Wood-Fired Pepperoni Fantasy

Ingredients:

• 1 pound (about 450g) pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
• Cornmeal or flour for dusting
• 1 ½ cups pizza sauce or marinara sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 60-80 slices of pepperoni (adjust quantity to your preference)
• Olive oil (for drizzling)
• Fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your wood-fired oven to a high temperature, typically between 700-900°F (370-480°C). Allow the oven to reach the ideal temperature for about an hour to ensure it’s properly heated.
2. Roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface to your desired thickness and shape. It’s recommended to make the crust slightly thinner for a wood-fired oven.
3. Sprinkle cornmeal or flour on a pizza peel to prevent sticking. Transfer the rolled-out dough onto the peel.
4. Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
5. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce.
6. Arrange the pepperoni slices across the pizza, ensuring good coverage.
7. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil over the toppings. This helps enhance the flavors and aids in achieving a crispy crust in the wood-fired oven.
8. Carefully slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone inside the wood-fired oven. Use a pizza peel to do this smoothly.
9. Cook the pizza in the wood-fired oven for approximately 90 seconds to 3 minutes. Keep a close eye on it as cooking times can vary due to the intense heat of a wood-fired oven. The pizza is ready when the crust is golden brown, the cheese is bubbly, and the pepperoni is slightly crispy.
10. Once done, carefully remove the pizza from the oven using the peel.
11. Optionally, garnish with fresh basil leaves for added aroma and freshness.
12. Slice the pizza and serve hot.

Cooking a Wood-Fired Pepperoni Fantasy pizza infuses it with that characteristic smoky flavor and creates a crispy crust while maintaining the deliciousness of the pepperoni and cheese. Enjoy the unique taste of this wood-fired masterpiece! Adjust cooking times based on your specific wood-fired oven’s temperature and characteristics.