Chef Johns Pourable Pizza Recipes

GLUTEN-FREE PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• Combining the dry ingredients: Whisk together the flour mix, yeast, psyllium, and salt. Pour this mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer.
• Finishing the dough: With the stand mixer running on low, add the olive oil, then the egg. Slowly, pour in the water. Here's the important part: gluten-free pizza dough will not look the same as gluten dough. It will be far wetter, even a little like pancake batter. As you pour the water, look for the dough to come together around the paddle. However, when your turn off the mixer, the dough should slump off the paddle immediately.
• Letting the dough rise: Scrape the pizza dough into a large greased bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and set the bowl in a warm place. Gluten-free dough does not rise as much as gluten dough. Instead, you are looking for the dough to hydrate fully and increase in size by about one-third. When the dough has risen a bit and has the texture of traditional dough, about 1 1/2 hours, you're ready to bake.
• Preparing to bake: Heat the oven to 500 degrees F. If you have a pizza stone - and we recommend you do - put it in the oven now.
• If you own a pizza peel, lay down a piece of parchment paper on it now. If you don't own one, put the parchment paper on a pizza pan or baking sheet. Put the dough down on the parchment paper then top it with another one the same size. Using your hands or a rolling pin, flatten the dough slowly and evenly. You want a pizza dough about 12 inches in diameter. Take the top piece of parchment paper off the pizza dough.
• Sprinkle some olive oil over the top of the dough. Bake the dough in the oven until the edges are starting to brown and crisp and the top of the pizza is a little firm to the touch, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Pull out the pizza dough and top with whatever toppings you desire.
• Pour all the flours into a large container. (Restaurant supply stores sell large plastic containers that fit this purpose well. You could also use a large glass jar.) Shake and shake and shake harder until all the flours have become one color.

CHEF JOHN'S POURABLE PIZZA

Steps:

• Place flour in mixing bowl with dry yeast, salt, honey, olive oil, and warm water. Whisk together for about 5 minutes. This will be a very thin batter-like dough. Cover and let rise 1 1/2 hours. Dough should be bubbly. Stir with a ladle to eliminate the bubbles.
• Generously oil a cast-iron skillet with olive oil off heat. Pour batter in a squeeze bottle or zip-top bag with a bottom corner snipped. Slowly pour the batter into the skillet starting from the center of the pan and working in circles toward the edge. Try to avoid mixing batter with the oil. If small bubbles of oil appear on the surface, use the tip of a paring knife to gently stir them into the dough.
• Place pan over medium-high heat. Wait for the dough to form bubbles over the entire top surface and the crust starts to dry out a bit. Flip over and continue cooking one side and the next. The bubbly side should be dry and achieve a golden brown color; the bottom should be well browned, about 4 to 5 minutes total per side. Doneness times will depend on how thickly the batter was poured. Remove from heat.
• Spread with pizza sauce and top with your favorite pizza toppings: mozzarella cheese, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, pepperoni, etc. Try to avoid topping too heavily.
• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Place pizza under broiler until toppings are cooked, 3 to 4 minutes.

WOLFGANG PUCK'S RECIPE FOR PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and honey in 1/4 cup of warm water.
• In a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour and the salt. Pour in 2 tablespoons of the oil, and when absorbed, scrape in the dissolved yeast. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of water and knead on low speed about 5 minutes.
• Turn out onto a board and knead 2 or 3 minutes longer. Dough should be smooth and firm. Let rise in a warm spot, covered with a damp towel, about 30 minutes. (Dough will stretch when lightly pulled.)
• Divide the dough into 4 balls, about 6 ounces each. Work each ball by pulling down the sides and tucking under the bottom of the ball. Repeat 4 or 5 times. Then on a smooth unfloured surface, roll the ball under the palm of your hand until the dough is smooth and firm, about 1 minute. Cover with a damp towel and let rest 15 to 20 minutes. At this point, the balls can be loosely covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for 1 to 2 days.
• Preheat the oven to 525 degrees F. Place a pizza stone in the oven.
• To prepare each pizza, place a ball of dough on a lightly floured surface. Press down on the center, spreading the dough or roll into a 7 or 8-inch circle, with the outer border a little thicker than the inner circle. Brush lightly with oil and arrange the topping of your choice only over the inner circle.
• Arrange the pizza on the baking stone and bake at 610 degrees for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the pizza is nicely browned. Transfer to a firm surface and cut into slices with a pizza cutter. Serve immediately.

PIZZA DOUGH FOR THIN CRUST PIZZA

Steps:

• Mix a little sugar into the warm water.
• Sprinkle yeast on top.
• Wait for 10 minutes or until it gets all foamy.
• Pour into a large bowl.
• Add flour, salt, olive oil.
• Combine.
• Knead for 6-8 minutes until you have a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (add a bit more flour if you need to).
• Cover and let rest for 20-30 minutes.
• Lightly grease two 12-inch pizza pans.
• Sprinkle with a little bit of cornmeal.
• Divide dough in half.
• Place each half on a pizza pan and pat it with your fingers until it stretches over the whole pan.
• Try to make it thicker around the edge.
• If desired, pre-bake at 425 F for 10 minutes (I don't always do this).
• Then spread with pizza sauce and use the toppings of your choice.
• Bake at 425 F for 10-20 minutes longer or until bubbly and hot.
• Makes 2 12-inch pizzas.
• If you don't want to use all the dough, you can freeze it.
• Take a portion of dough, form into a ball, rub olive oil over it and place it in a freezer bag (the oil makes it easier to take out of the bag).
• When you want to make a pizza, take dough out of freezer and allow to thaw before using.

SICILIAN PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Coat a large bowl with teaspoon of olive oil and set aside.
• Stir first three ingredients together and let sit for 10 minutes, until nice and foamy.
• Place three cups of flour in large bowl and mix in salt.
• Place one cup of flour on work surface.
• Mix pour olive oil into yeast mixture and then pour yeast mixture into bowl with flour.
• Stir until as combined as possible.
• Turn out onto floured surface.
• With well floured hands, knead dough to work in the cup of flour on the board.
• Continue kneading until nice, smooth dough-ball is formed.
• Place in oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, then kitchen towel and let sit for 30 minutes.
• Dough should double (at least).
• Use half the dough to form a pizza crust, crimp the edges, brush edges with olive oil and top as desired.
• Bake on pizza stone or ceramic tile at 425 F for approx 15 minutes.

PIZZA

Steps:

• Mix together the yeast and sugar with 250ml warm water and leave to sit for 10 mins. Place half the flour in a table-top mixer with a dough hook, pour in the yeast mixture and beat at medium speed for 10 mins (or mix in a bowl, then knead with oiled hands in the bowl for 5-10 mins).
• Leave somewhere warm for 10 more mins, then add the remaining flour and oil. Beat or knead to a dough for a further 5 mins. Put in a well-oiled bowl, cover with a cloth and place somewhere warm to double in size - about 1½ hrs.
• For the sauce, heat the oil in a pan over a moderate heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 mins, stirring constantly. Add the garlic, 1 tsp sea salt and 1 tsp ground black pepper and cook for 2 mins more. Add the tomatoes and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for a good 20 mins, stirring occasionally.
• Once your dough has doubled in size, slap it down on a lightly floured surface and knead for 4 mins until soft but not too elastic. Divide into 6 pieces, roll into balls and leave to rest for 10 mins. Heat oven to the highest temperature possible (270C fan in the Good Food test kitchen) and place a flat baking sheet in the oven.
• With a well-floured rolling pin, roll out each ball of dough as thinly as possible. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, oil or dust with flour, then carefully transfer the dough base onto it. Spread over some of the tomato sauce (I like to apply it in the quantity that you would spread Marmite on toast, or the base will be soft and fall to bits), then the cheese and any toppings you desire.
• Cook for between 5-10 mins depending on your oven temp, until the base is crisp and the cheese melted. Scatter with basil.

CHEF JOHN'S DRUNKEN NOODLES

Steps:

• Soak rice noodles in hot water until flexible, 10 to 15 minutes. Occasionally move the noodles around to separate them. Drain the water and cover with a wet paper towel.
• Combine oyster sauce, soy sauce, Asian fish sauce, maple syrup, sugar, and water in a small bowl.
• Heat vegetable oil and sesame oil in a wok, or large frying pan, over medium-high heat. Stir-fry shallots, chile peppers, and garlic until shallots are soft, about 2 minutes. Move the mixture around the outside of the pan to create a space and add chicken. Sear for 1 minute, then combine with shallot mixture. Add Chinese broccoli stems and stir-fry until tender, about 2 minutes. Add Chinese broccoli leaves and stir-fry until wilted.
• Add drunken noodle sauce and sliced green onions and mix. Cook until sauce begins to simmer. Add soaked rice noodles and toss to coat until noodles have absorbed the sauce and are cooked through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir in Thai basil leaves until wilted. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve.