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Italian · Style guide

Roman (alla Pala) pizza dough

Slab on peel; wet dough, stone bake

Roman oblong from peel to stone-lighter, longer format than rounds; meant to share.

Open Roman (alla Pala) in calculator Full codex entry

Default dough formula

Starting preset from the calculator. Adjust anytime in the app.

Hydration75%
Salt2.6% of flour
Oil2%
Sugar0%
Yeast (IDY)0.08% of flour
Total timeline24 h at 20°C

Fermentation schedule

Bulk ferment3 h
Cold ferment18 h
Bench / ball proof3 h
Cold placementbulk

Roman alla pala is often matured cold as a single mass (in massa), then divided and rested before being stretched onto the peel. If you cold-ferment after portioning, switch the placement to match.

Good fit when

Background

Alla pala is Roman oblong pizza launched from peel to hot stone or floor. Between rounds and trays, it skews airy and hydrated yet bakes naked for crunch without pan-fried edges. Rome’s bakeries already moved long breads and slabs, so this format fit naturally. Contemporary versions trumpet open crumb and lightness-ideal for communal cuts and swapping toppings bite by bite.

Common questions

What hydration for Roman (alla Pala) pizza dough?

The Roman (alla Pala) preset in 8Bit.Pizza starts around 75% hydration. Open the calculator to adjust for your flour and workflow, and the gram weights update instantly.

How long should Roman (alla Pala) dough ferment?

The default Roman (alla Pala) timeline is about 24 h total at room temperature, split across bulk and ball proofing. Use Wizard mode to set cold ferment hours if you prefer a longer schedule.

When should I choose Roman (alla Pala) style?

Great for sharing (long oblong). Nice balance of crispness and airy crumb. Works well on stone/steel in home ovens.