When the warm season arrives and evenings are pleasantly mild, there’s nothing better than organizing a summer dinner with friends.
Actually, there might be something even better: a summer dinner with friends featuring pizza!
In this detailed guide, we’ll explain exactly how to create the perfect evening — from timing and menu planning to choosing the most useful equipment and the tastiest ingredients — plus tips to avoid common mistakes.
Now, let’s dive in and see how to turn a breezy summer evening into a truly memorable experience of togetherness and joy.
- Summer Dinner with Friends – Three Ideas with Homemade Pizza
- Homemade Pizza: The Perfect Choice for an Evening
- The Best Toppings for a Summer Pizza
- The Best Oven for a Summer Dinner with Friends
Homemade Pizza: The Perfect Choice for an Evening
On a cool summer evening spent on the terrace or in the garden, away from the day’s heat, what could be better than gathering friends to enjoy a good pizza?
Pizza has always been a symbol of togetherness: simply sharing a few slices with loved ones brings happiness and lightheartedness. Add the fun, slightly competitive spirit of making your own pizza, and you have the perfect recipe for an unforgettable night!
Sure, making a great pizza can be tricky — especially for beginners — but that’s part of the fun! Plus, with this guide, the whole process will feel easier and more enjoyable.
First, timing is crucial: prepare the dough in advance, choosing your preferred recipe. Here’s an example of a basic dough for your pizza night.
Once the dough is ready, the next step is to organize the evening. Depending on the number of guests, set up an efficient plan — almost like a mini “production line.” If you’re expecting a large group, prepare some cold pizzas ahead of time to serve as appetizers while the rest are baking.
When it comes to baking, think ahead about the oven type, size, fuel source, the pizza-maker’s skill level, and how many people will be handling the cooking.
For wood-fired ovens, refer to this article; for gas ovens, preheat 30–40 minutes before baking, keeping the door closed or slightly open.
If you’re using an oven that fits two or more pizzas but working alone or without much experience, bake one at a time to avoid burning. More skilled cooks, or pairs working together, can bake multiple pizzas at once. Even in larger ovens, avoid exceeding 2–3 pizzas at a time to keep production smooth.
Follow these tips, and you’re ready to get cooking!
3 Fresh Summer Pizza Toppings
Seasonal ingredients bring out the best flavors and aromas of the Italian summer. Here are our suggestions for fresh summer pizzas, delicious both straight from the oven or after a few minutes.
Buffalo Mozzarella, Red & Yellow Cherry Tomatoes, and Basil
The ultimate summer pizza, with a twist: red and yellow cherry tomatoes instead of just the usual red. Yellow tomatoes are fresher in flavor and pair beautifully with buffalo mozzarella.
Ingredients: yellow cherry tomatoes, red cherry tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil.
This is a white base pizza, topped entirely after baking.
Chef’s tip: Buffalo mozzarella tastes best at room temperature — take it out of the fridge ahead of time. For an extra-refreshing touch, add a sprinkle of dried mint or fresh mint leaves.
Fiordilatte, Arugula, Mortadella, Grana Shavings & Balsamic Vinegar
Another white base pizza, baked with fiordilatte cheese.
Ingredients: fiordilatte, mortadella, arugula, Grana Padano shavings, balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil.
After baking, wait a few minutes before adding the arugula to prevent wilting. Then layer on the mortadella, sprinkle with Grana shavings, and finish with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
Chef’s tip: Toss the arugula with a little olive oil before topping. For more flavor, choose pistachio or truffle mortadella.
Fresh Figs, Prosciutto Crudo & Mozzarella
In Rome, there’s a saying, “Mica pizza e fichi” (“It’s not just pizza and figs”), meaning something ordinary. Here, however, pizza and figs become a gourmet dish, thanks to the contrast between the fruit’s sweetness and the prosciutto’s saltiness.
Ingredients: pizza mozzarella, aged prosciutto crudo, fresh figs, extra virgin olive oil.
This is also a white base pizza: bake with mozzarella, then top after baking with thin slices of prosciutto and fresh fig wedges.
Chef’s tip: For a sweet-salty twist — or to turn it into a “dessert pizza” — drizzle a little honey over each slice.
The Best Oven for a Summer Dinner with Friends
We’ve seen how to organize a pizza-themed night, practical tips, and mistakes to avoid — plus seasonal topping ideas to capture the essence of an Italian summer anywhere.
All these pizzas shine when baked in a high-quality oven, and Alfa leads the way here. With nearly 50 years of experience, the brand is a market leader in pizza ovens, as proven by countless positive reviews.
For a convivial summer evening, the perfect choice is the Alfa Moderno range, with its warm red and anthracite grey finishes and welcoming round design. Available in gas, wood-fired, or hybrid versions, Moderno ovens come in sizes for 1, 2, 3, or 5 pizzas — perfect for any outdoor space, from a backyard kitchen to a city terrace.
Now all that’s left is to call your loved ones and host an unforgettable summer dinner with friends featuring homemade pizza!
