Mushrooms are a great topping for your pizza at any time. They’re a versatile ingredient that can be eaten alone or combined with other toppings. Vegetarians and meat lovers alike can enjoy mushroom pizza, as mushrooms pair well with many popular meat toppings. No matter how you decide to enjoy your mushroom pizza, we’re confident that our cooks here at Pequod’s in Chicago can deliver. Why not stop by to enjoy your favorite pizza topping with your friends or loved ones?
Mushrooms on Pizza
Various mushroom pizza recipes allow you to create a meal to your liking. One popular option is to combine standard pizza sauce with mushrooms and cheese to make a simple mushroom pizza. This easy option is quick to prepare, and it’s also a great choice if you’re vegetarian or need to cater to vegetarian guests. The mushroom flavor provides a nice contrast to the tangy combination of a crispy cheese topping and a sweet tomato-based sauce. You can add optional extras, such as fresh herbs, to give your pizza a unique twist.
Other possibilities include a truffle mushroom pizza or a white pizza topped with mushrooms. A white pizza is made without the traditional tomato sauce; instead, we drizzle the pizza base with olive oil before adding the cheese and other toppings. You can either stick with mushrooms as the main topping or combine them with other vegetables or meats for a varied taste.
You can purchase mushrooms for your pizza at a store or nearby farmer’s market. They can be kept in your refrigerator for several days, making them a great ingredient to keep on hand for a quick pizza topping.
Best Mushrooms for Pizza
We strongly recommend using fresh mushrooms on your pizza. They give the best flavor and texture to complement a crispy cheese topping. For an extra touch, you could sauté your mushrooms before adding them to your pizza. Adding lemon juice or herbs, such as rosemary or thyme, while sautéing can enhance the flavor even more.
Additionally, sautéing mushrooms before putting them on your pizza prevents them from drying out in the oven. However, some people don’t mind putting fresh mushrooms directly on their pizza, especially if other ingredients provide moisture.
Canned mushrooms are not ideal for making pizza. They tend to be soft already and have a slimy texture, which doesn’t improve after baking. What’s more, their flavor tends to be less pronounced, so you won’t get that strong mushroom taste when you dig into your pizza. If you don’t have access to fresh mushrooms, consider topping your pizza with other popular vegetarian ingredients, such as peppers, onions, or olives, instead.
Preparing Mushrooms
As mentioned earlier, whether to cook mushrooms before putting them on pizza depends on your personal taste. You can sauté or fry them or add them raw if desired. Whichever method you choose, we suggest washing your mushrooms first. Then, slice them (either thinly or keep them chunky) and distribute the pieces evenly across your pizza. Then, add any other ingredients you’ve chosen to include. If you’re making a deep-pan pizza, the mushrooms will cook nicely in the sauce and infuse it with a fragrant note.
Complementary Toppings
Mushrooms are a great pizza topping because you can combine them with a wide variety of ingredients or enjoy them with a straightforward cheese topping. If you’re making a vegetarian pizza, consider pairing mushrooms with onions, tomatoes, or broccoli. You can choose a traditional pizza sauce, create a white pizza, or use alternative sauces for a more unique taste. You have a considerable amount of freedom to create your pizza as you like since there are very few vegetable toppings that don’t work well with mushrooms.
A mushroom pizza can also include meat. Mushrooms pair well with salami, bacon, and ham. You can also mix up the types of cheese you use by choosing gorgonzola, goat’s cheese, mozzarella, and more. Add unique finishing touches, such as basil or truffle oil, to further enhance the flavor.
The sauce you choose will also have a big impact on the flavor. Traditional pizza sauces are made with tomatoes, which goes well with the earthy taste of mushrooms. Other popular alternatives are barbecue sauce or creme fraiche.
Visit Pequod’s for Mushroom Pizza in Chicago
At Pequod’s Pizza, we offer a delicious variety of mushroom pizza. Whether you want to stick with mushrooms alone or combine them with your other favorite toppings, our high-quality pizza pies are sure to delight. Whether you’re visiting Chicago or a local resident, make sure to stop by our deep-dish pizza restaurant. We pride ourselves on offering the very best mushroom pizza that will keep you coming back for more. To learn more or reserve your table, contact our team today. We’re looking forward to welcoming you into the world of mushroom pizza.
Image by Ben Sutherland licensed with CC BY 2.0