Most people associate commercial wood-fired pizza ovens with blistered crusts and bubbling mozzarella. Even though pizza is unquestionably the main attraction, these ovens can do a lot more. Wood-fired ovens give cooks the chance to expand their menus, increase sales, and surprise diners with fire-kissed flavours that go beyond the typical pie thanks to their intense, radiant heat and even thermal distribution.
It’s time to realise the full potential of your Chef’s Forno Brick Series commercial wood-fired pizza oven, whether you currently own one or are considering purchasing one. Here are seven surprising recipes that demonstrate the wood-fired oven’s culinary prowess.
1. Rustic Artisan Bread
The smell of freshly baked bread in a wood-fired oven is unmatched. The oven’s high humidity and thermal mass allow you to get the desired crisp exterior and chewy interior. Bread baked in a wood-fired oven acquires a depth of flavour and texture that is difficult to duplicate in a traditional oven, whether it be rosemary focaccia, baguettes, or sourdough boules.
Pro Tip: Before baking bread after a pizza service, allow the oven to cool slightly. The perfect baking conditions are produced by the ambient steam and residual heat.
2. Fire-Roasted Vegetables
The inherent sweetness and complexity of vegetables are enhanced by commercial wood-fired pizza ovens. Ideas include smoky eggplant for baba ghanoush, blistered Brussels sprouts with balsamic reduction and charred carrots with honey glaze. The wood smoke adds a rich, rustic flavour to the vegetables, and the high heat quickly caramelises the sugars.
Bonus: You may use roasted seasonal vegetables as vegetarian meals, sides, or toppings.
3. Meats in Cast Iron Skillets
A cast iron skillet can be used to sear meat in a hot commercial wood-fired pizza oven. Imagine pork chops with caramelised apples, herb-roasted chicken thighs, or sizzling steaks with a flawless crust. Intense top-down and bottom-up heat produces delicious char while retaining juices.
Menu Suggestion: To highlight variety and entice guests to return for more flavours, try a “fire-roasted protein of the day” special.
4. Casseroles and Baked Pasta
Picture serving mac and cheese with golden breadcrumbs or bubbling lasagne with crispy edges, all expertly prepared in a wood-fired oven. Cooking these comfort foods over real wood adds flavour and that distinctive oven-baked finish, giving them a gourmet edge.
Efficiency Tip: Before serving, prepare pasta or casseroles and flash-finish them in the commercial wood-fired oven.
5. Delights of Seafood
Indeed, properly prepared fish thrives in wood-fired ovens. Shrimp skewers, cedar-plank salmon or whole branzino absorb smoky undertones without drying out due to their rapid cooking. The short cooking time preserves moisture while bringing out the fish’s inherent flavour.
Pro Tip: To avoid sticking and guarantee even cooking, use a perforated pan or tray lined with parchment paper for delicate fish.
6. Indulgent Sweets
Use your oven for sweet dishes to increase the ante on your dessert menu. Wood-fired cinnamon buns, baked apples, skillet brownies, and fruit cobblers are all acceptable. Any meal is enhanced by the rustic charm of a warm dessert served directly from the oven in a cast-iron skillet.
Menu Suggestion: For an upsell, provide wood-fired sweets with locally roasted coffee or artisan gelato.
7. Small plates and smoked appetisers
As the oven cools, take advantage of the lower temperatures to make house-made sausages, scorched flatbreads, or peppers packed with cheese. The flavour that wood smoke adds turns even basic appetisers into fine dining experiences.
Event Tip: To showcase the versatility of your wood-fired setup, use tiny plates like these for tasting menus or catering events.
Why Stretch Beyond Pizza?
1. Expanding your offerings beyond pizza helps you:
2. Attract a wider customer base (especially non-pizza lovers or dietary-conscious diners).
3. Maximize your ROI by keeping the oven in use beyond peak pizza hours.
4. Create a signature brand experience focussed around fire-cooked flavour.
5. Stand out from the competition by offering items that customers can’t find at generic pizza spots.
A commercial wood-fired pizza oven, particularly a high-performance one such as the Chef‘s Forno Brick Series, is not just a cooking device—it‘s a culinary focal point. Utilize it to highlight your creativity, increase ticket averages, and convert first-time guests into loyal patrons.
Conclusion
If you’ve only been using your commercial wood-fired oven for pizza, you’re only scratching the surface. From sizzling seafood to bubbling desserts, the potential is vast—and delicious. By thinking outside the pizza box, you’ll elevate your kitchen’s output and deliver a truly memorable dining experience.
Ready to unleash the maximum potential of fire? Discover the Chef‘s Forno Brick Series to select a handcrafted, high-performance oven that reflects your style and brings every meal to life.
