Cal Italia Pizza Recipes

CAL-ITALIA PIZZA WITH PROSCIUTTO AND FIGS

Steps:

• Remove the dough ball from the refrigerator and leave wrapped at room temperature until the dough warms to 60°F to 65°F. Meanwhile, set up the oven with two pizza stones or baking steels and preheat to 500°F for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, put the vinegar in a small, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Once steam is rising from the surface, reduce the heat to the lowest setting to keep the vinegar below a simmer. No bubbles should break through the surface. If the lowest setting is still too hot, place the pan over a diffuser. Once the vinegar has reduced by three-fourths, remove it from the heat. The glaze can be stored in a covered container at room temperature for several months.
• Dust the work surface with the dusting mixture, then move the dough to the surface and dust the top.
• Sprinkle a wooden peel with the dusting mixture.
• Roll out the dough into a round 15 inches in diameter. Using a pizza wheel, trim the dough to a 13-inch round, flatten the edge, then dock the surface of the dough.
• Move the dough to the peel. As you work, shake the peel forward and backward to ensure the dough isn't sticking.
• Using a vegetable peeler, shave the Asiago over the surface of the dough, leaving a 3/4-inch border. Mound the mozzarella in the center of the pizza and use your fingertips to spread it out evenly over the Asiago.
• Slide the pizza onto the top stone.
• Bake for 7 minutes. Lift the pizza onto the peel and distribute the Gorgonzola pieces evenly over the top. Rotate the pizza 180 degrees, transfer it to the bottom stone, and bake for 3 to 4 minutes, until the bottom is browned and crisp and the top is golden brown.
• Transfer the pizza to a cutting board and cut into 6 wedges. Spoon small dollops of fig jam (about 1/4 teaspoon each) around the pizza. Tear the prosciutto slices lengthwise into 2 or 3 strips and drape the pieces over the pizza slices. To finish, squeeze a thin spiral of balsamic glaze onto the pizza.

SPECIAL ITALIAN EASTER PIZZA

Steps:

• Cook and stir Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat, breaking the sausage into crumbles as it cooks, until well browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Drain excess grease; set sausage aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Oil the bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan with olive oil.
• Cut 1/3 of the dough off the loaf and set aside under a cloth. Form the remaining 2/3 dough into a ball and roll into a 14-inch circle on a floured work surface.
• Line the springform pan with rolled dough, allowing dough to hang over the edge by 2 inches all around.
• Layer half the cooked Italian sausage, half the mozzarella cheese, half the ham, half the provolone cheese, half the salami, and half the pepperoni into the pie crust.
• Spoon and spread half the ricotta cheese over the layers of meat and cheeses.
• Sprinkle half the Parmesan cheese over the ricotta.
• Pour half the 8 beaten eggs over the layers; continue layering the remaining meats, sliced cheeses, ricotta cheese, and then Parmesan cheese.
• Pour remaining beaten eggs over the last layer of Parmesan cheese.
• Roll out remaining piece of bread dough to a circle about 12 inches in diameter; lay the piece over the pie to form the top crust. Roll and pinch the bottom crust overhang over the top crust to seal in the filling.
• Beat 1 egg with water in a small bowl; brush the top of the pie with egg wash.
• Bake pie in the preheated oven until the crust is golden brown and the filling is set, 50 to 60 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the middle of the crust should come out without raw egg.
• Allow pie to cool in the pan for at least 25 minutes before releasing the spring and removing pie from the pan. Transfer to a serving platter and cut into wedges for serving.

ITALIAN PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Stir yeast and sugar into lukewarm water, using a fork. Let stand in a warm place until a creamy layer forms on top of the water, about 10 minutes.
• Mix flour and salt in a large bowl. Mix olive oil into flour and stir for 2 minutes. Pour yeast mixture and beaten egg into flour mixture and stir to make a stiff dough. Turn dough out onto a floured work surface and knead until springy and smooth, about 8 minutes. Place dough into a floured bowl and cover with a piece of plastic wrap wiped with a thin film of olive oil.
• Let dough rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch down and roll out to desired shape.

PIZZA MARINARA (AKA REAL ITALIAN PIZZA!)

Steps:

• Pour water into bowl.
• Sprinkle with yeast and leave for five minutes.
• Stir and add sugar, salt, and olive oil. Beat well.
• Stir in half of flour.
• Beat until smooth.
• Add as much of the rest of the flour as needed to make the dough just firm enough to manage.
• Knead for five minutes.
• Roll it into a ball and flatten.
• Sprinkle corn meal over pan and stretch dough over it. Make ridges at the edges.
• Let rise for fifteen minutes.
• Lightly brush or spray the dough with some oil.
• Add your choice of toppings. Heat for 20-30 minutes at 425°F.