Toronto Life Cookbook: Queen Margherita Pizza co-owner John Chetti shares his 10 favourite pizza toppings
Photography by Reena Newman | Food Styling by Sasha Seymour
193394 <strong>Margherita Extra</strong><br /><br />
Tomato sauce, fior di latte, basil, parmigiano reggiano, cherry tomatoes. (Image: Reena Newman) Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pizza-toppings/slide/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-intro/ ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-intro 0 0
(Image: Reena Newman)
193384 <strong>Calabrese</strong><br /><br />
Tomato sauce, garlic, black pepper, parmigiano reggiano, Calabrese sausage. (Image: Reena Newman) Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pizza-toppings/slide/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-01/ ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-01 0 0
(Image: Reena Newman)
193385 <strong>Diavola</strong><br /><br />
Tomato sauce, fior di latte, hot sopressata, black olives, hot peppers. (Image: Reena Newman) Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pizza-toppings/slide/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-02/ ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-02 0 0
(Image: Reena Newman)
193387 <strong>La Scala</strong><br /><br />
Fior di latte, pork belly, red onion, hot peppers, arugula, Asiago, salmoriglio (emulsify lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, chopped oregano and parsley, salt and pepper).<br />
(Image: Reena Newman) Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pizza-toppings/slide/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-04/ ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-04 0 0
(Image: Reena Newman)
193388 <strong>Veg Out</strong><br /><br />
Tomato sauce, fior di latte, asparagus, roasted red peppers, sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, oregano, black pepper. (Image: Reena Newman) Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pizza-toppings/slide/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-05/ ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-05 0 0
(Image: Reena Newman)
193389 <strong>Rocco</strong><br /><br />
Tomato sauce, fior di latte, Gorgonzola, Italian sausage, red onion. (Image: Reena Newman) Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pizza-toppings/slide/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-06/ ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-06 0 0
(Image: Reena Newman)
193390 <strong>Giovanni</strong><br /><br />
Tomato sauce, fior di latte, prosciutto di Parma, arugula, cherry tomatoes. (Image: Reena Newman) Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pizza-toppings/slide/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-07/ ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-07 0 0
(Image: Reena Newman)
193391 <strong>Pesto</strong><br /><br />
Fior di latte, cherry tomatoes, basil, pesto. (Image: Reena Newman) Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pizza-toppings/slide/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-08/ ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-08 0 0
(Image: Reena Newman)
193392 <strong>Matteo</strong><br /><br />
Tomato sauce, fior di latte, sautéed mushrooms, shaved ricotta salata. (Image: Reena Newman) Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pizza-toppings/slide/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-09/ ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-09 0 0
(Image: Reena Newman)
193393 <strong>Quattro Formaggi</strong><br /><br />
Fior di latte, ricotta salata, Gorgonzola, Asiago. (Image: Reena Newman) Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza Toronto Life Cookbook: Pizza https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pizza-toppings/slide/ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-10/ ten-ways-with-pizza-toppings-10 0 0
(Image: Reena Newman)
PREP TIME: 3 hours | COOK TIME: 20 minutes
THE ULTIMATE PIZZA DOUGH
2 tbsp fresh yeast
1 cup lukewarm water
3⅓ cups unbleached flour
1 tbsp salt
1. Dissolve 2 tbsp yeast into 5 tsp lukewarm water. Add 2 tbsp flour and mix into a smooth paste. Cover with a tea towel and let rise 30 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, make a deep hole in the middle of 2¾ cups flour. Pour in the yeast liquid, salt and remaining water. Knead continuously with well-floured hands for about 10 minutes. When the dough is elastic, form it into a loaf and then cut into 4 equal pieces. Form the pieces into balls and cover. Let rise 2 hours until they double in size. Each ball makes a pizza.
3. Preheat oven to 425º F. Knead each ball for a couple of minutes. Flatten each ball into a thin circle, then roll to desired thinness. Make a raised edge by pressing knuckles 1 inch inside the circle. Add toppings.
4. Bake on well-greased pan for 15 to 20 minutes, or place on a pizza stone and bake at your oven’s highest temperature until desired doneness.
5. For variations that use tomato sauce, blend a can of San Marzano DOP tomatoes with a handful of basil, ½ cup olive oil and a pinch of salt.