While wood stoves are typically used for heating, they can also serve as versatile outdoor pizza ovens, adding a unique twist to your cooking repertoire. In this article, we’ll explore the technical aspects of using a wood stove as a pizza oven and provide a collection of clear and concise outdoor pizza oven recipes that both technical and non-technical audiences can enjoy.
Choosing the Right Wood Stove
- Type of Stove: Not all wood stoves are suitable for cooking. Ensure your wood stove has a flat, sturdy top surface where you can place a pizza stone or steel for cooking.
Preparing Your Wood Stove for Cooking
Clearing the Stove: Remove any ashes and ensure the stove is clean and free from debris before cooking.
Temperature Control: Depending on your stove’s design, you might have air control vents. Learn how to use them to regulate the heat.
Tools and Equipment
Pizza Stone or Steel: Invest in a good quality pizza stone or steel to ensure even heat distribution for perfect crusts.
Infrared Thermometer: This tool helps you monitor the cooking surface temperature accurately.
The Recipes
Here are three wood stove-pizza oven recipes, designed to be simple, delicious, and adaptable:
1. Classic Margherita Pizza
Ingredients:
- Pizza dough
- Tomato sauce
- Fresh mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil leaves
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat your wood stove-pizza oven to 700-800°F (370-430°C) using your infrared thermometer.
- Stretch the pizza dough to your desired thickness.
- Spread tomato sauce evenly over the dough.
- Add slices of fresh mozzarella cheese and fresh basil leaves.
- Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Carefully slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone or steel and bake until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and browned. This should take 2-5 minutes.
2. BBQ Chicken Pizza
Ingredients:
- Pizza dough
- BBQ sauce
- Cooked chicken (shredded)
- Red onion (thinly sliced)
- Red bell pepper (thinly sliced)
- Mozzarella cheese
- Fresh cilantro (chopped)
Instructions:
- Preheat your wood stove-pizza oven to 700-800°F (370-430°C) using your infrared thermometer.
- Stretch the pizza dough to your desired thickness.
- Spread BBQ sauce evenly over the dough.
- Add cooked chicken, sliced red onion, and red bell pepper.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
- Carefully slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone or steel and bake until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly. This should take 2-5 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.
3. Veggie Delight Pizza
Ingredients:
- Pizza dough
- Olive oil
- Tomato sauce
- Sliced mushrooms
- Sliced bell peppers
- Sliced black olives
- Sliced red onion
- Mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions:
- Preheat your wood stove-pizza oven to 700-800°F (370-430°C) using your infrared thermometer.
- Stretch the pizza dough to your desired thickness.
- Brush the dough with olive oil.
- Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce over the dough.
- Add sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, black olives, and red onion.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
- Carefully slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone or steel and bake until the crust is golden, and the toppings are tender and slightly browned. This should take 2-5 minutes.
- Top with fresh basil leaves before serving.
Conclusion
Cooking delicious pizza in a wood stove-turned-pizza oven can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. By following these technical guidelines and trying out these simple yet tasty recipes, you can transform your wood stove into a versatile outdoor cooking tool. Whether you’re an experienced chef or a novice cook, these recipes are sure to impress your family and friends with the unique flavors of wood-fired pizza.