Caprese
First made in New Zealand, this Caprese pizza is a yummy meat pizza worth making at home.
Made with care, this pizza style has a great taste, coupled with a pure scent.
Best made with perfect toppings and add them to a fantastic crust for your family and friends to enjoy a gratifying homemade pizza meal.
If you enjoy Meat pizzas with Olive Oil sauce then you’re in luck.
Experimenting with different pizza toppings is a great way to discover new flavors and expand your palate! One reason to try different toppings is that it allows you to explore a wide range of flavor combinations. For example, you might not think to pair figs with gorgonzola cheese, but it can make for a delicious and unexpected pizza topping.
Another reason is that it can be a fun and creative way to get more variety in your meals. Instead of getting stuck in a pizza-topping rut, trying new combinations can make mealtime more exciting.
Also, experimenting with different toppings can also be a way to make your pizza more nutritious and balanced, by adding more vegetables, lean proteins, and healthier fats. So, next time you order a pizza or make one at home, why not step out of your comfort zone and try something new? You might just discover a new favorite pizza topping!
Pizza in New Zealand
Naples-style pizza is very popular throughout New Zealand, with a crunchy, crispy crust with a selection of toppings that are local from New Zealand, as well as imported Aged Cheeses and Meats.
Take a look at some of the other pizzas from New Zealand here.
| Origin | New Zealand |
| Type | Meat |
| Sauce | Olive Oil |
Caprese Pizza Recipe
There is a recipe below for you to make a Caprese Pizza whether it be in your wood fired pizza oven or your kitchen oven.
| Dough | 2 hours |
| Assembly | 10 minutes |
| Baking | 12-20 minutes |
Caprese Pizza Ingredients
Ensure you have enough pizza toppings for the amount of pizzas you plan to make. The dough and sauce amounts below are for 3-4 medium sized pizzas, so scale up or down, based on your requirements.
Simple Pizza dough
- 7 grams (2 tsps) dried yeast
- 250 ml (1 cup) lukewarm water
- 400 g (2 2/3 cups) plain flour, plus extra to dust
- 2 teaspoons table salt
- 1/4 cup (3 tbsp) extra virgin olive oil
Caprese Pizza Toppings
Toppings used in this pizza recipe, are;
- Ham
- Fontina Cheese
- Garlic
- Sage Leaves
Olive Oil & Garlic Pizza Sauce
- 1 large clove Garlic
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp oregano, dried
- Sea salt (coarse) to taste
Want to try a different sauce? See our article on the different types of pizza sauces.
TIP
You can click on any of the tags at the bottom of this page, to find other pizzas besides Caprese Pizza, that use that topping.
Pizza Dough Method
You can either make your own pizza dough following the simple steps below, or you can purchase a premade base at your local store.
- Whisk yeast and lukewarm water in a jug. Stand for around five minutes.
- Add the salt and flour in a large bowl. Create a hollow centre in the flour. Slowly pour the liquid yeast mixture and oil.
- Using your hands or spatula, gently combine the flour mixture until smooth. Then turn out dough onto lightly floured surface and hand knead for roughly five minutes.
- Place the dough mixture in to an oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Leave in a warm place until the dough has at least risen to double in size.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Hand knead gently for five minutes until reasonably smooth.
- Sprinkle some flour on work surface before rolling out dough to prevent any sticking.
- Divide dough mix into equal amounts, now roll out the bases to the desired size.
TIP: We have other dough recipes if you would like to try your hand at sourdough, poolish or more.
Olive Oil Method
You can make this delicious pizza sauce following the simple steps below, or you can purchase a pizza sauce at your local store.
- Press or finely chop the garlic into a small bowl.
- Add the olive oil, oregano, and coarse salt.
- Stir ingredients well together.
- Apply to pizza bases.
- May add pepper or chilli flakes.
You can make the sauce the day before and refrigerate to save time.
Preparing Caprese Pizza
Preheat your oven to at least 450 degrees for 30 minutes or longer.
Spread out pizza dough on floured surface.
If you have a pizza peel, you can create your pizza on it (after flouring).
Start by spreading the sauce all over the base. This pizza uses Olive Oil. Spread the Olive Oil Thinly yet evenly, leaving a margin for the crust.
Add the largest toppings first – typically meat or seafood, then the smaller toppings.
Add cheese last, and sprinkle it all over to help keep the toppings in place when it melts.
This pizza has the following toppings:
- Ham
- Fontina Cheese
- Garlic
- Sage Leaves
Whilst this pizza is perfect on its own, or why not try it with other pizza types?
Baking time
Put the Caprese pizza in the middle of your oven (on a stone if you have one) and set timer for 10 minutes.
In 10 minutes, open oven door and check.
The pizza should take roughly 15 minutes to cook, adjust time to cook to personal taste.
About Garlic
Garlic is a plant from the onion family, and is related to leeks, onions and shallots. Garlic grows in many parts of the world and is a popular ingredient in cooking, due to its strong smell and delicious taste.
Many different ancient civilisations embraced Garlic for its for health and medicinal purposes, including the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks and Romans. More than 10 million tons of garlic are consumed every year around the world. Each segment of a garlic bulb is called a clove. There are roughly 10–20 cloves per bulb.
Pizza Tools
When making Caprese Pizza, I always recommend that you use what you have available, without spending lots of money. My basic pizza tool list is…
Dough Containers
Having quality, air tight dough storage containers is a must.
Glass Measuring Jug
A good quality, heavy glass measuring jug with clear marking for various measures to me is a must. I hate taking chances with portions, so it’s an important tool for me.
Dough Proofing Box
If you make a lot of dough through the year, you’ll find owning a pizza dough proofing box very useful.
Fontina Cheese
Fontina cheese is an Italian cheese that has been produced for centuries in the Val d’Aosta region of Italy. It is an unpasteurized cow’s milk cheese with a mild, nutty flavor and a semi-soft texture.
The cheese is commonly used as a pizza topping, where it pairs well with other ingredients such as mushrooms, onions, peppers and olives. Adding fontina on top of your favorite pizza can turn it into something special. The nuttiness of the cheese will bring out the flavors of vegetables or meats you include on your pizza and add richness to each bite.
Pizza Storage
What to do with leftovers?
Leftovers after the meal? Here are some tips.
There are many ways to reheat pizza. We cover seven of them in this article.
Can you freeze pizza?
You can freeze pizza for up to three months, however I’d suggest consuming it within the first few weeks, ideally.
Chill in the fridge
You can keep pizza in plastic wrap or a container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Pizza making FAQ
Planning to make fantastic pizzas at home? Here are some expert answers to some of the most common pizza making questions.
Why isn’t my pizza crust cooking all the way through?
Either you didn’t cook your pizza long enough, or the oven wasn’t hot enough. You should always let your oven preheat for at least 30 minutes before you bake the pizza. Then watch your pizza crust turn golden around the edges and evenly browned on the bottom before removing.
What temperature should I use for baking pizza?
If you’re using a baking pan or pizza pan, preheat your oven pretty much as high as it can go. I’m talking about 500°F (260°C) or higher. If you’re using a pizza stone, don’t forget to preheat that as well. Always let it heat up for at least 30 minutes, before adding your first pizzas.
How long does it take to digest pizza?
It typically takes around 6-8 hours for pizza to digest in your stomach. The higher the fat content, the longer food takes to digest. Pizza has carbs in the sauce, crust and vegetable toppings, plus high fat and protein in any meat and cheese.
Have you made Caprese Pizza?
Caprese Pizza , good or bad Tag us on our Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter and let us know what you thought of it! I’d love to know.
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