In baking circles, there is a longstanding debate about the difference between pizza and flatbread. At their core, both cuisines involve a bread base with toppings, and both support a wide range of variations, including both sweet and savory options. You could spend hours around the firepit with your foodie friends, discussing the nuances that separate the two cuisines, and still never reach a resolution, but one thing is for sure--both pizza and flatbread are delicious summer treats. However, in the heat of the Atlanta summer, you probably don’t want to bake either one in the oven in your kitchen, where the temperature can quickly rise to an unbearable level. As an alternative, you should consider cooking your pizza or flatbread over your fire pit. Not only will this be a more enjoyable experience, but it can also improve the quality of the final product--in fact, you’ll probably end up enjoying the best pizza or flatbread of your life!
Read on for more information about the differences between pizza and flatbread (and how they relate to your fire pit cooking plan), as well as tips on cooking both over your fire pit this summer.
Basic Differences Between Pizza and Flatbread
In the debate over the difference between pizza and flatbread, the jury is still out on the specifics. However, in most culinary circles, it is generally agreed-upon that the main difference is that flatbread is thinner and crispier than pizza crust. According to some, even thin-crust pizza should be thicker and chewier than flatbread, which should have a much more crusty, crumbly texture.
According to cooking experts, there are two different methods to give your bread either a pizza-like or flatbread-like thickness and texture. One method involves the ingredients, and the other involves the preparation process, but both options are important to consider if you’re planning to cook your pizza or flatbread over your fire pit this summer.
- Option 1: Adding yeast
Some people say that the difference between pizza crust and flat bread is that pizza crust includes yeast as an ingredient, while flat bread is unleavened. If you’re using a yeast-based pizza dough recipe, you may need to plan for significantly more prep time in the kitchen before you’re ready to bring the dough out to your fire pit. In order to minimize the amount of time you spend indoors, you’ll want to use instant dry yeast for you pizza crust or choose a non-yeast-containing flatbread recipe instead. - Option 2: Par-baking the dough
Some people contend that flatbread dough can contain yeast, because the texture actually comes from the process of par-baking the flatbread dough before you finally cook it with all the toppings. Par-baking means that you’ll pop the dough in the oven for a few minutes before adding the toppings for the final bake over your fire pit--a process that imparts a crispier taste, but also means you’ll have to use your oven instead of relying solely on your fire pit. Nevertheless, an advantage of the process is that you can par-bake the dough, wrap it in plastic wrap, and store it in your freezer for days or weeks prior to baking. As a result, you can be prepared for a social gathering well in advance, and you have the flexibility to spontaneously decide to cook a delicious flatbread over your fire pit on a warm summer night--just pull it out, add your favorite summery toppings, and get ready for the best, crispiest flatbread of your life!
Essentials for Cooking Pizza and Flatbread Over Your Fire Pit
In order to get the delicious, fire-grilled pizza crust or flatbread you’ve been dreaming of, you have to start with high-quality cooking wood. Firewood for cooking burns hotter and longer than other firewood options, providing the optimal burn temperature for your crust. The aroma of the firewood also adds nuance to the flavor of your pizza or flatbread. That way, no matter what you put on it, your pizza or flatbread will “taste like summer.”
Of course, you’ll also need an iron grate for your fire pit if you want to cook pizza or flatbread--it’s not something you can roast on a stick! You can place your pizza or flatbread on either a metal pan or a stone on top of your grate, or you can opt to make personalized pizzas or flatbreads in individual cast iron skillets.
One of the challenges of cooking pizza over your fire pit is optimizing the cook time for both the crust and the toppings, since it often takes much longer for the crust to cook than the toppings. To keep things simple, you may want to consider roasting vegetables or sausages on roasting forks over your fire pit, and then just slicing them onto the pizza or flatbread for the last few minutes of cook time. If you’re looking for a sweeter flatbread, you can also create a s’mores pizza or flatbread by melting chocolate over the crust and topping it with freshly-roasted marshmallows!
Whether you decide to cook pizza or flatbread (or both!) over your fire pit this summer, we want to see it, so don’t forget to tag Cutting Edge Firewood in your Instagram photos! To get your cooking firewood, grate, or roasting forks, visit our order page now!
FAQs
The main technical different between flatbread and pizza lies in the dough used. Flatbread calls for unleavened dough, or, dough that doesn't use yeast. Pizza requires dough that has been made using yeast and allowed to rise for a certain amount of time.
Is flatbread like pizza dough? ›
Flatbread: Think thin and crispy! Traditional flatbread dough tends to be a simpler affair, often made without a leavening agent (ie, yeast). The lack of rising time in this unleavened dough results in a thinner, crisper crust that's more akin to a giant cracker than a pillowy pizza base.
Is flatbread pizza the same as thin crust? ›
While it is often portioned and cut to share, a flatbread is actually different from a traditional pizza. According to Basta Pasta, flatbreads . Flatbread pizza crusts are typically thicker and doughier than thin crusts. They are also usually cooked in a wood-fired oven, which gives them a smoky flavor.
What is the difference between pita bread and pizza base? ›
For many people, a flatbread is made with unleavened dough and a pizza has yeast and is a leavened dough. But what about pita bread? This is clearly called a flatbread, but also uses yeast. So, yeast is not the determining factor.
Is bread and pizza dough the same? ›
The main difference is that pizza dough is often made with a higher protein flour (bread flour is perfect). Bread dough can also be made with bread flour (of course) but some types of bread dough are better made with a lower protein flour like all purpose flour.
What makes the modern pizza different than the flatbread made for thousands of years? ›
The difference between traditional and flatbread pizza is in the dough. Traditional pizzas are made from dough containing yeast, while flatbread pizza dough does not contain yeast.
Is flatbread just a tortilla? ›
Tortillas are typically baked on a triple pass oven, while flatbreads are usually baked in a tunnel oven. Flatbreads may also require a proofing or resting period that varies based on the specific flatbread being made.
What are the four types of flat breads? ›
Flat breads are made throughout most of the world. Examples are pita (from the Middle East), chapati and naan (India), tortilla (Mexico) and focaccia (Italy).
What do you eat with flatbread? ›
Best Combinations
- Blue cheese, caramelized onion, pear and aged balsamic vinegar.
- Pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, onion and red bell pepper.
- Scrambled eggs, tomato, spinach and cheese of your choice.
- Cooked ground meat with taco seasonings or canned chili beans, diced green bell pepper, tomato, onion, cheddar cheese.
The steam from the base can't escape, so it condenses on your crispy surface and turns it wet and soggy. Use a pizza stone or a pan with holes to get a crispy pizza crust. A pizza stone will keep your pizza hot and its porousness will absorb some condensation.
Typically, Neapolitan-style pizza has a soft, thin crust and is baked in a wood-burning oven at between 800 and 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit for 70 to 90 seconds. At this temperature, the crust will bubble up and char, leaving you with a delicious meal.
How healthy are flatbreads? ›
It's versatile, and with so many health benefit, including being rich in fibre and low in sugar, it can be entirely bespoke for you. Here are some other ways Flatbread helps you make more mindful choices.
What's the difference between flatbread and pizza recipe? ›
But the difference between the two really comes down to the ingredients, they both need flour, water, and salt, but pizza dough has an additional ingredient, yeast. Pizza dough is a leavened dough where flatbread is unleavened, giving it that flat texture.
What is the best substitute pizza base? ›
Save time by swapping your regular pizza dough for simple substitutes. Our alternative bases include pitta bread, naan, puff pastry, wraps and polenta. Whether you're short of flour or don't have time to make a pizza base, we've compiled 10 simple shortcuts using shop-bought substitutes.
Which bread is best for pizza? ›
Focaccia bread is a popular Italian flatbread that makes an ideal base for pizza. Thick, hearty focaccia stands up well to heavy toppings and has lots of holes and dimples to trap melted cheese and sauce. Focaccia dough is made from bread flour, olive oil, salt, yeast, and warm water.
What makes a flatbread a flatbread? ›
A flatbread is bread made usually with flour; water, milk, yogurt, or other liquid; and salt, and then thoroughly rolled into flattened dough. Many flatbreads are unleavened, although some are leavened, such as pita bread.
What's the difference between flatbread and regular bread? ›
Naan is a flatbread, whereas bread comes in loaves. Naan is higher in fat, protein, and carbohydrates than loaf bread. The higher protein content of naan will allow you to feel fuller for longer and curve cravings.
How are flatbread and pita different? ›
In the Middle East ever country has a form of flat bread, and it goes into Persia and India, pita tend to when cook, inflate and form the pocket you find when opening it up, so you can put falafel, shawarma and other foods in it, were naan and other Arabic flatbreads are more like a flat loaf of white bread no pocket ...
