Yesterday I visited my aunt, who loves experimenting with pizza. This time, she made a pizza with New Haven-style pizza dough for me, which was so tempting.
Well, hearing me, you may wonder: what is New Haven-style pizza dough?
New Haven-style pizza dough is thin and crisp, cooked quickly at a high temperature of roughly 650 to 750 degrees Fahrenheit in a coal-fired oven. The dough is made with bread flour to prevent it from breaking. The crust is usually charred on the outside and has an alluring burnt flavor.
It isn’t enough information to resolve all queries on New Haven-style pizza dough. To learn more, stay tuned for the entire article.
What Is New Haven-Style Pizza Dough?
When I hear New Haven Style pizza dough, all I recall is a thin, crispy, smoky crust that accompanies a variety of toppings, sauce, and cheese. The base of this pizza has that lovely burnt flavor that will make you fall for it head over heels.
New Haven-style pizza dough is usually made in a coal-fired oven with special flour, such as bread flour. In essence, using bread flour in New Haven-style pizza dough makes it easier to stretch and rise.
However, its consistency, superior flavor, thinness, and crispiness make the New Haven style a better choice. Pizza dough made in New Haven undergoes a protracted fermentation process that largely accounts for its consistency and flavor.
In addition, the dough is baked in coal-fired ovens to give the pizza the ultimate New Haven flavor, which adds a burnt flavor to the pizza.
What Is So Unique About New Haven-Style Pizza Dough?
In several ways, New Haven-style pizza dough differs from traditional pizza dough. Let’s check what they are.
1. Special flour
In addition to containing a good source of protein and gluten, New Haven-style pizza dough is made with special flour that makes it easier to stretch and build a strong structure. Generally, bread flour is used when making New Haven-style pizza dough instead of all-purpose flour.
In making pizza dough in the New Haven style, some people might opt for 00 flour, but bread flour can yield the best results to enhance the flavor.
2. Hand-tossed
New Haven-style pizza dough is hand-tossed, resulting in a light, airy, thinner, and crispier crust. In addition, it results in a more evenly cooked crust.
3. Aged for 24 hours
In New Haven-style pizza dough, it’s aged for around 24 hours, which allows the dough to develop flavor. Additionally, this process makes the dough more springy.
4. Coal-fired oven
New Haven-style pizza dough is cooked in a coal-fired oven at a high temperature, which causes the dough to crisp up and give the pizza a smoky flavor.
New Haven-Style Pizza Dough Hydration
New Haven-style pizza dough’s hydration depends on the amount of water you add when making the dough. Therefore, use less water for a crispier crust and more water for a chewier dough.
During the preparation process, knead the dough for about 10 minutes to form a sticky, smooth, and elastic ball. After that, place the dough in a bowl, wrap it in plastic wrap, and allow it to rise for about an hour in a warm place.
Finally, due to the thin crust of New Haven-style pizza, brush the pan with olive oil before placing the pizza dough on it.
Remember, hydration is crucial when making dough as it aids in the dough’s ability to rise and keeps it from sticking; otherwise, it will alter its consistency.
New Haven-Style Pizza Dough Recipe
Do you want to make New Haven Style Pizza dough? Then follow me.
Ingredients
To make the New Haven-style pizza dough, you will need-
- 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 1/2 cups bread flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Steps To Follow
To make your New Haven-style pizza dough thin and crispy, let’s follow the instructions.
- Combine the yeast, water, flour, salt, and oil.
- For a high-hydration dough, add 70% of the water.
- Mix well and knead for 10 minutes to form a smooth and elastic dough.
- Place the dough in a bowl and let it rise in a warm place for about an hour.
- Meanwhile, preheat your coal-fired oven to 650 degrees Fahrenheit or 343 degrees Celsius and bake the dough between 650 to 750 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If you don’t have a coal-fired oven, preheat the oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit or 260 degrees Celsius and bake for 10-12 minutes.
How To Store New Haven-Style Pizza Dough?
There might be a rise in the dough if some are left over after baking a New Haven-style pizza: How should I store the dough?
Well, you just need to carry out the steps below to store the dough.
- Place the dough in a bowl and cover the surface with plastic wrap, an airtight container, or a sealed plastic bag.
- Keep them in the fridge for around 3 days.
- If you want to keep the dough for up to 4 days, store it in the refrigerator.
Try to avoid storing them for a long time, as the dough can become contaminated with dangerous bacteria.
How to define “New Haven-style pizza”? Origin of New Haven-style pizza
Similar to classic Neapolitan-style pizza, New Haven-style pizza has the best flavor and a thin, crunchy crust. This unique pizza was created in the 1920s by Frank Pepe on Wooster Street and is still popular for New Haven-style pizza.
Pizza made in the New Haven style is typically made with oregano, tomato sauce, and a small amount of grated mozzarella and pecorino romano cheese.
However, since it is cooked in a wood-fired oven, it has a smoky flavor, which you won’t find in regular pizzas.
New Haven-style pizza vs. Neapolitan vs. New York pizza
Let’s see the differences between New Haven-style pizza, Neapolitan pizza, and New York pizza.
| Pizza | New Haven-style pizza | Neapolitan pizza | New York pizza. |
| Dough | Bread flour is used in making New Haven-style pizza dough. | Usually, 00 flour is used to make Neapolitan pizza. | New York pizza is made with American bread flour. |
| Crust | Thin and crunchy. | Soft and thin crust | Thin, crispy, and less bubbly |
| Topping | Tomato sauce, mozzarella and pecorino romano cheese, and oregano. | Tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil. | Tomato sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese. |
Final words
This article covered: “What is New Haven-style pizza dough?”
So, if you’re planning to enjoy pizza with New Haven-style dough, go and enjoy. I swear, you won’t be disappointed with the taste. Even the flavor of the New Haven-style pizza captivates you.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to eat out, you can make the dough according to the directions and top it with fresh ingredients.
