The Secrets to a Perfect Homemade Pizza

Let's say it from the get-go: to make a perfect pizza, you need the perfect mozzarella. For an astonishing pizza, use Saputo Mozzarellissima, the quintessential Italian, buttery-flavoured cheese that turns golden and stretches perfectly when it’s baked. Now that we've laid the foundation, the rest is a blank canvas—it is your pizzaiolo duty to turn it into art. What toppings will you opt for? The options are infinite; in fact, a pizza might be as unique as the person who makes it. May that be true, following these simple yet important steps shall help you craft the perfect pizza.

How to Achieve the Perfect Homemade Pizza

Choose the Right Foundation

A good crust is instrumental to successful pizza. Whether you like it thin or thick, the quality of the dough (along with how you cook it; more on that shortly) will greatly influence the result. It can be fun to try making your own pizza dough. It's much easier than you'd think, and will guarantee an authentic, fresh crust to your creation. Alternatively, most grocery stores sell pre-made pizza dough. Also, don't be afraid to try different crusts, like pita bread or even naan bread! You'll be surprised by how suited they are as a pizza base layer.

Choose Your Toppings With Love

And with your tastebuds. While there are endless possibilities of toppings—and even more topping combinations—what you are looking for when making pizza is a balance in flavours. It doesn't matter if you are aiming for a vegetarian creation, a Hawaiian-inspired pizza, or an all-cheese pizza: you'll want ingredients that complement each other. Take the classic Spicy Salami and Olive Pizza as an example: the tangy meat paired with the acidity of the olives and bound together by the smooth richness of the Mozzarellissima cheese makes it an absolute classic. Simplicity is often key. Only a few ingredients, and as fresh as possible. That's the secret, so don’t tell anyone.

Cooking a Homemade Pizza to Perfection

Overdoing it is a real hurdle when it comes to cooking pizza at home. There is no way around it: you need to keep a close eye on your precious pizzas after they've entered the cooking zone. Whether you're baking it in the oven, on the BBQ, or in your own firewood oven, the rule of thumb is to wait for the cheese to melt completely and the crust to have turned golden brown. If you are using a traditional oven, preheat to 450°F with the rack in the top position and bake for around 20 minutes.

The Final Touch

You'll notice that most experienced pizza makers garnish their pizza with a final touch. It can be basil, hot pepper flakes, spicy oil, oregano, hot sauce or simply salt and pepper: for each pizza, there exists a final touch that will take it from great to unbelievable.

Choosing the Right Cheese for The Ultimate Pizza

1 - Pizza Mozzarella

We've said it earlier: pizza without Mozzarellissima is like summer without the sun. Saputo Mozzarellissima is a state-of-the-art mozzarella: buttery-flavoured, smooth in taste, golden and stretchy when melted, it's simply the ultimate pizza topper. And when the weather is on your side, make sure you try this Vegetarian Pizza on the BBQ -- a tried-and-true classic you'll want to make again and again.

2 - Fresh Mozzarella

Sometimes, a pizza calls for a smooth, fresh taste that can only be attained with Mozzarella Fresca. This Italian touch will add a delicate, creamy texture to any of your creations. Don't know where to start? Try making this Italian Pizza with Mozzarella Fresca: you'll understand what the fresca is all about.

3 - Parmesan

Parmesan is a well-kept secret in the realm of pizza making. This spicy, flavourful cheese can add a layer of fun to the pizzas you make at home. To get the full scope of its power, try this Leek and Brussels Sprouts Pizza, which uses both Mozzarellissima (of course) and Saputo Parmesan.

4 - Quattro Formaggi

And of course, there are times when you just can't get enough cheese. That's why Saputo came up with the Italiano 4 Formaggi—a combination of shredded Pizza Mozzarella, Provolone, Gouda and Parmesan. It's all the great cheeses you can dream of shredded into one convenient package. It's perfect when you are in the mood to go all out, or all-dressed, as with this Ultimate All-Dressed Pizza.