St. Louis-style Pizza

St. Louis-style pizza stands out thanks to its thin crackling crust and unique cuts of squares or rectangles.

Lastest Updated May 27, 2024
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Fact: When cut into pieces, St. Louis-style pizza offers around 16 pieces of various sizes.

Basic Information

St. Louis-style Pizza: Basic Information

Pronunciation

/Saint Loo-is style Pee-zuh/

Alternative Name(s)

N/A

Dish Type

Pizza

Course

Main Course

Mealtime

Anytime

Popular Variations

Varies based on ingredients
Origin and Region

St. Louis-style Pizza: Origin and Region

Origin

United States

Continent’s Region

St. Louis, Missouri

Country’s Region

Associated Region

Ingredients and Preparation

St. Louis-style Pizza: Ingredients and Preparation

Main Ingredients

Pizza dough, tomato sauce, Provel cheese

Main Cooking Method

Baking

Preparation Process

The dough is kneaded before being flattened to top with various toppings. It’s then baked until the crust is crackling.
A Deep Dive

St. Louis-style Pizza: A Deep Dive

Cultural Significance

Popular in St. Louis and surrounding areas

Taste

Savory, sweet, complex

Texture

Crisp and cracker-like crust

Aroma

Savory

Color

Varies based on ingredients

Serving Style

On a plate

Serving Temperature

Hot

Accompaniment

N/A

Occasions

Any

Seasons

Special Diets

Calories

1333 calories, according to data of Nutritionix for 1 St. Louis Style Pepperoni Pizza

Popularity

Saint Louis, local restaurants and supermarkets

Popular Similar Dishes

N/A

Popular Dining Area

Local restaurants, including chains like Imo’s Pizza.

St. Louis-style pizza is an American pizza that is well-received in St. Louis of the Missouri State along with the regions surrounding it. This style of pizza focuses mainly on its yeastless thin crust, possessing a cracker-like texture.

To add to that, people easily recognize St. Louis’s pizza by the cutting of it, usually available in rectangles or squares. Ideally, these slices are around 3 to 4 inches and are often called tavern or party cuts.

Cheese is another feature that sets St. Louis Pizza apart when it employs Provel, a processed cheese that is rarely found outside of Louisiana. Typically, Provel is known for combining three varieties, including Swiss, white cheddar, and provolone.

The sauce is another note-worthy feature, as St. Louis often infuses extra oregano into it, while the concoction itself usually possesses a sweet taste. Though the crust of St. Louis pizza is thin, the pizza comes with many layers of toppings.

After knowing the features of St. Louis pizza, you should take a peek at the process to create it along with the features that set it apart from the Chicago and New York versions. Also, don’t miss the common inquiries and similar dish suggestions just for you.

Key Points

  • St. Louis-style pizza is cut into squares or rectangles.
  • The pizza has a thin crackling crust with Provel cheese and oregano-seasoned sauce being the main highlights.
  • St. Louis-style pizza is different from the Chicago and New York varieties.

St. Louis-style Pizza Images

How to Make St. Louis-style Pizza?

To make St. Louis-style Pizza, people will need to go through procedures that are relatively similar to a regular pizza. However, there are more processes to make a pizza in the St. Louis style:

  • Preparing the dough: Prepare a thin pizza dough without yeast. This will give the pizza its characteristic cracker-like crust.
  • Shaping the dough: Roll out the dough thinly and evenly on a pizza stone or baking sheet. Ensure it’s spread out to achieve the thin crust typical of St. Louis-style pizza.
  • Applying the sauce: Spread a layer of tomato sauce over the rolled-out dough. The sauce is often seasoned with extra oregano.
  • Adding cheese and toppings: Sprinkle Provel cheese over the sauce. Then, add your desired toppings.
  • Baking: Bake the pizza until the crust is crisp and the cheese is melted and slightly browned.
  • Serving: Once baked, cut the pizza into squares or rectangles.

Interestingly, because of the thin crust, some even question the pros and cons of consuming St. Louis-style pizza.

Pros and Cons of Eating St. Louis-style Pizza

These are the good and bad features that anyone needs to know before consuming this pizza style of St. Louis:

Pros

  • Flavor and texture: The combination of a thin, cracker-like crust and Provel cheese offers a distinct taste and texture that’s different from other pizza styles.
  • Crispy experience: For those who enjoy a crispy pizza crust, St. Louis-style pizza delivers on that front.
  • Less oily: The thin crust means it won’t soak up the oil released by the toppings after baking.

Cons

  • Filling: The thin crust is unable to sustain a wide range of toppings, or it will crack when handled.
  • Processed cheese: Provel cheese, being a processed cheese, potentially contains additives and preservatives that some health-conscious individuals want to avoid.

For your information, people also compare the pizza styles of St. Louis and Chicago because of these two popularity.

What Are the Differences Between St. Louis and Chicago Pizza?

Here are the things you need to know in able to distinguish between St. Louis and Chicago-style pizza:

Chicago-style pizza is not the only contender to go up against the St. Louis variety, as the popular New York pizza is also often put up to the same table for comparison.

How Different Are St. Louis-style and New York Pizza?

These are the things you need to know about the pizza of St. Louis and New York:

Don’t forget, I still have a few answers relating to your common concerns about St. Louis-style pizza that you should take a look at.

St. Louis-style Pizza FAQs

The thin crust and Provel cheese are what make St. Louis-style pizza taste different from other varieties.

Taste is subjective. There are many people who love St. Louis-style pizza for its unique flavor and texture, while others prefer different pizza styles.

Yes, some pizzerias offer gluten-free versions of St. Louis-style pizza, but it’s essential to check with individual establishments to ensure they cater to gluten-free needs.

    Adam Sam

    Adam Sam

    Senior Food and Drink Editor

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    Food Writer & Recipe Developer, Recipe Tester, Bartender, Cooking-video Maker, Editor In Chief

    Education

    • University of Gastronomic Sciences – Pollenzo (Italy) (MA Food Culture, Communication & Marketing)
    • Johnson & Wales University (US) (Baking and Pastry Arts)
    • Professional Bartender at HNAAu School (Vietnam, International Joint Training Program)

    Adam Sam, an experienced food writer and recipe developer, is passionate about blending diverse culinary traditions, national dishes, and innovative beverages, showcasing his proficiency in both traditional and modern recipe testing.

    As the Editor-in-Chief, he elevates culinary content from street food to fine dining, focusing on Western cuisine and types of drinks at azcuisines.com, and is professional in creating engaging cooking videos that simplify complex dishes and ingredients.

    His passion for food is evident in his writing, where he uniquely merges various cultures, traditions, and contemporary trends, skillfully combining classic recipes with modern cooking methods.

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