Pizza Al Formaggio Recipes

QUATTRO FORMAGGI PIZZA - FOUR CHEESE

Steps:

• First, put the flour, salt and yeast in a bowl making sure to put the salt and yeast at opposite sides.
• Make a well in the centre and add the water and olive oil. Mix it together until a rough dough forms. If it's too sticky you can gradually add a little more flour.
• Dust a clean work surface with a little flour and knead the dough for around 10 minutes until it's smooth and elastic. If you lightly press your finger on the ball of dough it should spring back up easily.
• Add 1/2 tbsp of olive oil to a large clean bowl and rub all over until the bowl is coated. Shape the dough into a ball and place in the bowl, rub the top of the dough with a tiny amount of olive oil.
• Cover with plastic wrap (cling film) and leave in a warm place for at least 3-4 hours or until tripled in size.
• Pre-heat the oven to your highest setting at least 450F/230C and add your baking trays to heat up.
• Cut the dough into 2 or 4 depending on how big you'd like them then either roll out on a lightly floured surface with a rolling pin or shape with your hands to fit your baking tray.
• Remove the baking tray from the oven and sprinkle with semolina or flour. Carefully place the pizza dough on top.
• Spread the pizza base evenly with tomato sauce and sprinkle with even amounts of cheese. Bake until melted, bubbling and golden (around 10-15 minutes).

PIZZA AL FORMAGGIO

Steps:

• Place yeast in a small bowl, add 1/2 cup warm water, mix well and add 1 cup flour. Mix briefly to make a rough dough. Cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise 1 hour, until doubled.
• Beat 2 eggs in a small bowl. Mix in 4 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano, all the pecorino and the pepper. Place remaining 2 cups flour in a large bowl, whisk in salt and make a well in the center. Add 2 tablespoons oil and work oil into flour with your fingertips until mixture is crumbly. Add risen yeast mixture, the egg mixture and 1/2 cup warm water. Knead briefly to make a sticky dough.
• Turn dough out onto floured work surface and knead about 2 minutes, adding flour sparingly as needed to make a soft dough. Cover with an inverted bowl for 15 minutes. Knead another 2 to 3 minutes until dough is soft and elastic. Stretch dough into a rectangle about 10 by 15 inches. Scatter diced cheeses evenly over surface. Fold one-third of dough, from the long side, over the cheese, then fold again to make a long, narrow envelope. Fold short ends over in thirds to make a square. Shape gently into a ball.
• Use a 7-inch-deep panettone mold, a 9-inch baking pan or an oven-proof paper panettone mold. Grease metal pan, but not paper mold, if using, with remaining oil. Fit ball of dough into pan, lightly pressing it to fill pan. Cover loosely with paper towel and set aside to rise until doubled and somewhat above edge of pan, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Beat egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water and brush on dough. Sprinkle with remaining grated cheese, placing it in a cross shape if desired. Bake 20 minutes (paper mold should be placed on a baking sheet). Lower heat to 350 degrees and bake 30 to 35 minutes more, until golden. Remove from pan, but not from paper mold, and let cool on a rack at least 30 minutes before cutting. Cheese flavor will become more pronounced if bread is kept wrapped for 6 or more hours or overnight.