---
title: "Ector Jimenez-Bravo reveals the recipe for legendary school cafeteria pizza: how to recreate the taste of childhood at home"
description: "Chef Ector Jimenez-Bravo posted on Instagram a recipe for school cafeteria pizza: simple yeast dough, ketchup, sausage, and cheese. Styler/RBC-Ukraine described in detail the process of preparing, storing, and reheating the dish."
date: 2026-09-02T11:34:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ector-jimenez-bravo-school-cafeteria-pizza-recipe
tags: [hector-jimenez-bravo, pizza-recipe, school-cafeteria, home-cooking, styler-rbc-ukraine, food-lifestyle]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ector Jimenez-Bravo reveals the recipe for legendary school cafeteria pizza: how to recreate the taste of childhood at home

![Ector Jimenez-Bravo holds a homemade pizza, with four pizzas topped with salami, pineapple and cheese on a board beside him](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/02/ektor-himenes-bravo-recept-pitsy-iz-shkolnogo-bufeta/ektor-himenes-bravo-recept-pitsy-iz-shkolnogo-bufeta-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Ector Jimenez-Bravo showed on Instagram a recipe for pizza reminiscent of the taste of a school cafeteria
- The dough is made from flour, yeast, egg, milk, and butter; proofing time is 40–60 minutes
- Toppings are free-form: from sausage with ketchup and cucumbers to chicken, ham, and pineapple
- Baking at 220 °C for 15–20 minutes; storage up to 2 months in the freezer
- King Arthur Baking recommends reheating on a cold pan under a lid for 6–10 minutes

Chef Ector Jimenez-Bravo posted a video on Instagram with a recipe that instantly sparked a wave of nostalgia among Ukrainian viewers: he showed how to make at home the very pizza many remember from school cafeterias and snack bars. This is reported by the Styler entertainment project from RBC-Ukraine. In the video footage and accompanying photos, the master demonstrates four small round pizzas with various toppings — from classic sausage with cheese to a pineapple version — arranged on a wooden board. According to the recipe's author, the main advantage of this dish is the complete absence of strict rules: the toppings can be changed to suit personal preferences while still preserving the recognizable "school" taste.

### Dough: the foundation of nostalgic flavor

The process begins with kneading a simple yeast dough. In a deep bowl, you need to mix flour, dry yeast, salt, and sugar, then add an egg, warm milk, and butter. The dough is kneaded until soft and elastic, covered with a towel or plastic wrap, and placed in a warm spot for 40–60 minutes. During this time, it should rise well and noticeably increase in volume. After proofing, the dough is divided into four equal parts, each of which is shaped by hand into a small round base. The edges of the base are brushed with butter, and the center is spread with tomato sauce or regular ketchup — according to Jimenez-Bravo, this latter option brings the result closest to the taste of a school cafeteria.

### Toppings and baking: from sausage to pineapple

The prepared dough is topped with fillings. For the most authentic "school" version, the chef recommends boiled sausage, pickled cucumbers, ketchup, and cottage cheese. However, more modern combinations are also acceptable: boiled chicken, ham, tomatoes, pineapple, or any other vegetables to taste. The pizza is then generously sprinkled with grated cheese. The dish is baked in an oven preheated to 220 °C for 15–20 minutes. The sign of readiness is well-browned dough edges and a golden crust on the cheese. In the photos published along with the video, four pizzas with various topping combinations are visible, garnished with fresh basil leaves, which emphasizes the freedom in choosing ingredients.

### Storage and reheating: expert tips

Such pizzas are convenient to make in advance and freeze, so that a breakfast or snack can be quickly reheated at any time. According to recommendations from the US Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS), cooked pizza can be stored in the freezer for one to two months, and in the refrigerator for three to four days. Before storing, the finished dish should be covered or tightly wrapped. Baking experts at King Arthur Baking offer another method for those who make pizzas in advance: first partially bake the base so that the dough holds its shape but is not yet browned. After cooling, the base is topped with sauce, cottage cheese, and fillings, packed, and frozen. Such a semi-finished product can be cooked straight from the freezer, simply increasing the baking time.

### How to restore the crunch: reheating without a microwave

If the pizza was frozen in a fully cooked state, it is first thawed and tightly packed. To restore the pleasant texture, King Arthur Baking does not recommend using a microwave. Instead, a slice of pizza should be placed on a cold pan, covered with a lid, and heated over medium-low heat for 6–10 minutes. Direct contact with the pan makes the bottom crispy again, while the heat under the lid melts the cheese and prevents the toppings from drying out. It is precisely this simplicity and flexibility of the recipe that make it popular: the familiar taste of childhood is recreated in minutes from ingredients found in almost every kitchen.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Legendary school cafeteria pizza: a simple recipe from Ector Jimenez-Bravo](https://styler.rbc.ua/ukr/deliciously/legendarna-pitsa-zi-shkilnogo-bufetu-prostiy-1788345321.html) - Основной источник: полный рецепт, рекомендации USDA FSIS и King Arthur Baking, описание процесса. Соответствует тексту статьи.
- [When guests are already at the door: Ector Jimenez-Bravo shared a recipe for an appetizing dish (video)](https://www.unian.net/lite/stars/ektor-himenes-bravo-recept-kartoplyanogo-piroga-vid-zirkovogo-kuharya-13103157.html) - Подтверждает активное ведение кулинарного контента Хименесом-Браво в соцсетях. Заголовок и slug указывают на другой рецепт (картопляный пирог), поэтому использован лишь как контекст, а не как источник фактов о пицце.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What are the main ingredients needed for the dough?
**A:** The dough uses flour, dry yeast, salt, sugar, an egg, warm milk, and butter. The dough is kneaded until elastic and proofed for 40–60 minutes in a warm place.

### Q: At what temperature and for how long is the pizza baked?
**A:** The pizza is baked in an oven preheated to 220 °C for 15–20 minutes, until the cheese has a golden crust and the edges are browned.

### Q: How long does cooked pizza last in the freezer and refrigerator?
**A:** According to USDA FSIS recommendations, cooked pizza lasts 1–2 months in the freezer and 3–4 days in the refrigerator. It should be tightly packed before storing.

### Q: How should frozen pizza be reheated properly?
**A:** King Arthur Baking recommends placing a slice on a cold pan, covering it with a lid, and heating over medium-low heat for 6–10 minutes. This restores the crunch on the bottom and melts the cheese without drying out the toppings.

### Q: Which topping brings the taste closest to a school cafeteria?
**A:** For an authentic "school" taste, the chef recommends boiled sausage, pickled cucumbers, ketchup, and cottage cheese. However, any combinations are acceptable: chicken, ham, tomatoes, pineapple, and other vegetables.