After a busy week no one wants to spend a long time cooking a complicated meal and doing a huge clean up on your sink. But often takeaways can be disappointing if you are wanting something that is cooked freshly and to your liking.
This is where the tradition of a homemade Friday night slice comes in. If you’re local and don’t feel like cooking, The Tomato Shack Salad & Pizza Co, Conshohocken will always give you the best pizza in Conshohocken.
Why 30-Minute Homemade Pizza Works?
Making your own pizza may seem like a long-winded task on a busy night. However, using some quick hacks, clever ingredients and quick preparation techniques will help you make it in no time. This means you can make a delicious restaurant-style meal using just basic items you’ll have in your kitchen.
Whether you’re cooking for a hungry family, casual friends or just to relax after a hectic week, being able to make a quick pizza is an important skill to have. It can help turn cooking into an enjoyable part of your weekend.
Fast-Track Crust Options That Save the Day
The base of any good pizza is the crust. Traditional yeasted pizzas can take a long time to prove so not ideal for your busy weeknight cooking. There are several great quick crust options:
Naan and Flatbreads: Whole wheat or garlic naan will give your pizza a quick and fluffy base. To cook these, you’ll simply pop them in a hot oven for a few minutes to give them crispy edges.
Pita pockets: These thick Greek pitas are great as a sturdy base. They’re perfect for holding the pizza sauce without getting too soggy.
Tortilla thin crusts: If you love thin bases, using two flour tortillas layered together with some shredded cheese in between will give you a quick and light base. Pop in the oven for under 8 minutes.
No Yeast Baking Powder Dough: If you really want to use fresh dough, mix together self raising flour and greek yogurt. This means you won’t need to leave it to prove. Roll it out and cook for 15 minutes to give you a light and soft crust.
Using one of these options will mean your pizza will come together in under ten minutes. Instead of ordering the best pizza in Conshohocken, you’ll save plenty of time by cooking a quick flatbread pizza.
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Flavorful Sauces and Smart Cheese Choices
A common mistake people make when cooking homemade pizzas is using too much of this, causing the centre of your crust to go soggy. Skip any long cooked sauces. Simply use a good quality tinned crushed tomato sauce with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, pinch of sea salt, dried oregano and some crushed red pepper flakes.
If you want something different, use a store bought pesto, spicy arrabbiata, garlic oil or tangy BBQ sauce. Choose cheeses that will melt well but won’t be too wet. Fresh mozzarella can be delicious but will cause problems with your quick flatbread crust.
You will want to use a low moisture, shredded mozzarella, and a strong cheese like Provolone, or old Parmesan to get it to melt and produce a delicious cheesy crust. Add some crumbled goat cheese, feta or gorgonzola on top if you are feeling fancy.
Creative 30-Minute Topping Ideas
The fun part about cooking a quick Friday night slice is to get creative with your toppings. As the pizza isn’t going to be in the oven for long it’s best to use toppings that cook quickly or are already cooked. Here are 4 quick topping ideas:
Quick Margherita
- Garlic brushed naan or flatbread base
- Crushed plum tomatoes
- Fresh mozzarella pearls (make sure to drain)
- Fresh basil leaves and drizzle of hot honey
Smoky BBQ Chicken & Red Onion
- Sturdy pita or pre-cooked flatbread
- Your favourite BBQ sauce
- Low moisture mozzarella and shredded smoked gouda cheese
- Chopped cooked chicken breast, thinly sliced red onions and fresh coriander
White Garlic, Spinach & Mushrooms
- Thin flatbread
- Extra virgin olive oil, garlic and dried oregano
- Fontina and Parmesan
- Sauteed baby spinach, thinly sliced baby bella mushrooms and a pinch of red pepper flakes
Spicy Calabrian Pepperoni
- Quick greek yogurt dough or pita
- Spicy marinara sauce
- Shredded mozzarella and provolone
- Mini cup and char pepperoni, Calabrian chilli paste and some dried Italian herbs
How to Get a Crispy Pizzeria Style Crust?
To recreate the crispy crust you’d get from a pizzeria, you’ll want to cook your pizza at a high temperature. Pre-heat your oven to the highest temperature you can (usually between 475f and 500f/ 245c and 260c). Leave to pre-heat for at least 15-20 minutes.
If you have a pizza stone or cast iron pan, place this in your oven to pre-heat. This will give your flatbread or quick dough a nice crispy crust as the heat will transfer quickly from the hot base of your pan. If you don’t have one of these, you can simply pop a heavy baking tray upside down on the bottom rack of your oven.
Brush the edges of your base with olive oil mixed with garlic powder and sea salt. Keep a close eye on your pizza in the last 2 minutes as the cheese will go from golden to burnt very quickly.
Perfect Side to Go With Your Pizza
A quick Friday night slice is perfect with a fresh and vibrant side. Although you could easily order from the best pizza in Conshohocken, you can make a quick side dish in just 5 minutes.
A Caesar salad, peppery arugula salad with lemon dressing or an Italian house salad with pepperoncini and cherry tomatoes will compliment your warm pizza. Keep the side salad simple to keep your meal within the 30 minute window.
Conclusion
Cooking a homemade Friday night slice will make the start of your weekend perfect with some great food with little stress. Using quick crust tips, quality ingredients and cooking at a high temperature will give you a meal that can compete with your favourite local takeaway spots in just half an hour.
