Brooklyn Style Pizza: A Foodie’s Guide

Brooklyn style pizza is a beloved culinary icon, celebrated for its thin, crispy crust, rich tomato sauce, and perfect blend of toppings. This guide is designed for foodies who want to delve deep into the world of Brooklyn style pizza, from its origins to the best places to try it, and even how to make it at home. Let’s explore what makes Brooklyn style pizza so special.

What is Brooklyn Style Pizza?

Brooklyn style pizza is a type of pizza known for its thin, crispy crust and large, foldable slices. It’s characterized by a well-balanced combination of high-gluten dough, a rich tomato sauce, and high-quality toppings, all baked to perfection in a high-temperature oven, often a coal-fired brick oven.

Origins of Brooklyn Style Pizza

The roots of Brooklyn style pizza can be traced back to the early 20th century when Italian immigrants brought their traditional pizza recipes to New York. Over time, Brooklyn developed its own distinctive style, influenced by the unique ingredients and cooking methods available in the area. The coal-fired ovens, which reach extremely high temperatures, became a hallmark of the Brooklyn pizza-making tradition, giving the pizza its signature crispy crust.

Key Characteristics of Brooklyn Style Pizza

1. Thin, Crispy Crust: The crust is thin and crispy, yet still has a slight chewiness that adds to its texture.
2. High-Quality Ingredients: The use of high-gluten flour for the dough, fresh mozzarella cheese, and top-notch tomatoes for the sauce are essential.
3. Large, Foldable Slices: Brooklyn style pizza is typically cut into large slices that can be easily folded in half, a signature eating style.
4. Coal-Fired Ovens: The traditional use of coal-fired brick ovens imparts a unique, slightly smoky flavor to the crust.

Top 10 Places to Try Brooklyn Style Pizza

Here are some of the best pizzerias where you can experience authentic Brooklyn style pizza:

1. Grimaldi’s Pizzeria

   • Location: 1 Front St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
   • Highlights: Coal-fired brick oven pizzas with a perfect balance of crust, sauce, and toppings.

2. Di Fara Pizza

   • Location: 1424 Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY 11230
   • Highlights: Hand-made pizzas by the legendary Domenico DeMarco, known for their fresh ingredients and artisanal quality.

3. Juliana’s Pizza

   • Location: 19 Old Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
   • Highlights: Founded by the original owner of Grimaldi’s, offering thin crust pizzas with high-quality toppings.

4. Roberta’s

   • Location: 261 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206
   • Highlights: Trendy spot known for creative toppings and locally-sourced ingredients.

5. Totonno’s

   • Location: 1524 Neptune Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224
   • Highlights: One of the oldest pizzerias, offering coal-fired pizzas with a rich history.

6. Lucali

   • Location: 575 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
   • Highlights: Intimate setting with thin, crispy crust and a BYOB policy.

7. Paulie Gee’s

   • Location: 60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
   • Highlights: Wood-fired pizzas with inventive toppings and a cozy atmosphere.

8. L&B Spumoni Gardens

   • Location: 2725 86th St, Brooklyn, NY 11223
   • Highlights: Famous for Sicilian square slices, but also offers delicious round pizzas.

9. Emmy Squared

   • Location: 364 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
   • Highlights: Known for Detroit-style pizza but also serves excellent Brooklyn style pizza.

10. Speedy Romeo

    • Location: 376 Classon Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
    • Highlights: Wood-fired oven pizzas with a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients.

How to Make Brooklyn Style Pizza at Home

Creating Brooklyn style pizza at home requires attention to detail and high-quality ingredients. Here’s a simplified recipe:

Ingredients:

• Dough: 4 cups high-gluten flour, 1 1/2 cups water, 1 packet active dry yeast, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tbsp olive oil
• Sauce: 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes, 2 cloves garlic, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp sugar, salt and pepper, fresh basil (optional)
• Toppings: 2 cups fresh mozzarella, your choice of toppings (pepperoni, mushrooms, etc.)

Instructions:

1. Make the Dough: Activate yeast in warm water, mix with flour, salt, and olive oil. Knead until smooth, let rise until doubled in size.
2. Prepare the Sauce: Sauté garlic in olive oil, add crushed tomatoes, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer until thickened.
3. Preheat Oven: Heat a pizza stone or steel in your oven at the highest temperature.
4. Shape the Dough: Divide dough, roll out thinly, and transfer to a floured pizza peel.
5. Assemble the Pizza: Spread sauce, add cheese and toppings.
6. Bake: Slide onto the preheated stone, bake until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.

Tips for Success

• Use high-quality ingredients.
• Don’t overload with toppings.
• Ensure the oven and pizza stone are very hot.
• Let the dough rise properly for the best texture.

See more : How to make Brooklyn style pizza at home

Conclusion

Brooklyn style pizza is a culinary delight that offers a unique eating experience. Whether you’re trying it at one of Brooklyn’s iconic pizzerias or making it at home, the thin, crispy crust and rich, flavorful toppings are sure to impress. Enjoy the journey into the world of Brooklyn style pizza and savor every bite.