Wood-Fired Pizza Ovens
Popular in Italy for centuries, Neapolitan-style pizza has only recently reached these shores and has made a big splash. These tender, personal-size pies, baked for as little as 75 seconds, have become new favorites from coast to coast.
Keep reading to learn why a Neapolitan pizza stands out among traditional American pizzas and how you can create your own using a pizza oven from Forno Bravo DC.
Only “00” flour, grown and milled specifically for pizza, is used in the crust. To be authentic, the dough should contain only flour, water, salt, and yeast or starter. No oil, sugar, or seasonings are ever found in real Neapolitan pizza dough.
Sauce and toppings are applied sparingly, unlike on a typical American pizza. The star of a Neapolitan pie is the tender, slightly chewy, and flavorful crust, and it should never have to compete with puddles of sauce and mounds of cheese or meat. The cheese used should be fresh cow- or buffalo-milk mozzarella, and the sauce must be very simple (pureed tomatoes, and maybe a pinch of salt or sugar). Fresh basil, olive oil, and salt are often used as well.
Neapolitan pizza is cooked at a very high temperature. Forno Bravo wood-fired ovens easily hit and hold the blast-furnace temperatures needed to do this properly, up to 950° F. It’s amazing to see the crust start to puff up within only seconds, and the pizza is normally ready in less than two minutes.
This type of pizza is never crunchy! The crust on a Neapolitan pie is intended to be soft, not crisp. It might be blistered in spots, but still remains supple. It may even be a little wet in the middle from the moisture in the sauce and cheese.
A Margherita pizza features a simple yet delicious combination of tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese, and fragrant basil leaves. This trio of ingredients creates a perfectly balanced and flavorful pizza that embodies the essence of traditional Italian cuisine.
A Marinara pizza is a simple and flavorful classic that highlights a tomato-based sauce infused with garlic, oregano, and fresh basil. Unlike other pizzas, it contains no cheese, allowing the bold and aromatic flavors of the sauce and herbs to shine through on a crisp crust. This approach delivers a traditional Italian pizza experience that is light, satisfying, and easy to make in your backyard pizza oven!
A Filetti pizza is a delightful variation that skips the traditional tomato sauce and instead focuses on a combination of fresh ingredients. It features melted mozzarella cheese, sweet cherry tomatoes, and a hint of garlic. The result is a light yet flavorful pizza, where the juicy tomatoes and garlic complement the creamy cheese, offering a fresh and savory taste with every bite.
Ready to craft authentic Neapolitan pizza in your backyard? Contact us today to discover how a Forno Bravo wood-fired oven can transform your pizza-making experience! Forno Bravo DC offers wood and gas-fired pizza ovens in various sizes and styles, perfect for any need. As your local Forno Bravo dealer in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC, we’re here to help you start your pizza adventure. Reach out now and let’s get cooking!