Plum tomatoes are one of the most delicious and versatile ingredients you can use on a pizza, adding freshness, tang, and that perfect juicy texture. In this guide, I’ll show you how to incorporate plum tomatoes into your pizza recipe to create a mouthwatering homemade pizza that stands out. Whether you’re using fresh or canned plum tomatoes, the key is to balance their natural sweetness and acidity with other toppings to make your pizza unforgettable.
Why Plum Tomatoes?
Less juicy and with a bit more meat than your average tomato, Roma or plum tomatoes are the perfect choice for pizza, because they will keep your pie sturdy and strong. They make great for a nice, thick pizza sauce and sliced up, they are delightful on top.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s a simple breakdown of the key ingredients you need for a pizza that features plum tomatoes:
Pizza Dough: You can use store-bought dough or make your own if you’re feeling adventurous.
Plum Tomatoes: About 4-6 ripe tomatoes, sliced or crushed. You can use fresh or canned tomatoes.
Mozzarella Cheese: For that gooey, melty layer.
Olive Oil: Adds a hint of richness and helps in baking.
Garlic: For an aromatic flavor.
Fresh Basil: Adds that classic fresh taste.
Salt, Pepper, Oregano: To season the tomatoes and enhance the flavor of the sauce.
Optional Add-ins: Red chili flakes for a bit of heat or balsamic vinegar to add depth to the sauce.
Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Plum Tomatoes to Your Pizza
Step 1: If you use store-bought, simply let it come to room temperature. Set your oven to 425°F/220°C. Using flour on your surface, roll out the dough to be as thin or thick a crust as you like.
Step 2: If this pizza has any center stage besides plum tomatoes it is the sauce. Add olive oil to your pan, and once hot, fry off some crushed garlic until fragrant (about 2-3 minutes). Then throw in your crushed plum tomatoes, some salt and pepper, and a hit of oregano. Simmer for 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. For a more homogenous sauce, you can puree using an immersion blender.
To perk up the sauce even more, you can pour in some balsamic vinegar or red wine and then let it simmer until it is reduced to a thick consistency. On your stove pour the sauce and you can also cook it a little longer for a thicker consistency so that the pizza won’t become soggy as we bake it.
Step 3: Layering your pizza once the dough is prepared, brush it with olive oil to achieve a crispy, golden crust. Evenly spread your homemade plum tomato sauce across the base, leaving about an inch around the edge for the crust. Add a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese, making sure to cover the sauce while leaving some gaps for the tomato topping.
Step 4: Adding the plum tomato slices for extra freshness, slice 2-3 plum tomatoes and place them over the cheese. The balance between the cooked sauce and fresh tomatoes will enhance both texture and flavor. Sprinkle the slices with salt and drizzle a bit more olive oil to keep them juicy during baking.
Step 5: Bake the pizza place your pizza into the preheated oven, baking for 12-15 minutes until the cheese bubbles and the crust turns golden. If you’re using a pizza stone, ensure it’s preheated to achieve a crispier crust.
Garnishing and Serving
Now everything is ready, take your pizza out of the oven and let it cool a little. That is the point at which some fresh basil leaves come in to include a spot of freshness and pepperiness. It can be drizzled with a bit of pesto on top for an extra flavor payday, if you are feeling rich. Cut a slice and dig in for ripe raw plum tomatoes with hot mozzarella run across the juxtaposed background of crusty edges of a pizza.
Why Plum Tomatoes are Perfect for Pizza
Plum tomatoes offer excellent flavor, becoming sweeter as they cook, making them an ideal choice for pizzas. Their reduced water content ensures your pizza remains crisp, while their mild tang complements the richness of the cheese. Additionally, they blend well into sauces or as fresh toppings, providing versatility to your pizza-making toolkit.
Extra Tips for Perfect Plum Tomato Pizza
Fresh plum tomatoes, if you can get your hands on them, will taste best and soften up the way you want as they cook down you’ll be left with a little extra of their excess juice, but that’s a good thing, Canned are perfectly fine in this should it ever come to that though!
Keep the sauce simple, the sauce should not be too much seasoned with herbs or spices.
Optional Heat: When you see how sweet this sauce turns out, you might want to turn up the dial and add some red pepper flakes for a little.
Play with Cheeses: Instead of mozzarella which is the traditional choice of cheese to use, you could try using a combination of Parmesan or even some goat cheese if you want that little zing!
In The End
Plum tomatoes are really the king of pizza, with their use as a sauce or rest upon top. A pizza of their choice An easy, cheesy, sweet-tasting mozzarella that hums with the slight tang of fresh buttermilk One garlic A dash or sprig of basil Fresh and delicious. The next time you have a pizza night craving, throw some plum tomatoes into the mix for a light tasting treat.
