Garlic cheese pizza
Does any visit to your favourite pizzeria start without garlic cheese pizza? Of course not! My best garlic pizza uses both parmesan and mozzarella, and infuses olive oil with garlic (it only takes 10 minutes). It’s outrageously good!
Pizza base choices: RecipeTin classic pizza base, speedy no-yeast pizza base or store-bought.
Garlic cheese pizza
My love for garlic pizza runs deep, which is no surprise to anyone who knows me. It’s literally 100% cheese and carbs, without even an ounce of good-for-you greens. That pretty much sums me up.😂
Some days I really wish I was one of “those people” who genuinely craves fresh vegetables over cheese and carbs. It’s not that I hate vegetables, I don’t at all! It’s just……well, you know. Put a piping hot garlic cheese pizza in front of me, in all its magnificent melty cheesy glory, alongside the best salad in the world, and there’s just no question what I’m going for, every single time:
Garlic cheese pizza
You can use any pizza base you want – homemade classic, this magic no-yeast pizza base or store bought. But for best results, grate your own cheese! Store bought pre-grated is packaged with anti-caking agents which prevents the cheese from melting nicely.
Garlic – Fresh, and only fresh! Garlic pasties jars and tubes have an unpleasant sourness to them due to the preservatives. There is no substitution for the real thing!
Mozzarella cheese – For melting perfection and lovely brown golden spots on the surface. Also, mozzarella is not oily like other cheeses.
Parmesan – This adds flavour, because parmesan is loaded with savoury flavour and is salty.
Olive oil – Mixed with the garlic to spread on the pizza base.
Salt – For seasoning. Only 1/8 teaspoon is required
PIZZA DOUGH OPTIONS
As for the pizza base, choose what works for you! Here are my options:
Classic pizza base (yeast based) – Italian wood fired pizza style! This takes 5 to 6 hours to make including 2 dough-proofing sessions but is straight forward. Hand knead 5 minutes or 40 second food processor blitz.
Magic no-yeast pizza base – This is not a sad substitution for a classic yeast pizza base. It is really good! Made in 40 seconds flat from start to finish using a food processor, no resting or rising required.
Store bought, or other homemade pizza base of choice.
How to make Garlic Cheese Pizza
My little secret tip is to infuse the oil with lovely garlic flavour by setting it aside for just 10 minutes. And use a garlic press for maximum release of flavour!
Steep oil with garlic – Mix the oil and garlic and set aside for 10 minutes to infuse with flavour.
Stretch your chosen pizza base onto a pizza pan, preferably one with holes in it (crispy base!).
Spread the garlic infused oil over the base.
Sprinkle with parmesan then mozzarella, leaving a border around the crust (for gripping purposes).
Note: If you are using my no-yeast pizza base, spray or brush the exposed edge with olive oil so it browns. You don’t need to do this for yeast-based pizza dough.
Bake for 8 minutes in a hot 250°C / 480°F (230°C fan) oven, rotating the tray halfway, until you have lovely golden spots on the cheese.
Cut and eat!
Cut and devour immediately, while the cheese is at its melty, oozy perfection. Marvel at how similar it is to that great pizzeria you went to a few months ago with your friends, but feel smug that this homemade one cost you less than $6 to make and how you get to eat it in the comfort of your own home in trackies and ugg boots. Proof below.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250°C / 480°F (230°C fan). Allow time to get it nice and hot!!
- Garlic infused oil – Mix olive oil and garlic in a small bowl. Set aside to infuse with flavour for 10 minutes.
- Pizza base – Make and roll out chosen pizza base, stretch onto pan.
- Top – Spread oil (and all garlic) onto the base, leaving the crust baked. Sprinkle with salt, parmesan then mozzarella. (If using no-yeast base, spray/brush exposed crust with olive oil.)
- Bake 8 minutes, turning after 4 minutes, or until the the cheese has golden spots. Cut and eat, stat!
Recipe Notes:
- 1. Pizza base choices –
- Classic pizza dough (yeast) – 5 min hand knead or stand-mix or 40 second food processor, plus 4 to 6 hours rising time (across 2 rises)
- No yeast pizza dough – This is excellent, not a sad substitute for yeast pizza. 40 seconds in food processor, or hand knead. NO RISE TIME.
- Store bought – anything of your choice, un-cooked or par-cooked (else it will burn before cheese melts)
Please don’t use store bought garlic paste – it’s sour from preservatives.3. Cheese notes – Freshly shredded melts / spreads better because pre-shredded in packets are coated with anti-clumping agents. If using cups for measuring, shred first then pack it in tightly else you’ll be short – so sad. I cut hunks of cheese, weigh, then grate.