ARTICLE
6 Tips For Hosting The Perfect Summer Pizza Party!
February 22, 2024-3 min read
Beloved by young and old, homemade pizza is a quick and easy crowd-pleaser that should be at the top of your summer-entertaining menu. From mixers with dough hooks to food processors that take the hard yakka out of chopping, the latest small appliances take the heat off your hosting duties by helping you pre-prepare your dough and toppings. If you’re ready for a slice of the action, read on for six ways to throw the perfect pizza party!
Tip #1: Bag The Best Appliances For Making Pizza
No one wants to be frantically finessing food as the hordes arrive. “The latest kitchen appliances make it easy to prep for a party,” says Tracey Ellis, The Good Guys Buyer – Portable Appliances. “You can create your pizza dough in a mixer days in advance, and use a food processor to slice, dice and chop your toppings so they’re ready to go.”
Shop Food Processors
KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor Matte Black
Sunbeam Multi Processor Plus Food Processor Black
Breville The Paradice 16" Food Processor
Tip #2: Pick A Pizza Oven That Personalises Your Pie
Breville’s The Smart Oven Pizzaiolo is able to heat to 400℃ – emulating a traditional woodfired pizza oven and delivering taste that’ll delight the fussiest of diners. With pre-sets for hands-off cooking (ideal for busy hosts) and a patented design that directs intense heat where you want it, your toppings can be gently cooked while your base reaches the perfect level of charring. Delizioso!
Tip #3: Let Your Stand Mixer Do The Work
If you want to whip up a batch of pizza dough without it feeling like arm day at the gym, you need a stand mixer that does the job for you. Look out for mixers that come with a dough hook – able to handle serious volume and the toughest dough, your pizza dough can grow with your guest list. “Dough hooks are more efficient than the traditional method of kneading dough by hand”, says Tracey Ellis, “and they obviously require far less effort – they’re great for when you’re entertaining and need to focus on other tasks.”
Shop Stand Mixers
Sunbeam Planetary Mixmaster The Master One
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer Blue Salt COTY
Tip #4: Barbecue Your Pizza
If your oven’s otherwise engaged, think outside the (pizza) box and chuck a pizza or two on the barbie! A few well-chosen accessories can quickly convert your BBQ to a pizza oven and add al-fresco fun to your pizza ai funghi!
Shop BBQs
Weber Family Q 3100N+ LP Midnight Black
BeefEater 1200 Series Stainless Steel 4 Burner
Weber Q 2600N+ LP Midnight Black
How To Make Pizza Dough
There is nothing quite like the taste of a homemade pizza – made from scratch. Don’t know how to make pizza dough? It’s easy-as, with this classic recipe from Breville.
Neapolitan Pizza
For an all-rounder that pleases every palate, whip up this nifty neapolitan pizza using a stand mixer and Breville’s The Smart Oven Pizzaiolo pizza oven.
Makes 4 pizzas
Ingredients
FOR THE DOUGH
3¾ cups (570g) bread flour
2 tsp fine salt
1 tsp instant dried yeast
1½ cups (375ml) cold water
Semolina mix, for sprinkling (see TIP)
Olive oil, for drizzling
FOR THE PIZZA SAUCE
400g can crushed tomatoes
1 tsp salt
FOR THE TOPPING
340g fresh buffalo mozzarella, drained, torn into small pieces
1 cup (30g) basil leaves
Method
Combine the flour, salt and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the water. Using the dough hook, knead on low speed for 5-6 mins, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough proof in a warm place for 1 hour, until doubled in size.
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured countertop and divide evenly into four pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball.
Lightly sprinkle two baking sheets with the semolina mix and place the dough balls 10cm apart on the sheets. Drizzle a little oil over each ball and spread to coat the dough. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or up to 5 days (refrigerating the dough for 1-3 days is ideal, but it can be refrigerated for up to 5 days).
When ready to prepare pizzas, remove the dough from the refrigerator and let stand, covered, at room temperature for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, to make the pizza sauce, process the tomatoes and salt in a blender or food processor until smooth.
About 20 mins before the dough is finished resting, select the WOOD FIRED setting and preheat the oven (preheat can take up to 20 mins).
Sprinkle the clean countertop generously with the semolina mix.
Transfer one dough ball to the prepared countertop. Keep the remaining dough covered to prevent it from drying out.
Coat the dough ball in the semolina mix and working from the centre, press it into a 15cm round, then gently stretch it into a 25cm-30cm circle.
Lightly sprinkle the pizza peel with the semolina mix. Carefully transfer the dough onto the pizza peel, gently shaking off any excess semolina mix.
For the topping, spread one-quarter of the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a 2cm border. Sprinkle with one-quarter of the mozzarella and basil leaves.
Use the pizza peel to transfer the pizza to the oven. Cook for 2 mins, until the edge of the crust is spotted brown and the cheese is melted.
Slide the pizza peel under the pizza, remove it from the oven and transfer to a cutting board. Lightly drizzle with oil and cut into slices to serve.
TIP: To make the semolina mix, combine equal quantities of semolina and all-purpose flour. Store in an airtight container in the pantry
Tip #5: Set The Vibe
Before you throw open the doors, invest in the little extras that make a big difference! Capture forever-memories with an instant camera (ready-to-go photos make a great goodbye gift at the end of the night), and use portable speakers to light up the dance floor.
Shop Portable Speakers
JBL Partybox 110 Portable Speaker
Sony Powerful Wireless Party Speaker
LG Xboom Go Compact Bluetooth Speaker
Tip #6: Keep Your Drinks Ice-Cold
Don’t be caught out with room-temperature refreshments – invest in a bar or wine fridge so you’re permanently party-ready! To keep those cool cocktails coming, a fridge with an ice maker is a great call.
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Get Everything You Need At The Good Guys!
You’ll find everything you need to host the perfect pizza party at The Good Guys – from stand mixers and food processors to pizza ovens and more. Visit us in-store or online for the biggest brands and the best prices.
