Chef Joeys Polenta Crust Pizza Recipes

POLENTA PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the 3½ cups of water to a boil. Add the salt.
• Slowly add 1⅓ cups Colavita Polenta to the boiling water, and stir. Reduce the heat, and continue stirring for about 5 minutes, until thickened.
• Pour in the 2 tablespoons of Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil and stir to incorporate. Add the chopped parsley, oregano and freshly ground black pepper (to taste). Stir to combine.
• Remove from the heat and prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Using a spatula (a silicone spatula works the best), spread the polenta evenly onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Cover the pan and refrigerate for about an hour to set the polenta. You can also chill it overnight.
• Once chilled, heat the oven to 450 degrees. You will want to toast up the polenta crust before topping it. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes, or until slightly crispy on top. Remove from the oven, and apply your pizza toppings!

POLENTA PIZZA (WITH VARIOUS TOPPINGS)

Steps:

• Polenta: Start by making a basic polenta. Pour the water into a large pot. Heat the water but don't let it come to a boil (it helps against the formation of lumps). Add the salt. Slowly add the cornmeal while stirring or whisking (with an egg beater, not a mixer) all the time (Note 2).
• Simmer: When all the cornmeal is incorporated, continue stirring or whisking shortly to ensure that there are no lumps. Turn the heat down, place a lid on top but leave a crack open. Stir every 2-3 minutes or so, but there is no need to stir all the time.
• Cooking time: Read the cooking instructions on the polenta packet to know how long the cornmeal needs to be cooked. For example, I cook the polenta made with coarse cornmeal for 40 to 50 minutes and the polenta made with medium cornmeal for about 15 minutes.
• Add cheese: When the polenta is cooked, stir in the freshly grated cheese of choice.
• Let cool: Line a baking tray with baking paper and pour the polenta on the tray. Spread it evenly with a spoon and let it get cold.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
• Top pizza: Mix the tomato sauce with dried oregano and spread it over the polenta. Halve and slice the red onion, cut the tomatoes into small wedges and thinly slice the pepper and the sausage. Spread everything on the pizza and add the olives and the crumbled feta cheese.
• Bake for 20-30 minutes in the hot oven until the cheese on top starts to get golden. Serve immediately with a green salad and Greek yogurt or sour cream dollop.

POLENTA 'PIZZA' WITH PANCETTA AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees; brush a layer of olive oil on a pizza pan or cookie sheet. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine milk with 2 1/2 cups water and a large pinch of salt. Bring just about to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and add cornmeal in a steady stream, whisking all the while to prevent lumps from forming. Turn heat to low and simmer, whisking frequently, until thick, 10 or 15 minutes. If mixture becomes too thick, whisk in a bit more water; you want a consistency approaching thick oatmeal.
• Stir 1 tablespoon oil into cooked cornmeal (polenta). Spoon it onto prepared pan, working quickly so polenta does not stiffen; spread it evenly to a thickness of about 1/2 inch all over. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover baking sheet with plastic wrap and put it in refrigerator until it is firm, an hour or more (you can refrigerate polenta overnight if you prefer).
• Put polenta in oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until it begins to brown and crisp on edges. Meanwhile, put two tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft and pancetta is nicely browned, about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to take onion and pancetta out of pan; set aside. Add spinach to skillet and sauté until it releases its water and pan becomes dry; sprinkle with salt and lots of pepper.
• Take polenta out of oven, sprinkle with Gorgonzola, then spread onion-pancetta mixture and spinach evenly on top of cheese; drizzle with another tablespoon olive oil. Put pizza back in oven for two minutes, or until cheese begins to melt and pancetta and vegetables are warmed through. Cut into slices and serve hot or at room temperature.

CHEF JOEY'S VEGAN PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor add the spelt, whole wheat, corn flours, sugar, herbs, baking powder and baking soda.
• Process these dry ingredients well, making sure all the ingredients are combined.
• Using a whisk, in a different bowl mix the yogurt and oil well. Add it through the feeding tube of the food processor until the dough forms a ball.
• The dough will be sticky. Turn out onto a well floured surface and knead for a few minutes until the dough is less sticky and easy to handle.
• Don't add too much more flour however, you don't want the dough to be tough.
• Put the dough into a bowl to rest and cover with a damp cloth for about 25 minutes.
• Oil the pizza pan with a little olive oil.
• In the meantime prepare your toppings.
• When the 25 minutes have passed press the dough onto the pizza pan.
• Add the toppings and bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes. The edges of the dough should have risen and be a medium golden brown shade.
• Bon Appetit!

WW CORE POLENTA CRUST PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425.
• spray two 8 or 9-inch round cake pans with nonfat cooking spray
• Line the bottoms of each pan with circles of parchment paper.
• To make polenta, put the water, cornmeal, salt, and seasonings into a large microwavable casserole dish or 1-quart measure.
• Cook at full power for 4 minutes.
• Stir well and cook again at high power for 2 more minutes.
• Stir again and cook at high power for another 2 minutes.
• Remove from the microwave, stir in the olive oil, and beat with a spoon until completely smooth.
• Spread the polenta evenly in the bottom of the two pans.
• Place the pans in the oven and bake for 12 minutes.
• While the crust is cooking, prepare your toppings.
• Sauté the vegetables lightly in a non-stick pan until onion begins to soften.
• After 12 minutes, take the crusts out of the oven and invert them onto a large baking sheet, side by side.
• They should fall right out of the pan with the parchment paper stuck to them. Peel away the parchment.
• Spread each crust with pizza sauce (don't use too much or they will be soggy) and top with veggies and vegan sausage.
• Sprinkle with chopped garlic.
• Return to the oven for about 10 minutes, until toppings look done.
• Lift off the baking sheet carefully using a large spatula and your hand--they are not sturdy like regular pizza, so be careful not to let your toppings slide off.
• Cut into fourths and serve.

CHEF JOHN'S POTATO AND CHEESE PIEROGI

Steps:

• Prepare dough: Mix 3 ½ cups flour and salt together in a large bowl, then make a well in the center. Pour vegetable oil and 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water into the well. Stir to form a shaggy dough that just pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Use a little flour to clean the dough off the spoon.
• Transfer dough to a work surface; press and knead for a few minutes until you have a smooth, soft dough. You can add a little more flour if it's too sticky but don't add too much. Form dough into a ball and wrap in plastic. Leave on the counter for 1 hour or pop it into the refrigerator for 3 hours to overnight.
• Prepare buttered onions: Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and salt and sauté, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and let mixture cool a bit, then transfer to a bowl and reserve until needed.
• Prepare filling: Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain well and mash until smooth. Let cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Place farmer's cheese in a bowl and break it up with a spoon. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne, then add 2 to 3 heaping spoons of the buttered onions. Be sure to drain off most of the butter so you're adding mostly onions. Mix just until ingredients are evenly combined.
• Add cooled mashed potatoes and mix until thoroughly combined. Set aside while you roll the dough.
• Roll ¼ of the dough at a time on a floured surface until very thin, at least 1/8-inch thick or thinner if possible. Cut 3 ½-inch circles out of the dough, saving all scraps for re-rolling.
• Add about 2 tablespoons filling to the center of each circle. Moisten your fingertips with water and wet the edges, then fold the dough over the filling and seal the two edges together in the center. Flatten the filling very lightly under the dough as you press and seal the edge of each pierogi with your fingers, working from the center to the ends. Try not to trap air in the pierogi as you seal. The edge can be left as is, or you can pinch the dough every inch or so to make pleats for a more decorative appearance.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pierogi in batches and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes (they may or may not float to the top.)
• While the pierogi are boiling, melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Transfer pierogi from the boiling water directly into the melted butter. Cook until light golden brown, about 2 minutes per side or longer if more browning is desired.
• Continue boiling and browning pierogi in batches as needed.
• Transfer to a plate and spoon buttered onions over top. Garnish with sour cream and chives.