I Cooked a Huge Pizza Underground in the Wild Mountains! Homemade Sausage Pizza Recipe

How to Cook a Huge Pizza Underground in the Wild Mountains

Cooking a huge pizza underground in the wild mountains is an exciting and creative way to prepare food outdoors. This method combines traditional cooking techniques with modern ingenuity, allowing you to enjoy a delicious homemade sausage pizza while embracing nature. Below is a detailed step-by-step explanation of how this process works, including preparation, cooking techniques, and safety considerations.

1. Preparation of Ingredients

Before beginning the underground cooking process, it’s essential to gather all necessary ingredients and tools for making the pizza. Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients:

• Pizza Dough: You can either prepare homemade dough or bring pre-made dough.

  • Homemade dough typically requires flour, water, yeast, salt, sugar, and olive oil.

• Tomato Sauce: A rich tomato base made from fresh tomatoes or canned tomato puree.

• Cheese: Mozzarella is the most common choice for pizza due to its melting properties.

• Toppings:

  • Sausage (homemade or store-bought).

  • Vegetables like bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, or olives (optional).

  • Herbs such as oregano or basil for added flavor.

Tools Needed:

• Shovel or digging tool for creating the underground oven.

• Aluminum foil or a heat-resistant container to hold the pizza during cooking.

• Firewood and kindling for building a fire.

• Stones or bricks to line the underground oven (optional but recommended).

• A flat surface like a cutting board for assembling the pizza.

2. Building an Underground Oven

The underground oven is key to this method of cooking. It acts as an insulated chamber that traps heat effectively.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Choose a Location: Select a safe spot away from flammable materials like dry grass or trees. Ensure it’s legal to dig and build fires in your chosen area.

2. Digging the Pit: Use your shovel to dig a hole approximately 2–3 feet deep and wide enough to fit your pizza container comfortably.

3. Lining the Pit (Optional): Line the bottom and sides of the pit with stones or bricks. This helps retain heat more efficiently and creates an even cooking environment.

4. Building the Fire: Place firewood and kindling at the bottom of the pit and light it. Allow it to burn until you have hot embers; this usually takes about 30–45 minutes.

3. Preparing and Assembling Your Pizza

While waiting for your fire to produce embers, assemble your pizza:

1. Roll out your dough on a flat surface using a rolling pin or by hand until it reaches your desired size.

2. Spread tomato sauce evenly over the dough using a spoon or spatula.

3. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese generously over the sauce layer.

4. Add sausage slices as well as any additional toppings you prefer (e.g., vegetables).

5. Sprinkle herbs like oregano or basil on top for extra flavor.

Place your assembled pizza onto aluminum foil or into a heat-resistant container that fits inside your pit oven.

4. Cooking Your Pizza Underground

Once your fire has burned down into hot embers:

1. Carefully remove excess ash from the pit using your shovel while leaving behind glowing embers at the bottom.

2. Place your wrapped pizza directly onto these embers if using aluminum foil; otherwise, place it inside its heat-resistant container on top of them.

3. Cover the pit with soil:

   • First cover with large leaves (if available) or another protective layer before adding soil on top—this prevents dirt from contaminating your food.

   • Alternatively, use another piece of aluminum foil as an additional barrier before covering with soil completely.

4. Let cook:

   • Cooking time varies depending on factors such as ember temperature and pizza thickness but generally ranges between 20–40 minutes.

Check periodically by carefully uncovering part of the pit without letting too much heat escape.

5. Removing and Serving Your Pizza

When you believe your pizza is cooked:

1. Carefully uncover the pit using gloves or tools since it will still be hot near embers.

2. Remove your pizza from its container/foil wrap using tongs or other utensils designed for high temperatures.

3. Inspect for doneness:

   • The crust should be golden brown with melted cheese bubbling on top.

   • If not fully cooked yet, return it briefly into its underground oven until ready.

Once done, slice up your homemade sausage pizza and enjoy!