Pizza strips
Photo: Hungrydudes · CC BY 2.0

History

Pizza strips (also called bakery pizza, party pizza, or 'red strips') developed in southern Italian immigrant bakeries in Providence and the Federal Hill area through the early 20th century. Caserta Pizzeria on Spruce Street has been selling them since 1953; D. Palmieri's Bakery has carried the same tradition since the original Providence shop opened in 1905, now operating in Johnston. The strips are typically a 12-by-18 inch tray pan baked in a brick oven, sauced with sweet tomato puree, and cut into 3-by-4 inch rectangles that sell for a few dollars each.

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Common allergens: Gluten

Make it at home

Yield 12Hands-on 30 minTotal 3 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 500g strong bread flour
  • 10g fine sea salt
  • 7g instant yeast
  • 320ml lukewarm water
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus more for the pan
  • 1 can (400g) San Marzano tomatoes
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • Salt to taste

Method

  1. Mix flour, salt and yeast in a stand mixer bowl. Add water and 2 tbsp olive oil. Knead 8 minutes on medium until smooth and elastic.
  2. Cover and rise at room temperature 90 minutes until doubled.
  3. Crush the San Marzano tomatoes by hand. Stir in grated garlic, oregano, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Do not cook the sauce.
  4. Oil a 12-by-18 inch rimmed sheet pan generously with the remaining tbsp of olive oil.
  5. Punch the dough down and press it into the pan, stretching to fill the corners. Let rest 20 minutes.
  6. Heat oven to 240C (475F).
  7. Spread the uncooked sauce over the dough in a thin even layer, leaving a 1cm border.
  8. Bake 18 to 22 minutes until the crust is deep golden and the sauce is set.
  9. Cool 10 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a board. Cut into 3-by-4 inch strips with a pizza wheel.
  10. Serve at room temperature.

Tip from the editors. No cheese. The whole point of a pizza strip is sweet tomato on a crisp-bottom focaccia-style crust; cheese makes it a different dish entirely.

Where to eat pizza strips

Pizza strips in Providence

Caserta Pizzeria ★ 4.6

$ SicilianFederal Hill

Caserta on Spruce Street has been selling Rhode Island pizza strips since 1953. Sicilian-style square slices with sauce only or sauce-and-cheese.

TryPizza strips

Directions

D. Palmieri's Bakery ★ 4.4

$ SicilianJohnston

D. Palmieri's, in the Palmieri family since the 1905 Providence original, still slings pizza strips, spinach pies and Sicilian loaves from Johnston under $6.

TryPizza strip and spinach pie

Directions

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