Pizzas in the Criollo Wood-Fired Oven

Neapolitan pizza is a classic of Italian cuisine, famous for its soft dough, puffy edges, and unique flavor. This type of pizza stands out for its cooking in wood-fired ovens, where the type of wood and temperature play a fundamental role in achieving the right texture and taste. Below, we’ve provided some recommendations for choosing the right wood and reaching the ideal temperature, along with a foolproof Neapolitan pizza dough recipe!

What wood to choose?

To achieve the smoky flavor and quick, even cooking that defines Neapolitan pizza, it’s recommended to use hardwoods, like white quebracho, as they produce consistent heat and an ideal flame, enhancing the flavor of the dough and ingredients. It’s best to avoid woods like spinybush, as they generate excessive smoke and a bitter taste that can ruin your dough.

Ideal Temperature

Neapolitan pizza requires a high cooking temperature, between 430°C and 500°C. At this temperature, the pizza cooks in 60 to 90 seconds, resulting in a soft interior and a crispy exterior.

Dough Recipe

Ingredients:

• 830g of type 000 flour
  
• 500 ml of water
  
• 1.5g of fresh yeast or 10g of dry yeast
  
• 30g of salt
  
• 20g of olive oil
  

Preparation:

1. Make the mixture: First, dissolve the yeast in the water. In a large bowl, place 500g of flour and gradually add the water, mixing until combined. Let it rest for 30 minutes outside of the fridge.
2. Add ingredients: Add the rest of the flour and the salt, knead until the dough is uniform, then add the olive oil, incorporate everything, and knead for 5-10 minutes.
3. Rest: Let it rest for 1 hour at room temperature.
4. Divide and ferment: Divide the dough into 4 portions, form small balls, and let them rest between 24 and 48 hours in the fridge to develop flavor and texture. If you don’t have that much time, leave it for 1.5 hours at room temperature.
5. Shape the pizza: Stretch the portions into circles about 25 cm in diameter, without flattening the edges so they stay puffy when baked.
6. Cooking: Place the pizza with all its toppings in the preheated oven at the ideal temperature and cook for 60-90 seconds, until the edges are golden and crispy and the center is bubbling.