There’s nothing quite as tantalizing to the taste buds as a delicious pizza. What makes pizza so appealing? Is it the cheese, toppings, or seasonings? We think it’s the combination of all the components that make a pizza special.
The Art of Perfecting Pizza With the Right Seasoning
The right herbs, spices, and seasonings can really elevate your pizza experience. Traditional herbs, such as basil, and zesty spices, such as cracked red pepper flakes, can enhance the flavor. How you season a pizza depends on your preferred taste. It can also be fun to branch out and experiment with exotic options such as curry, fennel seeds, or smoked paprika. While pizza seasoning varies around the world, certain spices and herbs define the traditional pizza flavor.
Comprehensive Guide to the Best Pizza Seasonings
Our team at Pequod’s Pizza in Chicago assembled this guide to show you how to season a pizza and what seasonings to put on a pizza for the ultimate flavor experience.
Classic Italian Herbs and Spices: Oregano, Basil, Thyme, and Rosemary
When you walk into a pizzeria, you’ll almost always smell the rich scents of fresh and dried herbs. To make a classic Italian sauce, you need the following herbs for pizza that everyone in the family will appreciate.
Oregano
Oregano is king when it comes to an aromatic pizza sauce. The earthy, slightly bitter flavor of oregano pairs nicely with salty pizza toppings, such as pepperoni, salami, olives, and capers.
Basil
Basil is one of the most popular herbs to put on pizza. The fresh, vibrant flavor profile of basil brings out the sweetness and acidity of tomato sauce and goes well on a simple pizza, such as a Margherita or vegetarian pie. Add fresh basil to the top of the pizza at the end of baking.
Thyme
If you enjoy an earthy depth of flavor to your pizza sauce or need a seasoning for pizza crust, thyme is a quality choice. It pairs well with deep, rich flavors from olives, cured meats, and roasted eggplant.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a woody herb with a rich, distinct fragrance and taste. Use rosemary in pizza seasonings when you want a robust-flavored sauce.
Cheeses That Elevate Flavor: Parmesan and Romano
While the seasoned sauce adds flavor to pizza, it’s the cheese that truly makes it. Mften find mozzarella is the most common choice, known for its soft, moist texture and light flavor. When you make a pizza with earthy seasonings and hearty toppings such as grilled vegetables, spicy pepperoni, or cured black olives, choose either Parmesan or Romano cheese for the perfect blend of flavors.
Parmesan
Parmesan cheese is a staple in Italian cooking. This hard cheese is often grated into salads or added as a final pizza topping. Use a grater to shred Parmesan onto the pizza after it’s baked. You can also add Parmesan cheese to the pizza crust for a richer flavor.
Romano
Romano is another type of hard cheese used as a topping for Italian-style foods. This cheese has a salty, sharp flavor that adds an extra layer of savoriness to your pizza. Use Romana cheese on full-flavor pizzas.
Aromatic Enhancers: Garlic Powder and Onion Powder
Some of the best pizza seasonings are subtle. Garlic powder and onion powder add aromatic layers to your pizza sauce or crust. These powdered aromatics blend well with dry seasonings, allowing them to infuse without overpowering other flavors.
Spice It Up: Red Pepper Flakes and Black Pepper
If you like a bit of heat on your pizza, you can’t go wrong adding a few sprinkles of red pepper flakes to your baked pie. Zesty spices for pizza toppings excite your taste buds for a satisfying sensation. Adding black pepper can boost the umami flavor, making your pizza taste even more delightful.
Unique Additions for Gourmet Pizzas: Fennel Seeds and Smoked Paprika
To create varied pizza seasoning blends, experiment with adding fennel seeds or smoked paprika.
Fennel Seeds
Seeds from the fennel plant add a sweet, almost licorice, taste to pizza and pasta sauces. Grind fennel seeds with a mortar and pestle to release the aromatics, and use them sparingly in your sauce.
Smoked Paprika
You can often find smoked paprika, which is a blend of dried sweet and hot peppers, in Spanish food. This type of paprika adds a smoky flavor to pizzas; it’s best sprinkled on top of a meat lover’s pizza or one with cured exotic olives.
Adding Nontraditional Ingredients
Some people enjoy nontraditional pizza toppings, such as pineapple, anchovies, and kale. But what about nontraditional herbs and spices in your pizza seasoning blend? Consider adding spicy harissa powder for flavors of North Africa. Or sprinkle on a few dried lemon flakes or lemon seasoning for a light and refreshing taste.
You can also go for a south-of-the-border pizza by using seasonings such as cumin and Mexican oregano and toppings such as chorizo and pickled jalapeno peppers. Use your imagination when creating pizza seasoning blends. Just make sure the flavors work well together.
Why Homemade Pizza Seasoning Is a Game Changer
If you enjoy making pizza at home, up your pizza game with homemade seasoning blends. While you can experiment with exotic or nontraditional herbs and spices, start with a pizza spice blend that will please most palates.
How To Make Pizza Seasoning
When you’re making your own pizza seasoning, try this basic mix you’ll use again and again. Combine the following dried herbs:
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Onion flakes
- Garlic powder
Use oregano as the base, and add small amounts of thyme and even smaller amounts of onion flakes and garlic powder. Mix the seasonings together, take a small taste, and adjust as needed. Store your basic pizza seasoning blend in an airtight container, and add it to your next homemade pizza sauce.
Visit Pequod’s Pizza in Chicago
Whether you want a traditional deep-dish pizza with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni or a flamboyant one with nontraditional toppings such as anchovies, pineapple, or jalapeno peppers, our team at Pequod’s Pizza will make the pizza of your dreams. Stop by our Chicago location at 2207 N. Clybourn Ave., call us at 773-327-1512, or order online for pizza, pasta, and appetizers.
pizza with green leaf on brown wooden table by Sam Moghadam Khamseh is licensed with Unsplash License