Rhode Island Style Pizza Strips Recipe

Pizza dough: This is the base of your pizza strips, usually found fresh or frozen in the grocery store. It gives the crust its chewy texture.

Tomato sauce: The sauce adds moisture and flavor. You can use plain tomato sauce or one made specifically for pizza.

Olive oil: Brushing the dough with olive oil helps create a golden, crispy crust and adds a little richness.

Oregano: A dried herb that brings a classic Italian flavor to the sauce.

Salt: Enhances all the other flavors and balances the sauce.

One of the most important steps in making these Rhode Island Style Pizza Strips is rolling out the pizza dough just right. Here’s a simple way to do it so your crust turns out perfect every time:

1. Sprinkle some flour on your clean surface before you start. This stops the dough from sticking.
2. Place your ball of pizza dough on the floured spot.
3. Use a rolling pin to gently press and roll the dough outward, turning it a little as you go. This helps keep the shape even.
4. Keep adding a tiny bit of flour if the dough starts to stick to the rolling pin or surface.
5. Roll until the dough is about the size of your baking sheet, so it fits nicely.

Doing this makes your pizza crust bake evenly and get that nice golden color. If the dough is too thick in some spots, those parts might stay doughy or take longer to cook. If it’s too thin, it could get crispy or even burn. Rolling it evenly means every bite will have the right balance of soft and crunchy.

When I first tried rolling out dough, I pressed too hard and ended up with holes! Now, I try to be gentle and patient, rolling a little at a time. Also, I love using a little extra flour on my hands so the dough doesn’t stick to my fingers. It makes the whole process less messy and way more fun.

Once your dough is rolled out just right, brushing it with olive oil before adding the tomato sauce helps keep the crust from getting soggy. That little step makes a big difference in how tasty your pizza strips turn out!

• pizza dough - Substitute with focaccia bread: Focaccia bread has a similar texture and can be used as a base for pizza strips.

• tomato sauce - Substitute with marinara sauce: Marinara sauce has a similar flavor profile and consistency, making it a suitable replacement.

• olive oil - Substitute with canola oil: Canola oil has a neutral flavor and similar cooking properties, making it a good alternative.

• oregano - Substitute with Italian seasoning: Italian seasoning contains oregano along with other herbs, providing a similar flavor.

• salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt has a similar taste and can be used in the same quantity.

• Allow the pizza strips to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation, which can make the crust soggy.
• Place the pizza strips in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. This helps maintain their freshness and prevents them from drying out.
• Store the container or wrapped pizza strips in the refrigerator if you plan to consume them within 3-4 days. This keeps them fresh and ready to reheat.
• For longer storage, place the wrapped pizza strips in a freezer-safe bag or container. Label with the date to keep track of their freshness.
• When freezing, ensure the pizza strips are laid flat in the freezer to prevent them from sticking together. Once frozen, you can stack them to save space.
• To reheat refrigerated pizza strips, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the strips on a baking sheet and heat for 5-10 minutes, or until warmed through and crispy.
• For frozen pizza strips, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the frozen strips on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through and the crust is crispy.
• Alternatively, you can reheat pizza strips in a microwave. Place them on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Heat on high for 1-2 minutes, checking frequently to avoid overcooking.
• If you prefer a crispier crust, use a toaster oven or air fryer for reheating. Set the temperature to 375°F (190°C) and heat for 5-7 minutes, or until the desired crispiness is achieved.
• Enjoy your reheated Rhode Island style pizza strips with your favorite dipping sauces or as a quick and tasty snack.

• Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Place the pizza strips on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  3. Cover the strips loosely with aluminum foil to prevent them from drying out.
  4. Heat for about 10 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes to crisp up the edges.
  5. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.

• Toaster Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your toaster oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Place the pizza strips directly on the toaster oven rack or on a small baking sheet.
  3. Heat for 8-10 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure they don't overcook.
  4. Remove and let cool slightly before enjoying.

• Stovetop Skillet Method:

  1. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
  2. Place the pizza strips in the skillet, ensuring they are not overlapping.
  3. Cover the skillet with a lid to help retain moisture.
  4. Heat for about 3-5 minutes, flipping halfway through to ensure even reheating.
  5. Remove from the skillet and let cool slightly before serving.

• Microwave Method:

  1. Place the pizza strips on a microwave-safe plate.
  2. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or another plate to prevent splattering.
  3. Microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking halfway through.
  4. If the strips are not heated through, continue microwaving in 30-second intervals.
  5. Let cool slightly before serving.

• Air Fryer Method:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the pizza strips in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  3. Heat for 3-5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even heating.
  4. Remove from the air fryer and let cool slightly before serving.

• Oven: Used to bake the pizza strips at the required temperature of 450°F (230°C).

• Rolling pin: Essential for rolling out the pizza dough to fit the baking sheet.

• Floured surface: Provides a non-stick area to roll out the dough without it sticking.

• Baking sheet: The surface on which the pizza dough is placed and baked.

• Pastry brush: Used to brush olive oil evenly over the pizza dough.

• Measuring cup: Ensures the correct amount of tomato sauce is used.

• Measuring spoons: Used to measure out the oregano and salt accurately.

• Knife: Necessary for cutting the baked pizza into strips.

• Cooling rack: Allows the pizza to cool slightly after baking before cutting and serving.

Preheat the oven early: Start preheating your oven before you begin preparing the pizza dough to save time.

Use store-bought dough: Opt for store-bought pizza dough instead of making it from scratch to cut down on preparation time.

Ready-made sauce: Use ready-made tomato sauce to avoid the time-consuming process of making your own.

Prep ingredients in advance: Measure out and prepare all your ingredients before you start assembling the pizza strips.

Line the baking sheet: Use parchment paper to line your baking sheet for easy cleanup and quick transfer of the dough.