Fried Pizza Andre Style Recipes

OVEN "FRIED" PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a cast iron skillet large enough to hold 1 of the pizza rounds, heat about 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, turn heat off and add 1 of the pizza rounds. Use a spatula to press gently on the top of the round to keep it relatively flat as it cooks. When you see it is slightly brown on the underside, season the top lightly with salt and pepper and flip the round on its second side. Season it with salt and pepper and top with the onion sausage-onion mixture and place the skillet in the center of the oven until the pizza has finished cooking, 5 to 8 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough and topping.
• In a large bowl, combine the yeast and warm water. Stir to dissolve the yeast and allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes.
• Using a sieve or strainer, "sift" about half of the flour over the yeast mixture and blend until smooth with your hands. Add the salt, pepper and honey and mix to blend. Sift in the remaining flour and mix to blend.
• Lightly flour a cutting board or flat surface. Turn the pizza dough onto the floured area and knead for 3 to 5 minutes. The flour should feel smooth and the ingredients fully integrated. Place the dough inside a lightly oiled large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest in a warm place, about 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in volume.
• Press gently on the dough and turn it onto a floured surface. Divide the dough into 4 equal parts, rolling each quarter into a loose ball. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and allow the dough to rest for an additional 15 minutes. Flatten each ball, 1at a time, and roll into a 6-inch round. Place each round in a single layer on a lightly greased baking sheet.
• In a medium skillet over high heat, heat the olive oil and cook the sausage, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks, until golden brown and crispy.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove the sausage from the pan onto a paper-towel lined plate. Drop the onions into the pan and cook over medium heat until caramelized, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the honey.
• Add the caramelized onions to the pizza fried pizza dough and top with mozzarella, sausage, basil, and a drizzle of good extra-virgin olive oil.

PAN-FRIED PIZZAS

Steps:

• Make the balsamic glaze: In a small saucepan, bring the balsamic vinegar to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook until reduced by two-thirds and syrupy, 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside to let cool.
• Shape the crust: On a flat, lightly-floured surface, divide the dough into quarters. Roll each into a loose ball. Cover with a kitchen towel and allow the dough to rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Working with one ball at a time, roll and gently stretch into an 8-inch round about 1/8-inch thick. (Note: You can also use a rolling pin, if easier.) Set aside, covering with the towel or plastic wrap.
• Cook the crusts: Heat 4 tablespoons oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the sprigs of thyme. Let cook until crispy, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the thyme sprigs to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside to cool, then pick the leaves off the stems. Reserve the leaves.
• Increase the heat to medium. Working with one round of dough at a time, gently place the dough into the hot oil so that it lies flat in the skillet. Cook until the underside is browned and the edges are crispy, 3 to 4 minutes. Use a pair of kitchen tongs or a heatproof spatula to flip the dough to the other side, taking care, as the oil is hot and can splatter. Cook until the crust looks crispy, another 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the crust to a sheet pan fitted with a wire rack. Repeat with the remaining dough, adding and heating more oil in the skillet as needed between batches.
• Prepare the tomatoes: In a medium bowl, toss the tomatoes with some salt and pepper and set aside.
• Make the ricotta mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, garlic, fried thyme leaves and salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the seasonings.
• Assemble the pizzas: Transfer the crusts to a cutting board. Use the back of a kitchen spoon to spread the ricotta mixture evenly among the 4 pizzas. Drizzle with oil. Sprinkle the basil and Pizzeria Salt over the ricotta. Drizzle with the balsamic glaze. Top with the tomatoes.
• Cut each pizza into slices with a pizza cutter or saw into pieces gently with a serrated knife. Serve immediately with another drizzle of balsamic and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan and Pizzeria Salt.
• In a medium bowl, combine the Parmesan, garlic powder, oregano and red pepper flakes.

PAN-FRIED PIZZA

Steps:

• Combine flour, yeast and salt in a food processor. Turn machine on and add 1/2 cup water and 2 tablespoons oil through feed tube. Process for about 30 seconds, adding more water, a tablespoon or so at a time, until mixture forms a ball and is slightly sticky to the touch. (If mixture becomes too sticky, add flour a tablespoon at a time.)
• Put one tablespoon olive oil in a bowl and turn dough ball in it. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise until dough doubles in size, 1 to 2 hours. When dough is ready, re-form into a ball and divide it into 4 pieces; roll each piece into a ball. Place each piece on a lightly floured surface, sprinkle with a little flour, and cover with plastic wrap or a towel. Let rest until each puffs slightly, about 20 minutes.
• When ready to cook, press one ball into about a 10-inch round. Use a little flour, if needed, to prevent sticking and a rolling pin, if desired. Film a 10-inch skillet with olive oil and turn heat to medium. When oil shimmers, put dough in pan and adjust heat so it browns evenly without burning. (If dough puffs up unevenly in spots, push bubbles down.)
• Turn dough, then top browned side with tomato sauce, cheese, a bit of salt and pepper, and, if you like, prosciutto and/or basil leaves. If top is now heavily laden, cover pan and continue cooking, or run it under broiler, just until toppings become hot. With only a couple of toppings, just cook until bottom browns. Repeat with remaining dough; serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

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.

AIR-FRIED PIZZA EGG ROLLS

Steps:

• Preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Cut mozzarella cheese into 6-inch sticks.
• Place 1 egg roll wrapper on a flat surface, positioned to look like a diamond. Add 1 teaspoon marinara sauce, 1 mozzarella stick, and 2 tablespoons mini pepperoni to the bottom third of the egg roll wrapper.
• Roll up the bottom point over the filling, towards the center of the wrapper. Fold in the left side of the wrapper to cover the center. Fold in the right side of the wrapper to cover the left fold, like an envelope. Roll up the egg roll until just the top point is exposed. Brush some water on the top point and fold down. You may need to brush a bit more water over the edges to create a seal.
• Repeat for the remaining egg rolls. Brush olive oil over the tops. Sprinkle Italian seasoning and garlic salt over the tops.
• Brush some olive oil over the air fryer basket. Add egg rolls to the basket seam side-down, without letting them touch each other. Reduce the temperature to 360 degrees F (180 degrees C) and air fry for 8 minutes, flipping at the halfway point. Serve with remaining marinara sauce.