By Ujjainee Roy
July 22, 2024
Acing a spicy pizza is harder at home; while restaurants and bistros may have access to imported condiments or specialised in-house sauces you may have to make do with store-bought spices. Here's how to add spices to your homemade pizza to take its flavour up a notch.
Start with a spicy pizza sauce. You can either buy a pre-made spicy marinara or make your own by adding ingredients like red pepper flakes, chili powder, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce to your regular tomato sauce. This ensures that the heat is evenly distributed throughout the pizza.
Adding hot peppers is a straightforward way to increase the heat. Consider using jalapeños, serrano peppers, habaneros, or even ghost peppers for extreme heat. Slice them thinly and spread them evenly across the pizza.
Incorporate spicy meats such as hot Italian sausage, chorizo, pepperoni, or spicy salami. These meats not only add heat but also a rich, savory flavor. Make sure to cook any raw sausage or chorizo before adding it to the pizza.
Use cheeses that have a bit of heat. Pepper jack cheese, for example, is infused with spicy peppers and can add a kick to your pizza. You can also sprinkle some grated spicy cheese, like habanero cheddar, over the top.
Drizzle hot sauce or spicy oil over the pizza before or after baking. Popular choices include Sriracha, Tabasco, or a chili-infused olive oil. For a more intense flavor, consider making your own spicy oil by infusing olive oil with red pepper flakes, garlic, and other spices.
Infuse heat into your pizza crust. Add spices like crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or even a touch of hot sauce into the dough while mixing. You can also brush the crust with a mixture of olive oil and chili powder before baking.