Can you put basil on top of pizza?

Q: Does basil go on top of pizza?

Fresh basil should go on pizza after its baked, not before. Dried basil can go on before and/or after baking.

Q: Do you put basil before or after pizza?

Its traditional to put the basil leaves on the pizza before baking, and it bakes with the rest of the pizza. But Franco Pepe at Pepe in Grani puts fresh basil on his margherita after it is baked, and so do others I admire. I like it both ways.

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Table of Contents Show

Does basil go on top of pizza?
Do you put basil before or after pizza?
Do Italians put basil on pizza?

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r/Cooking

My roommate and I have not stopped fighting about it. What is the correct way? Please explain.

level 1

If you are topping with basil then absolutely after. Before you will burn it. If you are placing it below other ingredients you may be fine depending on cooking-time but then you'd need a pizza oven.

level 2

If you put it in olive oil before placing in on top of a pizza it won't burn but it will infuse the oil on the pizza while staying green and juicy.

level 1

After is waaaaaaay better

level 1

Depends on your taste but I would say just after getting it out of the oven. The basil will cook a bit while your pizza is cooling down. Some prefer a fresher taste of the herb and will add it at the last moment. Others don't care and put both at the same time in the oven. Just see what you prefer :)

level 1

After. The residual heat from the pizza will warm it but won't overdo it.

level 2

Yep- this is the right answer and with the "why" part of it.

The warmth will bloom the flavor, not kill it.

level 1

I do both. A little chiffonaded into the oil or sauce. And then fresh on top.

I don't really like it crispy dry. I mean it depends on how hot an oven we are talking here.

I do love that you and your roomie are legit fighting about it tho. :D

level 2

He’s learning how to cook and it’s awesome. He’s at the point where he has to follow recipes to the T. I’m trying to get him confident enough to just grab ingredients that go together and make whatever he wants. So our nights consist of me sitting on the counter helping him when he needs it. Then we split dishes. I never thought being a girl and getting guy roommates would improve my quality of life but I LOVE IT.

level 2

Aw yes, I love a good basil chiff... pizza shop I worked in did chiff and then sprinkled it on the pie after it came out.

level 1

The best way I’ve personally had it, is to pull the pizza out when it’s almost done and put the leaves on then. At work, we don’t have the luxury of that type of oven, and we make too many pizzas to be able to do it anyway, so we put them on under the cheese so it doesn’t burn.

level 1

Both. Half befote, half after.

level 2

This is a very good compromise. I love basil so we can just add double the amount.

level 1

I do both - I tear a few leaves on the pizza after I put on the sauce but before the other toppings and add a few whole leaves immediately after removal from the oven.

the teared up pieces flavour the sauce as it cooks while the pizza bakes, and the whole leaves keep their fresh flavour. it's the best of both worlds IMO.

level 1

Basil is topped before when working with temps in excess of 800. The extremely short cook time does wilt the basil but does not drive all the perfume & flavor out. It’s a really nice balance & the way a Neapolitan margherita is traditionally prepared.

If you’re going for anything longer than a 3 minute or so cook time, place after.

And always infuse basil in your sauce :)

level 1

Worked in a pizza restaurant for 5 years, the correct answer is 'sort of both'. There is often basil in the sauce unless you have prepared it yourself, in which case you should put basil in your sauce haha. After the pizza is done cooking add a few more basil leaves on top of the pizza. Cooking exposed basil in an oven will dry it out so you will end up with basil chips rather than leaves.

For reference, the oven was 40% wood, 60% gas and cooked a pizza in about 3 minutes, so perhaps exposed basil would not be ravaged quite as much in a conventional oven.

level 1

I would have said after, because i think it gives a fresher taste, but I looked it up for you and according to the official international neopolitan pizza regulations (download the pdf to view the regulations yourself), the basil should be put on before cooking. That way it gives the maximum amount of flavor.

TL;DR: according to official regulations, before cooking

level 2

They also say

The cooking must be done exclusively in a wood-fired oven, which has reached a temperature between 430-480C°. With these temperatures, just insert the pizza for 60-90 seconds.

so I guess this is also where the confusion comes from: basil before if you have the sun an oven capable of reaching 500°C, but for most of us, regrettably, basil after.

level 2

Your explanation & TL;DR contradict!

Does basil go on top of pizza?

Fresh basil should go on pizza after it's baked, not before. Dried basil can go on before and/or after baking.

Do you put basil before or after pizza?

It's traditional to put the basil leaves on the pizza before baking, and it bakes with the rest of the pizza. But Franco Pepe at Pepe in Grani puts fresh basil on his margherita after it is baked, and so do others I admire. I like it both ways.

Do Italians put basil on pizza?

Sweet and delicious basil is commonly used in many Italian dishes, particularly in the south of the country. It goes into pasta sauce, summer salads, and of course, on pizza.