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Calabrese Pizza

This Calabrese pizza highlights the wonderful flavors of Southern Italy – olives, anchovies and capers with a hint of heat. It’s the perfect combination!

With an easy homemade crust, you can make this Calabrese pizza in your own home without the need of a fancy pizza oven. And you don’t have to wait for days for the dough to rise

pizza with tomatoes, black olives, anchovies and capers with sprinkling of parmesan cut into four pieces viewed from above.

Why you’ll love this recipe

If you adore the robust flavors of southern Italy, you’ll love this Calabrese pizza. Black olive, anchovies, capers along with a touch of heat combine to make this so flavorsome!

This recipe is what Italian food is all about – simple ingredients and great flavors. It’s like the tasty goodness of my Eggs in Purgatory recipe, this zesty Italian Pasta Salad and delicious homemade Pesto Gnocchi. Recipes that are never bland or boring!

This Calabrese pizza is a little different to a Neapolitan pizza. You’ll love the crispy crust that comes together quickly and rises in just an hour. The pizza itself is topped with a flavor packed tomato sauce.

Traditionally, Calabrese pizza doesn’t include cheese before baking. But lots of Parmesan cheese is scattered over after baking. Add a drizzle of garlic olive oil and basil. Amazing!!

For complete ingredient quantities and full instructions, please scroll to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Ingredients

ingredients for calabrese pizza as in the recipe card viewed from above.

This Calabrese pizza dough starts with the same basic ingredients as all pizza doughs –

  • bread flour – preferred but if you don’t have it just use all purpose/plain
  • dried active yeast – even instant yeast is fine but the dough may rise more quickly
  • warm water – hot water will kill the yeast so make sure it’s just warm
  • salt – I use fine sea salt

This recipe also has a little honey and olive oil.

The toppings are full of flavor and easy to find in most supermarkets.

  • extra virgin olive oil – use abundantly
  • garlic – fresh is best
  • canned tomatoes in tomato puree – preferably San Marzano but definitely buy good quality because it will be less watery
  • black olives – be sure to get stone-in olives which they have must more flavor
  • capers – the ones in vinegar are fine
  • anchovies – buy the best quality you can find
  • oregano – dried
  • red pepper (chilli) flakes – can’t be Calabrese pizza without heat

Variations

  • add grated mozzarella
  • included hot Calabrese salami or ‘nduja (hot Calabrese spreadable salami)

Instructions

Firstly prepare the pizza dough and while it is rising, prepare the topping.

4-step photo collage of how to prepare pizza dough.

How to make the dough

  1. Mix together warm water, yeast and honey. Stand until bubbly.
  2. Add flour and mix well. Rest for 5 minutes then add oil and salt. Knead well.
  3. Form into four equal balls.
  4. And allow to rise
4-step photo collage of preparing calabrese pizza sauce and dough.

To finish the pizza

  1. Gently fry chopped garlic in olive oil then add tomatoes and crush with a fork. Cook for 5 minutes.
  2. Add remaining topping ingredients to then skillet and simmer 5 minutes.
  3. After the dough has doubled in size, press out.
  4. Top with tomato and bake Calabrese Pizzas until golden brown.

Tips for success

  • The key to this Calabrese pizza is the tomato sauce. Unlike most pizzas, all the toppings are cooked together together with the tomato. This means that all the flavors really combine and each mouthful has is complete.
  • Don’t be afraid to crank up the heat. This will ensure a crispy crust. If you have a pizza stone, put it in and heat for about 30 minutes.
  • I recommend you shape the dough by pressing and stretching it into shape. Don’t use a rolling pin.
  • Use some semolina to dust the dough. Then press down each ball of dough, leaving the edge puffy. Gently pull and stretch until about 9 inches (23cm).
  • There are two ways I like to bake Calabrese pizza. The first way is to prepare the pizza on a flat, aluminium pizza pan. Aluminium conducts heat very well. Alternatively, prepare the pizza on parchment (non stick baking) paper then using a baking sheet, you can slide the pizza together with the paper onto the preheated pizza stone in the oven..
  • Whatever you do, don’t overload the toppings otherwise the crust will be soggy. Don’t forget to brush the crust with the garlic oil, you’ll lovely flavor and color.
  • Most ovens don’t cook evenly, so check halfway through and spin the pizza if necessary.
  • Finally, be generous with the grated Parmesan, drizzle with garlic oil and just before serving add a scattering of basil.

FAQ’s

Why didn’t the dough rise?

There could be a few reasons. The yeast may be stale. Don’t miss the first step where we mix the yeast with the water and honey. The bubbly mixture means the yeast is active. Otherwise the dough may not have been in a warm spot. This means the dough will take longer to rise. Just shift to a warmer spot and wait.

What do I do if the dough is rising too fast and I’m not ready to cook?

That’s fine. Just put the dough in the fridge to slow down the rise.

Can this dough be prepared the day before?

Sure! After forming the balls, arrange on the baking sheet. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The next day remove from the fridge and allow to come to room temperature (4-5 hours). Then keep going from Step 5.

Can this dough be frozen?

Yes. After the first rise, deflate and reform into four balls. Coat lightly in olive oil and pop into a zip lock bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. The next day, take out of the bags, set on baking sheets, cover with plastic wrap and allow to come to room temperature and begin rising. This will take much longer than you think – 4-5 hours. If the dough is cold it won’t rise. Continue with the recipe from Step 5.

How do I reheat Calabrese pizza?

If you happen to have leftovers, these are best reheated in a covered skillet or cover in the oven. Microwave is fine if you don’t mind soft crust.

close up of slice of calabrese pizza.

More recipes you’ll love

Stuffed Tomatoes with Rice
Bagna Càuda
Eggs in Purgatory
Eggplant Involtini

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pizza with tomatoes, black olives, anchovies and capers with sprinkling of parmesan viewed from above.

Calabrese Pizza Recipe

This Calabrese pizza highlights the wonderful flavors of Southern Italy – olives, anchovies and capers with a hint of heat. It's the perfect combination of easy homemade crust and super tasty topping!
5 from 57 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 13 minutes
Rising time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 38 minutes
Servings:4 individual pizzas
Author: Marcellina

Ingredients

Pizza Dough

  • cups (350mls) warm water
  • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 4 cups (500 grams) bread flour
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • semolina or extra flour for pressing out pizzas

Topping

  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 (14ounces/400 grams) can whole tomatoes preferably San Marzano
  • 15 (1 cup/150 grams) black olives
  • 2 tablespoons capers
  • 10 anchovies in oil
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper (chilli) flakes
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Garlic oil

  • cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic

To serve

  • Parmesan or Romano pecorino cheese
  • red pepper (chilli) flakes optional
  • fresh basil

Instructions

Make the dough

  • Mix together warm water, yeast and honey. Set aside 10 minutes or until bubbles form.
  • Using the dough hook on the stand mixer (or use your hands), add flour to the water/yeast mixture and combine until mixture comes together. Stand 5 minutes.
  • Add oil and salt and continue to mix for 5 minutes (or 7 minutes by hand) until smooth and elastic. The dough should just stick to the bottom of the bowl but not the sides. If it sticks to the sides, it's too wet – a a little extra flour. If it lifts from the bottom of the bowl, it's too dry – add a little water.
  • Remove from stand mixer onto work surface and split into four. Knead each piece by hand for a couple of minutes and then shape each into a ball. Place balls onto a large, oiled baking sheet. Turn the dough over so all surfaces are oiled. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place for 1½-2 hours or until it has doubled in size.
  • If you are using pizza stones, put them in the oven. Preheat oven to 480ºF/250ºC.
  • The dough balls may have joined but that's ok. Use a plastic dough scraper or butter knife to carefully separate and lift one of the balls.
  • Use some semolina to dust the dough and the work surface to stop it sticking. Then with your fingers, press down each ball of dough, leaving the edge puffy. Gently pull and stretch until about 9 inches (23cm).
  • There are two ways I like to bake pizzas. The first way is to prepare the pizza on a flat, aluminium pizza pan. Aluminium conducts heat very well. Alternatively, prepare the pizza on parchment (non stick baking) paper then using a baking sheet, you can slide the pizza together with the paper onto the preheated pizza stone in the oven.
  • Whichever method of baking you choose, carefully pick up the dough and place onto either aluminium pizza pan or parchment (non stick baking) paper. You may need to reshape it a little.
  • Repeat with remaining dough balls.
  • Brush pizza bases with garlic oil and set aside for 30 minutes or until puffy.
  • Divide topping among the four bases.
  • Depending on the size of your oven, you can probably cook two pizzas at a time for 8-13 minutes until golden brown and the crust is crispy (if you have a larger oven you may be able to do more). After 5 minutes, check if they are cooking evenly. If not spin pizzas around.
  • Take the pizzas out of the oven and put the last pizza in.
  • While the last pizza is cooking, drizzle the cooked pizzas with garlic oil. Then scatter with lots of grated Parmesan cheese, drizzle with extra garlic oil and red pepper (chilli) flakes, if desired. Repeat with the remaining cooked pizza.
  • Scatter with fresh basil then cut into wedges, squares or however you prefer.

Tomato topping

  • Peel and finely chop the garlic. Add to a skillet with extra virgin olive oil and gently cook over low-medium heat.
  • When the garlic is aromatic but still pale (don't let it color or burn), add canned whole tomatoes and crush well with a fork. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  • While the tomatoes are cooking, coarsely chop the anchovies and de-stone olives and cut in half.
  • Add remaining topping ingredients and simmer for a further 3-5 minutes. Don't let it reduce too much.

Garlic oil

  • Combine oil with garlic. Set aside until needed.

Notes

  • The key to this Calabrese pizza is the tomato sauce. Unlike most pizzas, all the toppings are cooked together together with the tomato. This means that all the flavors really combine and each mouthful has is complete.
  • Don’t be afraid to crank up the heat. This will ensure a crispy crust. If you have a pizza stone, put it in and heat for about 30 minutes.
  • I recommend you shape the dough by pressing and stretching it into shape. Don’t use a rolling pin.
  • Use some semolina to dust the dough. Then press down each ball of dough, leaving the edge puffy. Gently pull and stretch until about 9 inches (23cm). 
  • There are two ways I like to bake these Calabrese pizzas. The first way is to prepare the pizza on a flat, aluminium pizza pan. Aluminium conducts heat very well. Alternatively, prepare the pizza on parchment (non stick baking) paper then using a baking sheet, you can slide the pizza together with the paper onto the preheated pizza stone in the oven.
  • Whatever you do, don’t overload the toppings otherwise the crust will be soggy. Don’t forget to brush the crust with the garlic oil, you’ll lovely flavor and color.
  • Most ovens don’t cook evenly, so check halfway through and spin the pizza if necessary.
  • Finally, be generous with the grated Parmesan, drizzle with garlic oil and just before serving add a scattering of basil.
Why didn’t the dough rise?
There could be a few reasons. The yeast may be stale. Don’t miss the first step where we mix the yeast with the water and honey. The bubbly mixture means the yeast is active. Otherwise the dough may not have been in a warm spot. This means the dough will take longer to rise. Just shift to a warmer spot and wait.
What do I do if the dough is rising too fast and I’m not ready to cook?
That’s fine. Just put the dough in the fridge to slow down the rise.
Can this dough be prepared the day before?
Sure! After forming the balls, arrange on the baking sheet. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The next day remove from the fridge and allow to come to room temperature (4-5 hours). Then keep going from Step 5.
Can this dough be frozen?
Yes. After the first rise, deflate and reform into four balls. Coat lightly in olive oil and pop into a zip lock bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. The next day, take out of the bags, set on baking sheets, cover with plastic wrap and allow to come to room temperature and begin rising. This will take much longer than you think – 4-5 hours. If the dough is cold it won’t rise. Continue with the recipe from Step 5.
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating and leave a comment below!

Nutritional Estimate Per Serving

Calories: 780kcal | Carbohydrates: 99g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 1744mg | Potassium: 417mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 274IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. For accurate results, it is recommended that the nutritional information be calculated based on the ingredients and brands you use.

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Recipe Rating




9 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    What a great pizza! The dough was very delicious, with a great crust. And the topping is going to be my new favorite!

  2. 5 stars
    This pizza dough is amazing, all the family absolutely loved it, my personal favourite topping is the anchovies and olives, lush 🙂
    Thanks for sharing!!

  3. 5 stars
    My godfather is from Calabria, and so I had to make this for him! We enjoyed it with a glass of red wine and we were very happy with how delicious it was!

    1. Alex, I’m so glad you and your godfather loved the pizza. My mother was from Calabria and made amazing pizzas – always with these ingredients. She has passed away but friends still talk about how good her pizza was.