Diavola (Spicy Salami) Pizza Recipe

Ingredients
Equipment
Directions
FAQs
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Traditional Diavola pizza requires strong bread flour, yeast, salt, olive oil, tomato sauce, garlic, oregano, mozzarella cheese, spicy salami (such as Ventricina or Calabrese), red chili flakes, and fresh basil. The combination delivers the perfect balance of heat and savory flavors.
Learn how to cook Diavola (Spicy Salami) Pizza by preparing a stretchy pizza dough that rises for 2 hours, then topping it with zesty tomato sauce, mozzarella, and spicy salami. Bake on a preheated pizza stone at the highest temperature your oven reaches (ideally 250-275°C) for 8-10 minutes until the crust develops leopard spotting and the cheese bubbles.
The extended 1.5-2 hour rising time allows for proper fermentation, developing complex flavours and improving texture. This slow rise creates tiny air pockets that transform into the signature bubbles in the crust when baked at high temperatures, giving your pizza that authentic artisanal quality.
For restaurant-quality crispy crust, use a pizza stone or steel preheated at maximum temperature for at least 45 minutes. Stretch your dough thin in the middle (but not the edges), use minimal sauce to prevent sogginess, and avoid overloading with toppings. The intense bottom heat mimics a wood-fired oven.
The most authentic choices are Italian varieties like Ventricina, Calabrese or Soppressata, which offer the perfect balance of heat, fat, and flavour. These salamis crisp beautifully when baked and release their spicy oils into the cheese. Look for salami with visible chili flakes or black pepper for maximum heat.
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