There’s nothing quite like biting into a thin, crispy pizza crust with your favorite savory toppings. And if you’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying a bar-style pizza from the Star Tavern in Orange, New Jersey, you know just how incredible it can be.
But what if we told you that you could recreate that perfect tavern-style pizza in your own kitchen? With our homemade pizzeria favorite recipe, you can achieve the authentic thin crust and crispy pizza crust you crave.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the secrets behind the Star Tavern’s famous bar-style pizza, including what makes it unique and how you can recreate it at home. We’ll uncover the techniques behind the perfect crispy crust and share a step-by-step recipe for you to try.
So, if you’re ready to elevate your pizza game and embark on a delicious journey into the world of New Jersey tavern pizza, let’s get started!
What Makes Bar-Style Pizza at Star Tavern Unique?
Bar-style pizza at Star Tavern is renowned for its unparalleled uniqueness that sets it apart from other pizza styles. The secret lies in its crispy and chewy crust, which is a result of a carefully crafted cooking process. The crust is thin, yet substantial, offering a delightful balance between crispiness and chewiness that pizza lovers crave.
One distinctive feature of Star Tavern’s bar-style pizza is its edgeless crust. Unlike traditional pizzas with defined edges, this style boasts a crust that extends all the way to the outer rim. This unique characteristic creates a frico-like crunch that adds an extra layer of texture and flavor.
The dough fermentation process is another vital element that contributes to the exceptional taste of Star Tavern’s pizza. The dough is allowed to ferment for one to five days, developing rich flavors and enhancing the overall quality of the crust.
Bar-style pizza at Star Tavern is deeply rooted in the New Jersey pizza tradition. It pays homage to the state’s love for excellent pizza and reflects the passion and expertise that have been passed down through generations. Each mouthwatering bite of Star Tavern’s bar-style pizza embodies the essence of New Jersey’s pizza culture.
At Star Tavern, we take pride in creating a pizza experience that is unique, flavorful, and true to our heritage. Every element, from the crispy and chewy crust to the edgeless edges, is meticulously crafted to deliver a pizza that surpasses expectations.
The Secrets Behind Star Tavern’s Crispy Pizza Crust
The crispy crust of the Star Tavern’s bar-style pizza is achieved through a unique two-stage cooking process that combines elements of traditional New England Greek-style pan pizza and New York-style thin crust.
First, the dough is carefully fried on an oiled pie plate, creating a slightly crispy and charred underbelly. This initial frying step adds depth to the flavor and texture of the crust, setting the foundation for a truly exceptional pizza.
Next, the pie is transferred onto the floor of a hot gas oven, where it bakes to perfection. The high heat of the oven creates a crispy and charred exterior, while the interior remains tender and flavorful.
This fry and bake method ensures that the crust has a desirable balance between crispiness and chewiness, resulting in a delightful eating experience.
One of the defining features of the Star Tavern’s bar-style pizza is its unique crustless edges. Unlike traditional pizza crusts, the cheese and sauce extend all the way to the outer rim, creating a seamless and delicious combination of flavors.
Recreating the Perfect Crispy Pizza Crust
To recreate the distinctive crispy crust of the Star Tavern’s bar-style pizza at home, you can try the two-stage cooking process using a heated skillet and an oven. Start by frying the pizza dough in a well-oiled skillet until it develops a crisp and charred bottom. Then, transfer the partially cooked pizza onto a preheated pizza stone or baking sheet and bake it until the cheese is bubbling and the crust turns golden brown.
Experiment with different toppings and sauces to customize your pizza to your liking. Whether you prefer classic combinations or explore inventive flavor profiles, the crispy crust will provide the perfect canvas for your culinary creations.
The secrets behind the Star Tavern’s crispy pizza crust lie in the careful two-stage cooking process, which combines the best elements of different pizza styles. The result is a mouthwatering and satisfying pizza experience that keeps patrons coming back for more.
Recreating Star Tavern’s Crispy Pizza at Home
Want to enjoy the mouthwatering goodness of Star Tavern’s crispy bar-style pizza from the comfort of your own kitchen? You’re in luck! With a few simple steps, you can recreate this iconic pizza at home.
Making the Perfect New York-Style Dough
The foundation of any great bar-style pizza is a delicious, crispy crust. To achieve this, start by making a New York-style dough using all-purpose flour. This versatile flour provides the perfect balance between tenderness and crispiness.
Let the dough cold ferment in the fridge for at least one night, but preferably for three to five days. This cold fermentation process allows the dough to develop complex flavors, resulting in a more flavorful crust.
An Easy Rolling Method for a Homemade Masterpiece
When it’s time to roll out the dough, don’t worry if you’re not a professional pizza maker. This style of pizza is forgiving and allows for customization with a variety of toppings.
Using a rolling pin, gently roll out the dough to your desired thickness. Remember to be patient and gentle as you work the dough, as this will help maintain its airy texture while still achieving that perfect thinness that characterizes bar-style pizza.
Adding Your Favorite Toppings
Now comes the fun part: choosing and adding your favorite toppings! Whether you prefer classic combinations or want to create your own unique flavor profile, the options are endless.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different cheeses, sauces, and toppings to personalize your Star Tavern-inspired pizza. Get creative and let your taste buds be your guide!
Baking to Perfection
Preheat your oven to the recommended temperature and ensure that it’s hot enough to create that perfect crispy crust. Place your pizza on a baking sheet or pizza stone for even heat distribution.
Follow the baking instructions for the specific toppings and crust thickness you’ve chosen. Aim for a crispy and tender crust with beautifully melted cheese and perfectly cooked toppings.
With your own homemade bar-style pizza, you can savor the flavors and textures of Star Tavern’s legendary pies whenever the craving strikes. So go ahead, invite your friends and family over, and impress them with your culinary skills!
The Technique Behind Perfectly Baking Bar-Style Pizza
In order to achieve the perfect bake for bar-style pizza, we need to employ the optimal baking technique and utilize a pizza stone. The pizza stone plays a crucial role in creating a crispy and charred crust, while also ensuring even browning throughout the pizza.
Firstly, it’s important to position the pizza stone correctly. Place the stone on the top rack of the oven to maximize the benefits of both radiative heat from the oven’s roof and convection heat from the air currents within the oven. This placement allows for optimal heat distribution, resulting in a well-browned and evenly cooked pizza.
To prevent the bottom of the pizza from browning too quickly and achieving a burnt crust, we recommend starting the baking process on a rack below the pizza stone. This initial step provides some insulation and slows down the browning process, allowing the pizza to cook more evenly.
After a few minutes, carefully transfer the partially cooked pizza onto the preheated pizza stone. This final step ensures that the crust receives the maximum direct heat from the stone, resulting in a crispy and beautifully charred edge. The hot stone completes the cooking process, giving the crust that signature bar-style texture and flavor.
Preventing Rapid Browning and Achieving Even Browning
By using the pizza stone and following the recommended positioning technique, you can prevent rapid browning of the bottom of the pizza. The initial baking on a lower rack helps to create a barrier between the heat source and the crust, allowing it to cook evenly without excessive browning. Once the pizza is transferred to the pizza stone, the direct contact with the hot stone ensures that the crust browns evenly, resulting in a perfectly cooked bar-style pizza.
The combination of the optimal baking technique, using a pizza stone, and positioning the stone correctly allows you to achieve a bar-style pizza with crispy and charred edges, just like those from Star Tavern. With this technique, you can enjoy the deliciousness of bar-style pizza in the comfort of your own home.
Customizing Your Bar-Style Pizza
Bar-style pizzas are incredibly versatile and allow for a variety of topping variations. Whether you prefer classic combinations or want to get creative with unique flavors, the possibilities are endless. At Star Tavern, we believe that pizza is meant to be a personal expression of taste, and that’s why we encourage you to experiment and customize your own bar-style pizza.
Start by choosing your favorite toppings. From traditional options like pepperoni and mushrooms to more adventurous choices like prosciutto and arugula, the topping variations are limited only by your imagination.
One popular choice for topping bar-style pizzas is cheddar cheese. Its rich and creamy flavor pairs well with a crispy crust and adds a delightful tanginess to each bite. However, feel free to explore other cheese options like mozzarella, provolone, or even a blend of different cheeses to create a unique flavor profile.
The sauce is another element that can be customized according to your taste. While many bar-style pizzas traditionally use cooked tomato sauce, you can opt for a fresh tomato sauce that offers a brighter and more vibrant flavor. Consider adding fresh herbs like basil or oregano to elevate the taste of the sauce even further.
When it comes to personal preferences, the crust plays a vital role. Whether you prefer your crust thin and crispy or thicker and chewy, you can adjust the dough accordingly. The key is to achieve that perfect crisp and crunchy chew that defines the bar-style pizza.
Once you have mastered the technique of making the crust, you can let your creativity shine with your choice of toppings. Whether you stick to classic combinations or venture into new flavor territories, customizing your bar-style pizza allows you to create a pizza that perfectly suits your taste.
Recipe for Perfect Star Tavern-Style Crispy Pizza
Here is our homemade bar-style pizza recipe, allowing you to recreate the perfect Star Tavern-style crispy pizza in the comfort of your own kitchen. The first step is making the crust. Combine all-purpose flour, yeast, water, and oil to create a soft and pliable dough. Cold ferment the dough in the refrigerator for at least one night, or for even better flavor development, let it sit for three to five days.
After the fermentation process, take the dough out and roll it out using a rolling pin. The dough should be thin and even, creating a crispy and tender crust. Now comes the fun part – topping the pizza! Spread your favorite sauce over the dough, whether it be a classic tomato sauce or a unique homemade creation. Add your preferred toppings, from traditional pepperoni and mushrooms to more adventurous combinations like goat cheese and caramelized onions.
Once your pizza is beautifully assembled, it’s time to bake it to perfection. Remember the optimal baking technique we discussed earlier? Place the pizza on a rack below a preheated pizza stone in your oven. After a few minutes, transfer the pizza onto the stone directly, allowing it to bake until the crust is crispy and the edges are beautifully charred.
Now, all that’s left is to slice it up and dig in. With every bite, you’ll experience the satisfying crunch of the crust paired with the rich flavors of the sauce and toppings. Enjoy the unique taste of Star Tavern-style pizza right at home, and impress your family and friends with your homemade creation. You’ll never need to order takeout again!