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Craft a heart-shaped pizza is not just about creating a meal; it’s an act of love, a way to share joy and warmth through the universal language of food. This fire oven pizza, with its fermented dough, offers a perfect blend of flavor and texture, setting the stage for a variety of toppings that cater to all tastes. Whether it’s a special occasion or just a desire to make an ordinary day extraordinary, this pizza promises to deliver smiles and satisfaction.
This recipe elevates the classic pizza with a homemade dough that’s fermented for 8 hours, resulting in a crust that’s both flavorful and fluffy. Shaped into a heart, it becomes a canvas for your culinary creativity, whether you prefer the classic simplicity of mozzarella and basil or the hearty addition of pepperoni. Finished in a fire oven, this pizza is a gourmet experience that’s surprisingly simple to achieve.
We make this heart shaped pizza for our family around Valentines Day. Either on the holiday or the day before if my husband made us reservations for a romantic night alone. It is a fun way to include the whole family on a holiday that celebrates love.
The Chemistry of Pizza
The secret to this pizza dough lies in its simplicity and the science of fermentation. The minimal yeast encourages a slow rise, allowing the flavors to develop complexity and the gluten network to strengthen without becoming tough. This results in a crust that’s airy and light, with a subtle tang. The high temperature of the fire oven then creates the perfect char and crispness, mimicking the beloved Neapolitan style.
How do you achieve a heart shape with pizza dough?
Gently stretch and mold the dough on a floured surface, starting with a round base and then shaping the top into a peak and pinching the bottom to form the point of the heart. This shape adds a playful touch to the pizza, making it an ideal choice for special occasions or to express affection.
Can the dough be prepared ahead of time?
Yes, the dough benefits from an extended fermentation time. After the initial 8-hour rise, the dough balls can be refrigerated for up to 48 hours. Bring them to room temperature before stretching and shaping to ensure the best texture.
What’s the best way to cook pizza in a home oven if you don’t have a fire oven?
A pizza stone or steel preheated in a very hot oven (as hight as it goes, usually around 500 degrees) can mimic the effects of a fire oven. Preheating the stone or steel ensures a quick bake and crisp bottom crust.
How can you ensure the toppings are perfectly cooked?
Since the pizza cooks quickly in a hot oven, slice the toppings thinly and distribute them evenly. This ensures they cook through without overwhelming the delicate crust. Less is more; overloading the pizza can result in a soggy center.
What is in heart shaped pizza?
00 Flour
Provides the dough with a fine, tender texture ideal for stretching thin crusts.
Yeast
Acts as the leavening agent, enabling the dough to rise and develop flavor.
Fine Sea Salt
Enhances the dough’s flavor and regulates yeast activity.
Warm Water
Activates the yeast and hydrates the flour, crucial for gluten development.
Crushed Tomatoes, Sea Salt & Pepper
Combine to create a simple yet flavorful sauce that complements the dough and toppings.
Storage Tips
Leftover pizza can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a hot oven or toaster oven to revive the crust’s crispness.
Freezing Options
Unbaked pizza dough can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using. Pre-baked crusts can also be frozen, providing a quick pizza base ready to be topped and finished in the oven.
Making Ahead
For an easy meal, prepare the dough ahead of time and let it ferment in the refrigerator.
Recommended Products
Why make heart shaped pizza?
In essence, this heart shaped pizza is a delightful blend of tradition and innovation, inviting you to explore the joys of homemade pizza making. It’s a recipe that encourages you to pour your heart into your cooking, serving not just a meal, but a message of love and care to those who gather around your table.
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Heart Shaped Pizza
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 590 grams warm water
- 30 grams fine sea salt
- 1000 grams 00 flour + 1/2 cup for kneading
- 1/8 tsp yeast
Sauce
- 1 can Cento Crushed Tomatoes
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Toppings
- 16 ounces fresh mozzarella ball
- 6 ounces grated parmesan cheese
- fresh basil leaves
- pepperoni
- olive oil
Instructions
Pizza Dough
- Measure water in a large bowl with a kitchen scale
- While still using the kitchen scale, add salt. Stir until salt is dissolved
- Add in half of the 00 flour, stir until combined
- Stir in yeast
- Add the rest of the flour and stir until combined
- Pour the dough onto a heavy floured counter surface. I use another 1/2 cup of flour, the dough starts out very sticky.
- Knead the dough for 15 minutes. The texture and elasticity of the dough with change as you are kneading.
- Once fully kneaded use your kitchen scale to measure out 270 grams of dough. Roll the dough into a ball and place into a lightly greased dough proofing box. Repeat until all the dough is used and 6 balls and made.
- Place dough proofing box in your oven with it OFF but the light on. Let sit in there for 2 hours. This creates a warm space for the dough to rest and rise.
- Turn off the light and let it sit in the OFF oven for the remaining 6 hours.
- While you prepare your pizza, start your fire pizza oven. It will need to preheat for about 30 minutes to get to a high enough temperature.
- After resting, take the box out of the oven and lightly flour your counter. Spread & stretch the dough out into a circle.
Sauce
- In a bowl combine tomatoes and seasoning. Stir.
Assemble
- In a bowl, squeeze the mozzarella ball into little bits
- Hand shred fresh basil
- Stretch and shape the dough into a heart shape. Spread sauce on top. Sprinkle cheese chunks over sauce, place basil & pepperoni on top, then sprinkle parmesan over it all
- Bake for about 2 minutes, rotating the pizza about 45 degrees every 30 seconds for a even cook.
- Remove, slice and enjoy!
Nutrition
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