How to Bake an Authentic Neapolitan Pizza
Making a true Neapolitan pizza is not just about cooking; it is an art form. In Naples, Italy, bakers have made pizza the same way for hundreds of years. In fact, there are strict rules to make sure a pizza is certified as "authentic." To make this traditional treat at home, follow these steps to become a true pizza master.
What You Need
- For the dough: 4 cups of "Tipo 00" flour (a super-fine Italian flour), 1.5 cups of warm water, 1 teaspoon of active dry yeast, and 2 teaspoons of sea salt.
- For the toppings: 1 can of crushed San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese (sliced), fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Step 1: Mix and Knead the Dough
First, dissolve the yeast and salt in the warm water in a large mixing bowl. Slowly add the flour, stirring with a wooden spoon until a sticky dough begins to form. Pour the dough onto a clean, floured countertop. Now, it is time to knead. Use the heels of your hands to push the dough forward, fold it back over itself, and push again. Knead the dough for about ten minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic, which means it stretches easily without tearing.
- Tipo 00 flour:
- A super-fine Italian flour used for making traditional pizza dough.
- Knead:
- To press, fold, and stretch dough with the hands to make it smooth and elastic.
- Fermentation:
- The process where yeast feeds on sugars in the flour, releasing bubbles that make dough rise and add flavor.
- Pizza stone:
- A flat, heat-retaining ceramic or stone surface used in an oven to help mimic professional pizza ovens.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Work out the meaning and effect of words by using clues in the passage.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What special type of flour is needed to make authentic Neapolitan pizza dough?
- 2Why should you never use a rolling pin to stretch the pizza dough?
Where this passage belongs
You Might Also Like
About this how-to / procedural passage for Upper Elementary
“How to Bake an Authentic Neapolitan Pizza” is a how-to / procedural reading passage about Italian Cooking and Traditions, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 4 minutes to read (531 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.