3 Pizzettes Recipes

PIZZETTE - MINI PIZZA BITES WITH ASSORTED TOPPINGS

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in lukewarm water with sugar. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
• In a mixer bowl add flour and yeast water, give a quick stir.
• Using a dough hook attachment start to knead slowly increasing the speed.
• Add salt and extra virgin olive oil.
• NOTE: Don't add salt immediately as it'll weaken yeast quality!
• Knead for about 5 minutes.You should get a smoth and pretty soft dough. It'll be slightly sticky but manageable to handle it with your hands.
• Transfer the dough in large oiled bowl. Cover with a plastic wrap and let rise for 2-3 hours in a warm (not hot!) place.
• Past 2-3 hours the dough should double in size.
• Transfer it to a slightly floured work surface.
• Roll with a rolling pin to about 3-5 mm thick.
• Using a round cookie cutter about 3 inches in diameter cut out pizzette circles.
• Place pizzette on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper leaving some space in between.
• Cover with a linen towel and let rise for 30-60 minutes in a warm place.
• While pizzette are rising it's a good idea to prepare the sauce and the toppings.
• In a skillet pan add tomato puree/passata di pomodoro, let simmer on low heat until slightly reduced. The thickness of the sauce should be good enough to stay on pizzetta, not too liquid-y but also not paste-like.
• Add fresh basil leaved roughly torn with your hands.
• Cook for another few minutes and let cool.
• Cut, slice and pit all other ingredients that you've chosen as your pizza toppings.Here you can mix, match and be creative!
• Preheat oven to 375F / 190C
• Using your point finger press around and in the center of each pizzetta (see photo) to form a slight cavity to hold in the topping.
• Top with your favorite toppings.
• Bake in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until cheese is well melted and pizzette have a light golden edge. Be careful and don't overcook as the dough might become hard.

TOMATO-BASIL PIZZETTES

Steps:

• Make the dough: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 500 degrees F. Put 1/2 cup flour, the yeast and sugar in a food processor and pulse to combine. With the motor running, add 3/4 cup hot tap water (about 115 degrees F). Turn off the motor and add the cornmeal, cheese, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1 cup flour. Pulse until the dough forms a ball, then continue pulsing until smooth but still wet, about 15 more times.
• Make the pizzettes: Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until soft and elastic, 12 to 15 times, dusting lightly with flour if too wet to handle. Using a floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a 1/4-inch-thick disk, about 14 inches across. Using a 3-inch-round cutter, cut the dough into 16 rounds, gathering and rerolling the scraps if needed. Transfer the rounds to the prepared pans.
• Mix the olive oil, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste. Brush each round lightly with the herb oil, then top each with a slice of soppressata and 2 to 3 tomato slices. Sprinkle with the parmesan. Bake one sheet at a time, until the crusts are golden, about 8 minutes.
• Drizzle the pizzettes with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and top with the basil leaves. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CHEESE PIZZETTES

Steps:

• Mix the mozzarella cheese and Parmesan together in a medium bowl, then set aside. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface to 1/4-inch thick. Using a 2 3/4-inch-diameter cookie cutter, cut out dough rounds.
• Add enough oil to a heavy large frying pan with 3-inch sides to come halfway up the sides of the pan. Heat the oil over medium heat until hot. Drop a scrap of dough into the oil to ensure the oil is hot enough. If the dough sizzles, then the oil is hot enough. Working in batches, add the dough rounds to the hot oil (being sure not to crowd them in the pan) and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the rounds to paper towels to drain the excess oil. Immediately sprinkle the cheese mixture over the hot pizzas. Serve warm.

PIZZETTE WITH GORGONZOLA, TOMATO AND BASIL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.
• Roll out the pizza dough to 1/4-inch thick. Using a 2 to 2 1/2-inch diameter cookie cutter, cut out 18 circles from the dough. Arrange the circles on a heavy large baking sheet. Sprinkle the Gorgonzola cheese over the circles. Top with the tomatoes, pressing them gently into the dough. Bake until the pizzettes are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Drizzle the pizzettes with oil. Sprinkle the basil over the pizzettes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange the pizzettes on a platter and serve immediately.

FIG, RICOTTA AND PROSCIUTTO PIZZETTE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees F and arrange a rack in the middle. Roll out pizza dough into a 1/4-inch-thick rectangle. Using a pastry brush, lightly oil the dough, and, using a 3-inch biscuit cutter, stamp out 22 to 24 rounds.
• Transfer rounds to a greased baking sheet. Then spread 1 teaspoon of the ricotta on top. Evenly distribute prosciutto onto each pizzette. Finish by topping each pizzette with a fig or 1/2 teaspoon of the fig jam.
• Bake until cheese is melted and underside is brown, about 12 to 15 minutes.

PIZZETTES WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS, GOAT CHEESE, AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• In a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil over low heat. Add the onions, salt, pepper, herbs de Provence, and sugar. Stir to combine. Continue cooking over very low heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are caramelized and dark golden brown, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.
• Roll out the pizza dough into a 1/4-inch-thick round. Using the cookie cutter, cut out 24 dough circles. Arrange the circles on a large heavy baking sheet. Place a small spoonful of the caramelized onions on each dough circle. Top with a small amount of goat cheese. Bake until golden and bubbly, about 10 minutes.
• While still hot, top each pizzette with a piece of prosciutto. Arrange on a serving platter and garnish with sprigs of parsley or rosemary. Serve immediately.

GRILLED PIZZETTAS

Steps:

• Make the dough: Fill a liquid measuring cup or small bowl with 1/2 cup warm (not hot) water. Add the yeast and sugar and stir with a fork; let sit 15 minutes. The top of the water will bubble and it will smell very yeasty-this is what you want!
• Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the olive oil and the yeast mixture.
• Using a fork, gradually stir the flour into the yeast mixture until mostly combined, then mix with your hands to bring the dough together. Turn out onto a clean surface.
• Knead the dough until smooth, dusting with flour as needed. Lightly oil a bowl; add the dough, cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Prep the toppings: For prosciutto-arugula pizzas, make the chile oil: Bring the chiles and olive oil to a simmer; remove from the heat and let steep 1 hour. (This makes extra oil; store in a sealed container for up to 1 week.)
• For puttanesca pizzas, make the topping: Mix the tomatoes, olives, capers and red pepper flakes in a bowl; add salt and drizzle with olive oil.
• Preheat the grill: Preheat a grill to medium high (you don't want it to be too hot or the crusts will burn before the cheese melts). Brush the grill to remove any crud.
• Roll out the dough: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and divide into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball.
• Use a rolling pin to roll out each ball into an irregular oval, dusting with flour as needed.
• For cracker-thin crusts, use your hands to gently stretch the dough even more.
• Stack the dough between layers of plastic wrap and head to the grill (or wrap and refrigerate overnight).
• Grill the crusts: Oil the grill (Anne uses a rolled-up towel and tongs), then carefully add a few pieces of dough.
• Grill until the top is bubbly and the bottom is marked, about 2 minutes.
• Flip with tongs and grill until just marked on the other side. Remove from the grill and transfer to baking sheets; repeat with the remaining dough.
• Add the toppings: Working on the baking sheets, top the crusts with parmigiano and prosciutto, or top with taleggio and the puttanesca mixture; return to the grill. Crack an egg directly onto each prosciutto pizza, if you want. Cover the grill and cook until the cheese melts and the eggs are set, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Finish the pizzas: Remove from the grill and top the prosciutto pizzas with arugula; drizzle with the prepared chile oil. Top the puttanesca pizzas with chives.

SMOKED SALMON PIZZETTES

Steps:

• Special equipment: a 2-inch round cookie cutter
• Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll the pizza dough into a 1/4-inch thick round. Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 15 circles. Arrange the circles on a heavy baking sheet. Using the tines of a fork, prick the dough all over. Drizzle with olive oil and bake until golden brown, about 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes.
• In a small bowl, mix together the mascarpone cheese, sour cream and capers until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon of the mascarpone mixture into the center of each pastry round. Top with a piece of smoked salmon and press gently.
• Arrange the pizzettes on a platter and sprinkle with chopped chives just before serving.

PIZZETTE WITH FONTINA, TOMATO, BASIL, AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475°F. Lightly sprinkle rimmed baking sheet with flour. Roll out pizza dough on lightly floured surface 1/4-inch thick. Using 2 1/2-inch diameter cookie cutter, cut 16 dough rounds. Arrange rounds on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle rounds with Fontina cheese, dividing equally. Place 2 tomato quarters on each round, pressing gently into dough. Sprinkle tomatoes with Parmesan cheese. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Cover and chill.)
• Bake pizzette until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Drizzle pizzette with olive oil, then sprinkle with basil and lightly with salt and pepper. Drape prosciutto strips over. Arrange on platter and serve immediately.