All about Pizza Spices

Pizza spices play an important role when making pizza. Incorporate them into your sauce, mix into the dough to give it a great flavor, or use it as a topping...either fresh or dried.

Great chefs understand how to use spices to enhance their food and build layers of flavor. Learning to use spices for pizza when creating your homemade pizzas will improve the flavor of your meals...

Below is a small list of spices to put on pizza. There is almost an infinite number of flavor combinations, experiment by adjusting the amount called for in a specific recipe and then increase or decrease the amount of spices to meet your personal preferences.

Common Spices to put on Pizza

• Oregano
• Basil
• Fennel
• Parsley
• Laurel
• Marjoram
• Garlic
• Bay Leaf
• Rosemary
• Coriander
• Thyme
• Cumin
• Cardamon

Oregano

Oregano is probably the mother of all pizza spices. It's the most popular spice among almost all the pizza restaurants because of its peculiarly pleasant, slightly bitter taste. It's a member of the mint family, so it can give your pizza a piney/minty aroma.

There are several varieties of Oregano available, including Greek and Turkish varieties. Italian Oregano is typically found in the grocery stores in the U.S. and provides a delicious, milder flavor for pizza. Most spices are available as Organic and have gained in popularity the past few years.

Basil

There are some people, however, who prefer to forgo oregano's bitter flavor and choose to use basil instead. Basil is a spice that has a mild, sweet taste. Like oregano, there are several varieties. Basil is a common spice, you see, and it is highly doubtful . that there will come a day when the market runs out of this herb. So, if you choose this for your spice, try to get hold of the French basil, which is hailed by some experts as the best variety for pizza pie making.

Basil is really one of my favorite herbs. We grown it each year in our little garden and use it for all types of dishes. A good loaf of bread, a good tomato, and a little basil is a meal in my opinion.

Parsley

Parsley is best added to the pizza sauce. Parsley modifies the flavor of the pizza in either subtle or strong ways, depending on how much of it you use. Several experts recommend the use of flat parsley in order to acquire great flavor.

Laurel

Sometimes, the fact that pizza is more or less and Italian creation shows in the spices that are used in making pizza; the best and common ones are usually found and grown abundantly in Europe. What's even more amazing is that the crown of laurel leaves that the Italians used to award their noblest heroes is used today as flavoring for pizza. Laurel, or bay leaf, has a pungent flavor that makes it quite popular as pizza sauce flavoring.

How To Use Spices for Pizza

The types and combinations of spices is as individual as fingerprints. While Oregano is probably the most popular spices to put on pizza, I personally find it easily overpowers lots of foods. I prefer the sweet and aroma of Basil over the pungent, woodsy flavor of Oregano.

Pizza spices can be fresh or dried, and sprinkled on the pie before baking or after. I prefer to add dry spices before baking so that the heat of the oven releases the volitale oils, and add fresh herbs and spices after baking.

I have a number of spice recipes that I use over and over again for a number of different foods. I have a Dry Rub for meats, a Latin Blend for Mexican dishes, and I have my own Pizza Mix that I use for sprinkling on my homemade pizza's or store bought.

I make these up in larger quantities than I need for any one recipe and store them in small plastic containers in the pantry. It does not take any additional work, and I have my favorite spice blends whenever I need them.

Another great way to add flavor to pizza using spices is to include them in the pizza dough. Try some of our Savory Pizza Dough recipes.

Cheese Topping Cheese Topping, the foundation for great tasting pizza.

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