- Jana Mascioni
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Authentic Italian Pizza with Kids
Updated: Apr 6, 2020
Without a wood-burning oven, it is impossible to replicate the distinctive taste of pizza from a traditional authentic Italian Pizzeria. Still, with the right ingredients, you can come close. You must use fresh quality ingredients for authentic tasting pizza. Check the cheese section of the grocery store or visit an Italian deli to buy the mozzarella and Parmigiano (no green cans of Parmigiano). Our Costco sells a fantastic fresh mozzarella from Tuscany. Costco is also where I buy our Parmesan imported from Italy, although I would not compare it to the quality the average Italian is use too.
Before planning to make the pizza with your kids read through these steps. You will need to account for leaving some time for the dough to rise. Don’t wait until an hour before you plan to eat to get started.
In an Italian pizzeria, each person gets their own pizza. The crust is thin, and the pizzas are not as large or topped as heavily with cheese and other toppings. The recipe below makes about 4 pizza’s, one per person.
How to Involve Your Kid In the Cooking
Cooking with your kid is a chance to practice practical skills like reading, following directions, measuring, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and the early concepts of math and science. My favorite part of cooking with my daughter is the growing appreciation she has for how food is made. While cooking with her, she is learning the importance of using fresh ingredients for better taste and health. Plus, she is filled with a sense of accomplishment and pride when she eats something she made!
Most kids are excited to eat pizza, so it shouldn't be hard to get them excited about the idea of making it! Here is a list of some of the ways you can get them involved.
Make a grocery list and have them check off items as you go throughout the store.
They can check off the supplies and ingredients needed before starting. If your child isn’t reading yet, read this list to them as you run your finger across the words, so they begin to understand that words have meaning. Reading off lists and getting organized is also an excellent executive functioning skill!
Read through and complete the steps together.
While waiting for the dough to rise, spend time together researching on the internet or a book, the science of what makes dough rise. Why does it have to be at a specific temperature and any other questions your kids may have.
Kneading the dough is great for building muscles in little one’s hands (muscles they will need before ever being able to pick up correctly and write with a pencil.)
Practice cutting the fresh ingredients with safe knives like these from Amazon. Even the smallest of kids can practice cutting the mozzarella with a dull toddler knife.
Let them choose the ingredients and put the toppings on their own personal pizza.
Once the pizza is complete, you can talk about fractions while cutting to serve.
The most important thing is just to be present with your kid and have fun. Cooking together can make memories that last a lifetime!
Classic Italian Kid-Friendly Topping Combinations
I haven’t included amounts for the toppings as you can choose to put on as much as you like. You can choose to make all four pizza’s the same or mix it up!
*Important note about the fresh mozzarella cheese. When using fresh mozzarella that comes in a container of liquid, you must first let it dry out a little, or it will make your pizza soggy! Slice the fresh mozzarella then set it to dry on a tea towel for at least 15 minutes. Blot both sides with a tea towel or paper towels to make sure excess moisture has been removed.
Margherita
Fresh mozzarella cheese (see above note)
Basil (add basil after taking out of the oven)
Margherita Bianca
Fresh mozzarella cheese (see above note)
Freshly grated Parmigiano
Basil (add basil after taking out of the oven)
Marinara
Fresh oregano chopped
Aglio E Olio
Sliced garlic cloves
Fresh oregano chopped
Aglio, Olio e Pomodoro
Fresh tomato, peeled, sliced and diced
Sliced garlic cloves
Fresh oregano
Bianca con i Funghi
Sliced white mushrooms
Chopped Italian parsley
Sliced garlic clove
Salt and pepper
Fresh mozzarella cheese (see above note)
Patate
Potatoes sliced very thin
Fresh rosemary leaves
Fresh mozzarella cheese (see above note)
Salt and pepper
Dough Ingredients
Makes 4 personal pizzas
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 ½ cups warm water
3 ½ cups high-protein flour plus more for dusting (Preferably from Italy, organic & minimally processed.)
1 tablespoon good extra-virgin olive oil
Pinch of fine sea salt
Preferred toppings
Supplies Needed
A large cutting board or clean workspace
Dough scraper (optional)
How to Make it
Note:
The temperature in the room should be between 68 to 75 degrees F for the dough to rise properly.
Step 1
In the large mixing bowl, sprinkle the yeast on the warm water. Stir to dissolve then let it stand for about 5 minutes. Doing this helps the yeast dissolve and start to activate.
Step 2
Once the yeast has dissolved, stir in two cups of the flour. Once mixed, slowly add the rest of the flour and mix until the dough is formed.
Step 3
Add a generous pinch of salt and mix. If you add it before, it could inhibit the yeast's growth.
Step 4
Sprinkle some flour on the cutting board or clean work surface. Place the dough on the floured surface.
Step 5
Knead the dough just a little with your hands. To knead the dough, pull it towards you with one hand while pushing it away with the other. Stretch and fold the dough back upon itself. Do this just long enough for the dough to take in a little more flour, and until it no longer sticks to your hands. This may take about 10 minutes.
Step 6
With your hand, spread a little olive oil inside a medium bowl
Step 7
Shape the dough into a ball. Use the dough scraper to scrape all the dough off the board. Place the ball into the oiled bowl.
Step 8
Make two incisions that cross over the dough ball and cover with a little olive oil. This will prevent the surface of the dough from breaking too much while rising.
Step 9
Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and set the bowl aside for 1 ½ to 2 hours until the dough doubles in size. You will know the dough is ready for the next step when you press the dough with your finger, and the indention remains.
Step 10
Once ready, punch the dough down to eliminate the air bubbles and place the dough on a floured cutting board or work surface.
Step 11
Cut the dough into four equal pieces.
Step 12
On the work surface, shape one piece of dough at a time into a thinner round layer. Make a pizza about 12 inches in diameter using your hands and a rolling pin. Once done, work on the other three pieces for a total of 4 pizzas.
Step 13
Place the pizzas on an oiled metal pizza pan, pizza stone, or a floured pizza peel. Using your fingertips, push from the center to the sides to cover the surface of the pan.
Step 14
Add on to the pizza your preferred toppings. But hold off on the cheese! The cheese should be added the last 5 to 10 minutes before removing the pizza from the oven. (Remember first to dry out the fresh mozzarella cheese, see my note under the heading Classic Italian Kid Friendly Toppings).
Step 15
Drizzle with olive oil
Step 16
Cook the Pizza in the oven at 500 degrees F for about 20 to 25 minutes. To check for readiness, lift one side of the pizza. The pizza is ready when the bottom surface is light brown.
This is part of the #KidCultureBlogger Link-Up hosted by me the last Saturday of every month where bloggers share their passion for exposing kids to culture through travel, cooking, events, art, crafts, theatre, and other unplugged learning experiences.
Related Posts:
Save this article for later:
