Pepperoni Pizza

Pepperoni is one of the most popular toppings for pizza with good reason. The delicious flavor and crisp texture of browned pepperoni has me drooling now! In this article I will run through a few tips for making an outstanding pepperoni pizza.

First of all, for the best results you should try making your own pizza dough.If you don't have time to make your own, or you aren't confident enough yet to give it a shot, store bought bases can still be quite good. For a really quick and easy snack, try using pita bread as a pizza base!

You have a couple of choices of sauce too. The classic tomato sauce, made by mushing a tin of tomatoes and adding a few herbs, will work well. Many pizza lovers also enjoy using a tangier sauce, like a BBQ sauce, on a pepperoni pizza.

Mozzarella is the obvious choice for cheese, but try adding interest to your pizza with a grated tasty cheese like parmesan or pecorino! Check out my article on cheese pizzas for some more ideas about what cheese to use.

Now to the most important ingredient. The pepperoni you choose should really stand out, after all it is a pepperoni pizza! So shop around for a good brand, or use your favorite. You also need to consider how to slice your pepperoni. Topping your pizza with whole rings adds visual appeal, but half rings can make it easier to cut and eat the pizza when cooked. Slicing your pepperoni thinly will make sure that the slices brown and crisp well.

There are few classic ingredients that really complement a pepperoni pizza. It's best to only use one or two extra ingredients – any more than that may overload the pizza and take away from the pepperoni.

• Fresh Tomato. Try it diced and scattered over the pizza. You will notice a difference Using good quality vine ripened tomatoes or even better - home grown.
• Onion. Brown onions sliced thin and scattered over the pizza add an interesting texture and flavour. You can sautee your onion first for a sweeter flavor. Try adding a little garlic when cooking the onion for a flavor punch!
• Mushroom. Tasty mushrooms can be sliced thin and scattered over the pizza raw, or diced and browned in a saucepan first for a sweeter flavor.
• Bacon. I saved the best for last! A few strips of bacon, diced roughly and scattered over your pizza will be a great addition. One of my favorite combos is pepperoni, bacon and fresh tomato. Mmmmmm!
  

Check out my blog for pizza dough recipes as well as tips, tricks and techniques!