Napoletana
First created in Italy, this Napoletana pizza is a yummy pizza that’s easy to make.
Made well, this type of pizza gives a great taste, matched with a imaginative aroma to enjoy.
Spend the time to find high quality ingredients and add them to the perfect crust for your family and friends to enjoy a gratifying pizza meal together.
If you enjoy a tasty pizzas with a Tomato pizza sauce then you are in luck with this one.
Pizza is a delicious and versatile food that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick lunch, a casual dinner with friends, or a celebration, pizza is always a great choice.
Not only is it tasty, but it’s also a convenient option that can be customized to your preferences.
With a variety of toppings to choose from, you can make a pizza that’s tailored to your specific tastes. Plus, it’s a great way to get in your daily dose of carbs and protein. So why not treat yourself to a pizza today and experience the joy of all that gooey cheese and savory toppings!
Pizza in Italy
A Naples invention, Pizza originated in Italy in the 1700’s, and they know how to craft the perfect pizza. Naples is the most famous location for pizza in the entire world, and you can still visit the world’s oldest pizzeria, the stunning Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba.
Take a look at some of the other pizzas from Italy here.
| Origin | Italy |
| Type | Seafood |
| Sauce | Tomato Sauce |
Napoletana Pizza Recipe
There is a recipe below for you to make a Napoletana Pizza from either a wood oven or your typical kitchen oven.
| Dough | 2 hours |
| Assembly | 10 minutes |
| Baking | 12-20 minutes |
Napoletana Pizza Ingredients
Choose enough pizza toppings for the amount of pizzas you will be creating. The dough and sauce are designed for 3-4 medium sized pizzas, so scale up or down, based on your requirements.
Simple Pizza dough
- 2 2/3 cups (400 grams) pizza flour
- 1 cup (250 ml) luke-warm water
- 2 tsps (7 g sachet) dried yeast
- Two tsps salt
- 3 tbsps (1/4 cup) virgin olive oil
Napoletana Pizza Toppings
Toppings used in this pizza recipe, are;
- Anchovies
- Mozzarella
- Olive Oil
Tomato Pizza Sauce
- 1 small can (6oz/170g) tomato paste
- 1 can (15oz/420g) crushed or diced tomatoes
- Two garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp dried Italian herbs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 small brown onion
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 Napoletana Pizza, that use that topping.
Pizza Dough Method
You can either make your own dough following the simple steps below, or you can purchase a premade pizza base at your local store.
- Whisk the lukewarm water and yeast in a plastic or glass jug. Let the mixture stand for approx. 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 a mixer, mix the dough until smooth. Pour dough on a lightly floured work surface and then knead by hand for five minutes.
- Place dough into lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Sit in a warm place for roughly 30 minutes to an hour, to rise until it doubles in size.
- Fold the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead gently by hand for around five minutes or until smooth.
- Divide the dough roughly into equal amounts. Roll out pizza bases for the desired size.
- Spread some flour on kitchen bench before rolling, in order to prevent sticking.
TIP: We have other dough recipes if you would like to try your hand at sourdough, poolish or more.
Tomato Pizza Sauce Method
Making your own pizza sauce is a great way to take your pizza to the next level. Check out the recipe below for simple instructions. If that’s not for you, store-bought sauce works just as well.
- Stir in all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Using either a whisk, or blender, mix well.
- Let sit for five minutes.
- The pizza sauce is ready to use immediately or chill in fridge for 2-3 days.
- You can also freeze any leftover sauce for up to 3 months.
With this pizza sauce recipe, you can make it in advance and store it in the fridge for up to five days.
Preparing Napoletana Pizza
Preheat your kitchen oven to approximately 500 degrees.
Roll out the dough to either slightly smaller than your pizza stone (if you have one) or on a metal tray for the kitchen oven.
Alternatively, if you have a pizza oven, roll out to be smaller than your pizza peel.
First, spread the sauce around. This pizza calls for Tomato Sauce. Spread the Tomato Sauce evenly using the back of a large spoon or the blunt side of a knife.
You should start by adding the largest ingredients, then work your way down. The last is any cheese topping, such as Mozzarella, which you should evenly cover the other toppings with, and then finally any herbs.
The toppings to include on this pizza are;
- Anchovies
- Mozzarella
- Olive Oil
Whilst this pizza is great tasting on its own, or why not try it with other pizza types?
Baking
Put the Napoletana pizza on the middle shelf of the oven and wait for approximately 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 Mozzarella
Fresh Mozzarella is typically white, however when seasoned it can change to light yellow, depending on the animal’s diet. Due to its high moisture content, it is traditionally served the day after it is made, however it can be kept in brine for a week, or even longer if packaged well.
Mozzarella was first cited in an Italian cookbook in 1570. Nowadays, Mozzarella can be twisted to form a plait, and called Treccia. You can also buy it as a smoked cheese, called Affumicata.
Pizza Tools
When making Napoletana Pizza, I suggest you just use what you have available, without spending any money. My recommended basic pizza tool list is…
Oil Jug
Having a nice oil jug to pour olive oil gives you a decadent edge. They don’t cost that much either!
Wooden boards
I use quality wooden boards constantly when making pizzas, botth to carry dough balls and to use when slicing baked pizzas.
Pizza Cutters
The one pizza tool everyone should own. There are a few varieities to choose from, see how to cut pizza for more.
Anchovies
There are 144 species of Anchovies, a small common saltwater fish. Anchovies are used in small quantities to flavor many dishes. They can range in length from 2 centimetres (0.79 in) to 40 centimetres (16 in) when an adult.
During the Roman period, Anchovies were eaten raw as an aphrodisiac. Fresh and dried Anchovies are a popular element in many cuisines around the world.
Pizza Trivia
Here are some interesting facts about pizza.
Most expensive pizza sold at an online auction
The “Pizza Royale 2007”, created by Domenico Crolla (UK/Italy) for the premiere of Casino Royale (2007), was auctioned off for charity on eBay to an Italian lawyer for a record £2,150 US$3,321.
Longest calzone
The longest calzone came in at a whopping length of 18.22 m (59 ft 9.5 in) in July 2019. It was achieved by The Vaughan Pizza Fest and Roberto Vergalito (both Canada) at Revel Park in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada.
The first pizzeria in the US
The first pizzeria in the US opened in 1905 in Manhattan. Italian-American Gennaro Lombardi started his mini-pizza business at his street-front shop. Sadly, the shop no longer stands where it was, however Lombardi’s are still operating with the same oven it used upon opening.
Seafood Pizzas
Keen on seeing more than Napoletana pizza? We have plenty of other Seafood pizza recipes to look at, as well. Enjoy!
Pizza making FAQ
Below we’ve compiled the most common pizza making questions and provided expert answers. Are you looking for how to make awesome pizza at home? Please read on!
How long does a pizza take to cook?
A pizza can cook in as little as 90 seconds in a very hot pizza oven, or as long as 15-20 minutes in a typical kitchen oven. It also depends on the thickness of the base, and the amount of toppings included.
What kind of yeast for pizza dough?
For pizza, you can use either dry Yeast or fresh yeast. The importance thing here is that the yeast is still active, and not too old.
How to clean a pizza stone burnt?
If your pizza stone has burnt cheese or toppings on it, use a firm brush and hot water, to scrub it off. Avoid using chemicals or soaps, which will soak into the stone and make future pizzas taste like soap.
Have you made Napoletana Pizza?
How did you like Napoletana Pizza ? Let us know and help us improve. 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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