Pepperoni Pizza recipe like in a pizzeria

Why is Pepperoni the most popular pizza?

Pepperoni pizza is a worldwide classic. People love it for the crispy crust, stretchy mozzarella, and spicy slices of pepperoni salami that curl and crisp at the edges when baked. This contrast — tender dough, melted cheese, and spicy sausage — makes Pepperoni the top hit on any menu.

Dough ingredients (for 2 medium pizzas):

• 300 g wheat flour
• 180 ml warm water
• 5 g dry yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1.5 tbsp olive oil

Sauce:

• 200 g tomato puree
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tsp oregano
• pinch of salt and sugar
• a little olive oil

Topping:

• 150–200 g mozzarella
• 70–100 g pepperoni (thin slices)
• fresh basil (optional)

Recipe

1. Dough. Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water, leave for 5 min. Add flour, salt, and olive oil. Knead elastic dough and let it rise for 1–1.5 hours.
2. Sauce. Heat olive oil, sauté garlic, add tomatoes, oregano, salt, and sugar. Simmer for 7–10 min until slightly thickened.
3. Base. Divide the dough into 2 parts, roll out thin circles (3–5 mm).
4. Assemble. Spread the sauce, sprinkle mozzarella, arrange pepperoni slices on top.
5. Baking. In the oven at 250°C (480°F), pizza is ready in 7–10 min.

In a pizzeria, however, Pepperoni is baked in a wood-fired oven at 400–450°C (750–850°F) and is done in just 3–4 minutes.

Tips: add chili flakes for extra spice, and combine mozzarella with provolone or parmesan for richer flavor.