New England Beach Pizza

When I heard New England beach pizza called "America's worst pizza," I knew I had to give it a try. With a thin crust, a very sweet sauce, no toppings but a scant sprinkle of mozzarella and full slices of provolone—well, it does deserve a certain reputation. I admit that it is good in a guilty-pleasure sort of way, and a really fun experiment.

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Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
40 mins
Servings:
12
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 12 servings

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed

  • 1/4 cup tomato paste

  • 2 cups marinara sauce

  • 1/4 cup water

  • 1/4 cup white sugar, or to taste

  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)

Pizza

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 24 ounces pizza dough

  • 3 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese

  • 12 slices provolone cheese

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).

  2. Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat; sauté garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomato paste, and cook, stirring, for another 30 seconds. Add marinara, water, sugar, oregano, and chili flakes. Bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes. Taste for seasoning and adjust if need be. Turn off heat and reserve.

  3. Roll and stretch dough into a rectangle about 15x10 inches. Rub a 13x18-inch half sheet pan with olive oil and transfer dough on. Push, pull, and stretch dough to cover pan. If dough pulls back from the edge, let it rest for a few minutes, and then continue shaping. 

  4. Top dough with a light layer of sauce (the recipe will make extra sauce). Top with mozzarella cheese. 

  5. Bake in the preheated oven until the crust is cooked through, and the bottom is golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. 

  6. As soon as pizza comes out of the oven, top with slices of provolone. Pizza can be served immediately, or placed back in the oven for a few minutes to melt provolone even more.

    c

    John Mitzewich

    From the Editor:

    Nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of sauce. The actual amount of sauce consumed will vary.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

346 Calories
17g Fat
36g Carbs
13g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 346
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 17g 22%
Saturated Fat 7g 33%
Cholesterol 25mg 8%
Sodium 693mg 30%
Total Carbohydrate 36g 13%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 13g 27%
Vitamin C 2mg 3%
Calcium 284mg 22%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 287mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.