5 Famous Italian Dishes You Can Make in an Outdoor Pizza Oven

 

An outdoor pizza oven can cook much more than pizza. Its high heat is useful for bread, baked pasta, vegetables, and meat. This type of oven also suits many Italian dishes because Italian cooking has a long link with wood-fired ovens and simple cooking methods. Neapolitan pizza is the best-known example. Traditional Neapolitan pizza is cooked in a wood-fired oven at very high heat.

But pizza is only one part of Italian oven cooking. Focaccia, lasagna, eggplant parmigiana, and roast chicken can also be cooked in an outdoor oven when the heat is right. Each dish has its own story, ingredients, and way of serving. The five dishes below show how an outdoor pizza oven can be used for a wider range of Italian food.

1. Neapolitan Pizza

Neapolitan pizza comes from Naples in southern Italy. It is one of the most famous Italian foods in the world. The pizza has a thin center and a soft, raised edge. Traditional versions use only a few main toppings.

The history of Neapolitan pizza goes back to Naples. Records place the early form of Pizza Napoletana in the 18th century. The tomato became an important part of the pizza during this period. Later, tomato, mozzarella, and basil became the base of the famous Margherita style.

What Is Neapolitan Pizza Made Of?

The dough is made with:

• Flour

• Water

• Salt

• Yeast

The toppings are simple. A classic pizza can use tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil, and extra virgin olive oil. The official rules for true Neapolitan pizza also set rules for the dough, shape, toppings, and cooking method.

How Is It Cooked and Eaten?

A traditional Neapolitan pizza is cooked directly on the stone floor of a wood-fired oven. The oven is heated to about 430°C to 480°C. At this heat, the pizza can cook in about 60 to 90 seconds.

The pizza is usually served hot and eaten soon after it comes out of the oven. It can be folded or cut into pieces. The soft center and light crust make it easy to eat with simple toppings.

2. Focaccia

Focaccia is a type of Italian flatbread. It is soft inside, lightly crisp on the outside, and often covered with olive oil and salt. Focaccia is closely linked with Liguria in northern Italy, especially the city of Genoa.

Focaccia has been part of Ligurian food for a long time. It is still a common food in the region. Genoese focaccia is known for its deep small holes, which can hold olive oil and coarse salt. Some versions also include onions, potatoes, or olives.

What Is Focaccia Made Of?

A basic focaccia needs:

• Wheat flour

• Water

• Yeast

• Salt

• Olive oil

Rosemary is also common. Other versions may include tomatoes, onions, olives, or cheese.

The dough is mixed and left to rise. It is then spread in a wide tray. Small holes are pressed into the top with the fingers. Olive oil and salt are added before baking.

How Is It Cooked and Eaten?

Focaccia can be baked in an outdoor pizza oven. The oven should not be as hot as it would be for Neapolitan pizza. A lower, steady heat gives the bread time to cook inside without burning the top.

In Genoa, focaccia can even be eaten for breakfast with coffee. It can also be served as a snack, with cheese, or as part of a meal.

Focaccia di Recco is another well-known Ligurian style. It has two very thin layers of dough with soft cheese between them. It is usually eaten hot.

3. Lasagna

Lasagna is a baked pasta dish made in layers. It is one of the best-known foods from Italy. The dish is strongly linked with Emilia-Romagna, a region in northern Italy known for egg pasta and rich sauces. Italy's official tourism site lists lasagna among the traditional dishes of Emilia-Romagna.

Lasagna has changed over time and has many local versions. The Bolognese style is made with egg pasta, Bolognese sauce, and other layers. Different parts of Italy may use different fillings and sauces.

What Is Lasagna Made Of?

A traditional Bolognese-style lasagna can contain:

• Egg pasta sheets

• Meat sauce

• Béchamel sauce

• Grated cheese

Some recipes also use vegetables or other types of meat.

The pasta sheets are placed in a baking dish. Sauce and other fillings are added between the layers. More cheese is placed on top before the dish goes into the oven.

How Is It Cooked and Eaten?

Lasagna needs a lower heat than pizza. This makes it a good dish to cook after the outdoor pizza oven has cooled from its highest heat.

The lasagna is placed in a heat-safe baking dish. It is then cooked until the pasta is tender, the filling is hot, and the top is golden.

Lasagna is usually served warm. It is often cut into square pieces and served as a main meal. In many Italian homes, it is linked with family meals, Sundays, and special occasions.

4. Melanzane alla Parmigiana

Melanzane alla Parmigiana is a baked eggplant dish. It is also known as eggplant parmigiana. It is made with layers of eggplant, tomato sauce, cheese, and herbs.

The dish is part of southern Italian cooking. It is linked with regions such as Sicily and Campania. There are different ideas about its exact origin, and recipes can vary from one area to another.

The name can be confusing because the dish is not simply a recipe from the city of Parma. It is a well-known southern Italian dish with many local versions.

What Is Melanzane alla Parmigiana Made Of?

The main ingredients are:

• Eggplant

• Tomato sauce

• Mozzarella or another soft cheese

• Parmesan cheese

• Basil

• Olive oil

The eggplant is prepared before the layers are made. Some recipes fry the slices, while others bake or grill them.

The eggplant is then placed in layers with tomato sauce and cheese. More cheese is added to the top.

How Is It Cooked and Eaten?

This dish works well in an outdoor pizza oven because it needs steady baking heat rather than the very high heat used for pizza.

The dish is placed in a baking dish and cooked until the sauce is hot and the cheese has melted. The top should become lightly golden.

Melanzane alla Parmigiana is usually served warm. It can be eaten as a main dish or served as part of a larger Italian meal. It is also a useful dish for family meals because it can be prepared before baking.

5. Italian Roast Chicken

Roast chicken is a simple dish, but it has an important place in home cooking. In Italy, chicken can be roasted with olive oil, garlic, herbs, and potatoes. It is a good example of how an outdoor pizza oven can be used for a long, slow bake after the oven has cooled from pizza heat.

Unlike Neapolitan pizza, roast chicken does not need extreme heat. It needs steady heat that can cook the meat through while giving the skin time to brown.

What Is Italian Roast Chicken Made Of?

A simple Italian-style roast chicken can use:

• Whole chicken

• Olive oil

• Garlic

• Rosemary

• Sage

• Salt

• Black pepper

• Potatoes

• Lemon

The herbs and garlic give the chicken a simple but strong flavor. Potatoes are often placed around the chicken so they can cook in the juices.

How Is It Cooked and Eaten?

The chicken is seasoned before cooking. It is then placed in a suitable roasting pan and put into the outdoor oven once the heat has dropped to a safe roasting level.

The chicken should be kept away from direct flames. It needs enough time to cook through. The skin should become brown and crisp while the meat stays moist.

Roast chicken is usually served hot with roasted potatoes or vegetables. It can be the main part of a family meal and is simple enough for a weekend lunch.

How an Outdoor Pizza Oven Can Cook More Than Pizza

These five dishes show why an outdoor pizza oven can be useful for more than making pizza.

Pizza needs very high heat and a short cooking time. Focaccia needs strong heat but more time. Lasagna and eggplant parmigiana need a lower baking heat. Roast chicken needs steady heat for a longer period.

The oven can therefore be used in stages. Pizza can be cooked first while the oven is very hot. Once the heat drops, dishes such as focaccia, lasagna, vegetables, and meat can be cooked.

This also makes good use of the heat stored in the oven. Instead of letting the oven cool without use, the remaining heat can be used for another part of the meal.

Final Thoughts

Italian food has many dishes that suit oven cooking. Neapolitan pizza shows the value of very high wood-fired heat. Focaccia turns simple bread dough into a soft and flavorful food. Lasagna uses steady heat to cook layers of pasta and sauce. Melanzane alla Parmigiana brings together eggplant, tomato, and cheese in one baked dish. Roast chicken uses a lower heat to cook meat and vegetables slowly.

An outdoor pizza oven can therefore be much more than a place to bake pizza. With the right heat and a suitable cooking dish, it can be used to prepare several classic Italian foods while keeping the cooking simple and close to traditional methods.