Pick Some Pizza Toppings To Try And Impress The Iron Chefs
- by Jessica Rae
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Today we're going to build a pizza from the base up to try and impress some of the toughest judges in town - the Iron Chefs!
There are very few people in the world who don't enjoy pizza which is why it's one of the most popular takeaway foods. Pizza is a perfect party food, easy to eat informally and great for serving a crowd. Young or old, everyone loves pizza.
But when it comes to pizza toppings everyone has their own set of favorites. Meat lovers prefer their pizzas loaded with chicken, pepperoni, beef, and ribs, smothered in BBQ sauce, while others prefer a vegetarian option, crammed with olives, onions, tomatoes, peppers, and garlic. Cheese lovers are right at home when it comes to pizza too, as most varieties work well as toppings. Even fruit like bananas and avocados have found their way onto pizzas.
We've got all the regular type of pizza toppings to choose from plus a few unusual ones, like apples and nuts, too, so it's time to start building this pizza so we can get it in the oven before the judges arrive! What will they have to say about this creation? Let's find out!
Let's begin! Thick or thin base?
So before we even start trying to impress these Iron Chefs we need to start with pizza basics. The very first thing we need to decide on is the base. Are we going to have a thin and crispy base or should it be thick to hold all the toppings we're going to pile on?
BBQ or tomato sauce?
Now that we've decided on a base we need to add a generous topping of sauce before we start to add the ingredients. We have two options available: a tangy tomato sauce (made with fresh tomatoes and herbs) or a meaty BBQ flavor sauce. So what will it be?
Mozzarella cheese?
Okay! Now we're getting into the toppings and first on the list is a pizza staple. Pizza just isn't pizza without cheese, is it? Mozzarella is one of the most popular cheeses for pizza and goes well with just about any other toppings, including other cheeses! Add it or leave it?
Bacon?
Any time of the day is a good time for bacon. Breakfast? Let's fry up some rashers. Lunch? How about bacon burgers? And for dinner? What about pizza, with more bacon! Bacon goes together perfectly with cheese and most meat toppings. Some people even like to eat bacon and banana together on their pizzas!
Garlic?
Garlic is good for spicing up a pizza and for keeping those pesky vampires away at night! Garlic is a health-wise topping and helps boost our immune systems. It's tasty and a great addition to any pizza although it is wise to have some breath mints on hands for after dinner!
Ground beef?
For folks who like a meaty pizza, ground beef is must-have topping. Fried up with onions and spices and added into a delicious sauce before being spooned on to the pizza base - oh yummy! Now if we just add some peppers and a little garlic we've got a pizza that's sure to heat things up!
Olives?
For some people there can never be too many olives on a pizza. Whether they are green olives, black ones, or even olives stuffed with cheese, there can never be enough. Even just a plain pizza loaded with olives would be enough for these guys! Will we be putting any on this pizza?
Apples?
Okay, don't look at us all funny, there are people who put banana on pizza too! And when it comes to pizza's some folks do like to experiment and they've been known to add apple slices to their untraditional pizzas. Maybe it will impress the Iron Chefs but who knows?
Onion?
Most people can't even imagine having a pizza without onion. It's the perfect partner for tomato and ground beef and works well with mushrooms, garlic, and chicken too. But there are people who would rather substitute the onion for something else. Will we be adding diced onion to this pizza?
Tomato?
Is it possible to make a pizza without using tomato? We suppose it must be, but it just wouldn't be the same. There must be tomatoes for the sauce, of course, but they're also nice to add as a topping. We can even add some sun-dried tomatoes if we want to be fancy!
Mushrooms?
Mushrooms are the perfect partner for just about any dish. We add them to pasta dishes, to burgers, and, of course, to all types of different pizza! They are great for everything from vegetarian pizzas to fully-loaded carnivore-lover pizzas. And if we want to be fancy we add shiitake or portobello mushrooms instead of plain button ones!
Avocado?
Pizza-lovers are divided on whether or not avocado is a good pizza topping but perhaps that's because some people can't stand avocado in the first place. For those who are fans of this humble green fruit, there's always place for more on their pizzas! Add it or leave it?
Spinach?
We know that it's what Popeye would want on his pizza for sure! Spinach might sound like an unusual pizza topping but healthy ingredients like this are all the rage. Spinach, as we know, goes well with white cheeses, and this is a great way to get in those greens!
Spare rib?
These pork ribs have just come out of the oven and they've been cooked so tenderly that the meat is falling off the bone. What we could do at this point is add some of that juicy meat onto this pizza with some BBQ sauce. Add it or leave it?
Capers?
For those who might not know what capers are here's the deal: capers are flower buds that have been pickled. Not just any flower bud though, they come from a bush known as Capparis spinosa. They're used for pasta dishes and salads and also make a yummy pizza topping.
Seafood mix?
Seafood is not for everyone; there are some people who would rather just have a plain cheese pizza than one strewn with morsels of shrimp, mussels, crab, and squid. But for those who love treats from the sea, there's nothing like seafood pizza with a little marinara sauce. Add it or leave it?
Ham?
Bacon and ham are both pork products but that doesn't mean that we can't add them both to our designer pizza. We can get creative when it comes to ham too, it doesn't just need to be boring sandwich ham; we can mix it up with a little prosciutto if we want to impress.
Pickles?
Pickles can be added to many different dishes (and even eaten on their own as a crunchy snack) so why not try them out on pizza? It's a great way to add more greens to pizza and a snap of flavor at the same time. Add it or leave it?
Pineapple?
Does pineapple belong on a pizza? The debate rages on between pizza-fanatics and probably will for as long as people are around to eat pizza! Meanwhile, slices of this tangy-sweet fruit continue to find their way onto Hawaiian pizzas all over the world. Add it or leave it?
Bell pepper?
Bell peppers add flavor to a pizza without making it too spicy. And with all the different types available they make the pizza look more colorful too. And we all know that presentation is important when it comes to the Iron Chefs! Will any bell peppers be finding their way onto this pizza?
Peas?
Believe it or not, there are some parts of the world where putting peas on pizza is considered pretty standard. It's a little bit of an unusual choice in most other places and although it doesn't sound yummy, who knows, maybe it is! Are we going to give peas a chance?
Chicken?
Now if we decide to add chicken to this pizza we also need to decide what flavor we want. Are we going to make it a spicy tikka chicken pizza or go for a creamy mayonnaise-based sauce instead? Chicken works as a single meat for pizza topping but can also be combined with bacon.
Sausage?
This pizza is looking amazing so far, but do we have enough meaty toppings? Maybe we should add some sliced sausage into the mix? We have loads of different options when it comes to sausage, it doesn't just have to be pork or beef. Add it or leave it?
Mascarpone (Cream cheese)
Those who've never tried cream cheese on their pizza don't know what they are missing out on! It might sound a little strange but it's so creamy and the perfect match for all kinds of veggie and meat toppings. Are we going to try it on this pizza?
Pepperoni?
Pepperoni is one of the kings when it comes to pizza toppings. It's so well-loved that it can carry an entire pizza on its own, with just a little tomato and cheese to keep it company. Pepperoni is a form of salami, made from beef, pork, and chili spices.
Feta cheese?
For those looking for a healthier option than cheddar, gouda, or mozzarella, feta cheese can also be used as a pizza topping. Feta is a brined white cheese made from sheep and goats milk and is less fatty than most other cheese varieties. Shall we add some to this pizza?
Banana?
Banana on pizza? Yes, this is a thing. Bacon and banana we can understand, ham and banana seems okay, but curry and banana? Apparently, that's something people are into as well, but we're not sure what the Iron Chefs would think about that. Add the banana or leave it?
Anchovies?
Everyone will tell you that anchovies are an "acquired taste" which is a nice way of saying that hardly anyone who tries them for the first time thinks they taste good. These little guys will melt in the mouth but they are pungent and very fishy! Add it or leave it?
Jalapenos?
For those folks who like their food hot and spicy a pizza just isn't a pizza with a generous topping of jalapeno peppers. The capsaicin in these peppers is said to aid in weight loss and help boost immunity so they are a healthy topping too! Add them or leave them?
Blue cheese?
Blue cheese is, at its essence, cheese that has started to mold, but here's the thing: not all types of molds are dangerous to eat because not all of them produce toxins. What is important to remember is that this type of cheese is high in fat so those watching their waistline might want to skip this topping.
Spring onion?
Spring onions (also sometimes referred to as green onions or scallions) are very young onions that have been harvested before the bulb has begun to swell. They are much milder than onions and can be added to a pizza before or after cooking. Add it or leave it?
Beans?
Banana's and pineapple on a pizza are one thing but beans? Well, beans are an excellent source of protein and a health-conscious topping so maybe we should give them a try? Maybe some black beans for a nacho-inspired pizza? We could even add some corn to the mix too!
Peppadews?
Peppadews are sweet piquanté peppers grown in the north-west region of South Africa. They are sold pickled in brine and are perfect for stuffing with cheese or adding to a pizza. They have a slightly sweet taste without being too hot and they'll add a splash of color to any pizza.
Nuts?
When it comes to pizza toppings nuts are not usually something we see every day. But people are going crazy for nuts and not just for dishes like spinach, feta, and pine nut pizza. Pistachios and even hazelnuts are making their way onto the scene too. Shall we add a few nuts to this creation?
Parmesan cheese?
Can a pizza ever have too much cheese on it? We don't think so! Our pizza creation is full of toppings now and almost ready for judging but just before we see which of the Iron Chefs is impressed with it, perhaps we should add a little sprinkling of parmesan cheese?
