It should double in size.
- Once doubled kneed the dough again for 1 minute.
- Divide the dough into three balls and allow to proof again.
- Knock the dough down and roll into circles to fit the pizza pans.
- Spray the pans with olive oil and add the pizza base.
- Top the pizza with tomato paste and desired toppings.
How To Use A Wood Fired Pizza Oven
- Light a small fire in the center of the oven and wait for the small wood to catch.
- Place the pizza stone in the oven (if using a stone)
- Add larger wood to build the heat in the oven.
- When the flames are licking the sides of the oven and roof, your fire is large enough.
- Maintain the fire at this level for about one hour. This will heat the bricks giving a more even temperature throughout the oven.
- When you are ready to cook, push the fire toward the rear of the oven.
- Test the heat by sprinkling a small amount of flour on the area you intend to cook the pizza. If it burns within a few seconds, the area is too hot. Either chose another cooler spot or wait a little longer. If the flour takes about 10 seconds to turn golden, you can place the pizza in the oven.
- Slap the pizza paddle on the spot you wish to cook the pizza. This will remove any ash from the area.
- Place the pizza in the oven on the metal tray.
- Close the pizza oven door but keep checking the pizza.
- Once the toppings are melted, and the base is a little firm slide the pizza paddle under the pizza base, give the pizza a half turn so that the opposite side is facing the fire.
- Place the pizza back in the oven, this time directly on the pizza stone or floor of the pizza oven.
- Close the pizza oven door.
- Cook until the base is golden and the toppings look good.
- Our pizza only took about 5 minutes to cook, but this will vary depending on your oven and fire.
When we make pizzas I always make my own dough. At home, I have scales and measuring cups, but here I had nothing. Thankfully pizza dough is very simple to make “by feel”.
Wood Fired Pizza Recipes - How To Make The "Best" Pizzas in A Stone Oven
Ingredients
- 3 cups Flour
- 2 tsp yeast
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Olive oil
- extra water to form dough consistency
Instructions
- I added 2 teaspoons of yeast and one teaspoon of sugar to half a glass of warm water.
- Set aside for 10 minutes or until the yeast has activated and is foamy.
- Put the flour and salt in a pile on the bench.
- Make a well in the middle.
- Add the yeast water and oil to the the flour. Slowly add extra warm water as you mix with one hand and add with the other. You will need enough water to fully incorporate the flour.
- Once the flour is all incorporated knead it vigorously for five minutes.
- Rest the dough covered in a warm spot to rise. it should double in size.
- Once doubled kneed the dough again for 1 minute.
- Divide the dough into three balls and allow to proof again.
- Knock the dough down and roll into circles to fit the pizza pans.
- Spray the pans with olive oil and add the pizza base.
- Top the pizza with tomato paste and desired toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
I utilized the Kitchen garden to collect basil and chili for my pizza. My favorite pizza toppings always include fresh herbs. I also had a craving for feta, so I had pesto and mince pizza with basil and feta cheese.
The children enjoyed a slightly plainer Hawaiian Pizza with the addition of some Brie cheese.
Wood Fired Pizza Topping Ideas
There are so many combinations of toppings for wood-fired pizza that I’ll suggest just a few do that you get an idea.
-
- Pepperoni
- Bacon
- Ham
- Ground Beef
- Chicken
- Peppers
- Jalapeno
- Pineapple
- Oregano
- Anchovi
- Chorizo
- Brie
- Mozarella
- Feta
- Avocado
- Mushroom
SpinaProsciutto
- tto
- Shrimp/Prawns
Note: The Tray was just for serving.
Brett like some Italian meats on his pizza and he also loves chili so his was a very spicy homemade meat lovers pizza.
All the pizza’s were an overwhelming success. The wood-fired pizzas tasted so much better than an oven baked pizza.
The base was perfectly cooked with a crisp golden hue, and the flavor from the oven added to the taste.