Classic Cheese Pizza Topping Recipes

HOW TO MAKE A CLASSIC CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• After you've made the dough, divide it in half and let come to room temperature, uncovered, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, place a pizza stone or an inverted baking sheet on the oven floor and preheat to 500˚.
• On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll out 1 piece of dough into a 12-inch round, about 1/8 inch thick. Dust a pizza peel or another inverted baking sheet with cornmeal and lay the dough on top.
• Spread half of the sauce on the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge. Top with half of the provolone, then with half each of the mozzarella and parmesan.
• Slide the pizza onto the hot stone or baking sheet and bake until the crust is browned and the cheese is melted, 10 to 12 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough and toppings. Makes 2 12-inch pizzas.

PIZZA TOPPINGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275°C/530°F, or as high as it will go. Place oven shelf in top third of oven.
• Stretch dough to form pizza base and slide onto baking pan.
• Follow topping directions below, then place in oven.
• Turn pizza at 4 minutes so it cooks evenly, and check at 8 minutes (even if recipe says 10 minutes). Take out early if cheese gets too brown.

CLASSIC CHEESE PIZZA TOPPING

Steps:

• Brush edge of crust with olive oil. Spread center with tomato sauce, and sprinkle with cheese.