History

Pittsburgh's neighbourhood pizzerias developed their own square-cut style in the post-war decades, defined by a tangy tomato sauce and a crust crisp on the bottom. Mineo's opened on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill in 1958 and Aiello's set up a few doors away, fuelling a rivalry locals still argue. The pies are cut in squares and sold whole or by the cut at counters across the city, separate from the Detroit-pan style that newer shops like Iron Born bake.

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Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy

Make it at home

Yield 4Hands-on 30 minTotal 2 hr 30 minDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 500g bread flour
  • 320ml warm water
  • 7g instant yeast
  • 10g salt
  • 20ml olive oil
  • 400g tomato sauce, seasoned with garlic, oregano and a pinch of sugar
  • 300g low-moisture mozzarella, shredded
  • Pepperoni (optional)

Method

  1. Mix flour, water, yeast, salt and oil into a dough. Knead 8 minutes until smooth.
  2. Rest the dough covered for 90 minutes until doubled.
  3. Press the dough into an oiled rectangular sheet pan and let it relax for 30 minutes.
  4. Heat the oven to 240C (475F).
  5. Spread the tangy seasoned sauce over the dough, then the mozzarella, then pepperoni if using.
  6. Bake 15 to 18 minutes until the cheese is set and the bottom is crisp.
  7. Cool 3 minutes, then cut into squares.

Tip from the editors. Add a pinch of sugar to the sauce; the slight sweetness against the tang is the Pittsburgh signature.

Where to eat pittsburgh-style square pizza

Pittsburgh-style square pizza in Pittsburgh

Mineo's Pizza House ★ 4.4

$ PizzeriaSquirrel Hill

Mineo's on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill sells cheap Pittsburgh-style square pizza since 1958. Grab a couple of slices off the counter for a quick budget.

TrySquare-cut pizza by the slice

Directions

Aiello's Pizza ★ 4.4

$$ PizzaSquirrel Hill

Aiello's Pizza on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill runs a thin, crispy-crust pie in Pittsburgh. The other half of Murray Avenue's long-running pizza rivalry.

OrderA thin-crust pie whole or by the cut, crisp at the edges.

TipSits a few doors from Mineo's; locals argue which is better. Quick counter service.

Directions

Slice on Broadway ★ 4.3

$ PizzeriaRegent Square

Slice on Broadway in Beechview sells award-winning pizza by the slice cheap in Pittsburgh. A quick counter pie that has won national pizza competitions.

TryBy-the-slice pizza

Directions

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