Cheese pizza is a global delicacy with innumerable regional variations and recipes. Let’s explore everything about cheese pizza
What is cheese pizza and how did it become a favorite dish of people worldwide? No matter how many different kinds of pizza you try, the classic cheese pizza satisfies the taste buds like none other.
Cheese pizza is a type of pizza that is made with cheese as the primary topping. It typically consists of a pizza crust, tomato sauce, and a generous layer of cheese on top. The most common type of cheese used on cheese pizza are mozzarella, parmesan, and cheddar. Some pizzerias might put additional toppings on the cheese pizza including pepperoni, mushrooms, or olives.
In this article, I’m going to explore the meaning of cheese pizza, the different kinds of cheese used in a cheese pizza, and its different variations around the world. So, stay tuned.
What is Cheese Pizza?
Cheese pizza is a type of pizza that is typically made with pizza crust, tomato sauce, and a lot of cheese. The pizza consists of a basic flattened dough made with regular ingredients including flour, yeast, water, and salt. The dough is baked in the oven until it turns crispy. The dough thus formed is called a pizza crust.
The pizza crust is then topped with a layer of tomato sauce. Although there are many variations in making tomato sauce, the basic tomato sauce is usually made with crushed tomatoes, herbs, and spices.
Once evenly layered with tomato sauce, the pizza is topped with a generous amount of cheese, typically mozzarella cheese. The product thus formed is baked in an oven for 8 to 15 minutes at 425°F and 500°F, depending upon the recipe.
Cheese pizza is adored globally by kids and adults alike because of its mixture of mouth-watering flavors and texture. The melted cheese provides a savory taste and gooey texture that tastefully complements the tangy sweetness of tomato sauce. The chewy and crispy crust makes the pizza bite truly wholesome.
Now, let’s see the varieties of cheese that make cheese pizza delectable:
Best Cheeses for Cheese Pizza
There are tonnes of varieties of cheeses available out there. One might think they all look and taste the same. But the kind of cheese you put on your cheese pizza creates a lot of differences in its taste and texture.
Below are the top 5 kinds of cheese that you can use on your cheese pizza:
1. Mozzarella
The obvious one, Mozzarella is no doubt everyone’s favorite cheese. The best thing about mozzarella is that it compliments perfectly with tomato sauce that has sweet tartness. Besides, mozzarella has an amazing melting property that makes the pizza exceptionally creamy on top and crusty on the base.
2. Cheddar
Another typical pizza cheese, Cheddar is a great choice for making cheesy pizza. Cheddar has a sharp, rich, and tangy flavor that makes cheese pizza a lot more interesting. Cheddar usually leaves an oily slick if used in large quantities. The oil will evaporate if you bake the pizza longer but make sure you don’t burn the crust.
3. Goat Cheese
If you like the smooth texture and crumbly consistency, then goat cheese might just be the right choice for your cheese pizza. It has a stronger flavor and tastes amazing when complemented with caramelized vegetable pizza like roast peppers, onions, and spinach.
4. Provolone
If you like the taste of your cheese stronger than that of Mozzarella, then go for Provolone. The taste of this pizza depends on its age or maturity and how it is made. The young Provolones are usually sweet and creamy, and the mature ones are typically hard and they taste sharp and intense.
Both types have an amazing melting property and taste amazing when complemented with mozzarella cheese.
Different Variations of Cheese Pizza
While the basic ingredients of cheese pizza are the same, this delicious delicacy took to different pizzerias and chefs around the world and came out as different regional versions.
Some of the most popular versions of cheese pizza are:
1. Margherita Pizza
Originated in Naples (Italy), Margherita Pizza is a Neapolitan pizza made with fresh mozzarella cheese. The other two main ingredients of this pizza are tomato sauce and fresh basil leaves.
A Margherita pizza has a thin and crispy crust. Typically, it is cooked in a wood-fired oven but it could be baked in other electric ovens as well.
A Margherita Pizza is made with sweet and tangy tomato sauce, topped with thinly sliced fresh mozzarella, some basil leaves, and a drizzle of olive oils.
2. Four Cheese Pizza
Four cheese pizza or Quattro Formaggi Pizza (Italian) is an ultra cheesy pizza made with four mouth-watering kinds of cheeses. This cheese pizza is made with a combination of Mozzarella, Goat Cheese, Gorgonzola, and Parmesan.
A four-cheese pizza is usually made with a light and crispy pizza crust with tomato sauce on top. The pizza is often topped with additional ingredients including herbs, veggies, and garlic.
The four-cheese pizza features a blend of different cheese flavors that makes it so special. Mozzarella as the base cheese provides a gooey texture and a mildly sweet flavor. Parmesan makes the pizza taste salty and nutty. The Gorgonzola adds a rich and tangy flavor while goat cheese adds an earthly taste and crumbly texture to the pizza.
3. Detroit Style pizza
Detroit-style pizza is mainly known for its thick, crispy, and chewy crust topped with Wisconsin brick cheese. This pizza is made in a way that the cheese caramelizes lusciously at the edges of the pizza.
Detroit Style pizza is unique because of the way its ingredients are placed. Usually, the layers of pizzas are as follows: First dough disc, then tomato sauce, the veggies, and then cheese. But here the layers are reversed. First comes the veggies or meat on the dough, then the cheese, and then the tomato sauce. That’s why it is also called “The Red Top”.
In Detroit pizza, the cheese is placed all the way to the edges of the pan, which creates a caramelized crust around the edges of the cheese.
4. Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza:
Originated in Chicago, Illinois, Chicago Style deep dish pizza has a buttery taste that makes it so unique and yum. It is mainly known for its thick & high-edged crust, and loads of cheese accompanied with toppings.
It is called a deep-dish pizza because of the way it is cooked. This pizza is usually baked in a pan with high edges, so the crust forms an outer layer, and inside it has ample space for a generous amount of cheese and tomato sauce.
The Final Verdict
Cheese pizza is a classic pizza recipe enjoyed by millions of people all around the world. The beauty of this pizza lies in its simplicity. There are mainly three ingredients in this pizza — dough, tomato sauce, and loads of cheese. Nevertheless, It can be topped by a number of other ingredients including veggies, meat, garlic, etc. to suit individual tastes.
Despite its simplicity, cheese pizza continues to be a popular and satisfying choice for many people, whether they are enjoying it as a quick and easy meal or as a special treat with family and friends. With its gooey cheese and crispy crust, cheese pizza is a timeless classic that is sure to remain a favorite for years to come.
Ever since pizza originated in Itlay, It gained popularity in other countries like wildfire and evolved into various regional variations. From the thin-crust Neapolitan pizza to the thick deep dish Chicago-style deep dish pizza, Cheese pizza is a timeless classic that remains an evergreen favorite of everyone.