Pizza Al Forno Recipes

PIZZA WITH FRIED CALAMARI (FROM AL FORNO)

Steps:

• Cut the tubes into rings. Lightly coat the squid with flour and fry 360 degree F oil until golden brown. We make this pizza the same way as the margarita except that the spicy oil is drizzled on instead of just olive oil and then the calamari is placed on top, and garnished with scallions.
• Prepare a hot charcoal fire, setting the grill rack 3 to 4 inches above the coals.
• On a large, oiled, inverted baking sheet, spread and flatten the pizza dough with your hands into a 10 to 12-inch free-form circle, 1/8-inch thick. Do not make a lip. You may end up with a rectangle rather than a circle; the shape is unimportant, but do take care to maintain an even thickness.
• When the fire is hot (when you can hold your hand over the coals for 3 to 4 seconds at a distance of 5 inches), use your fingertips to lift the dough gently by the 2 corners closest to you, and drape in onto the grill. Catch the loose edge on the grill first and slide the remaining dough into place over the fire. Within a minute the dough will puff slightly, the underside will stiffen, and grill marks will appear.
• Using tongs, immediately flip the crust over, onto the coolest part of the grill. Quickly brush the grilled surface with olive oil. Scatter the garlic and cheeses over the dough, and spoon dollops of tomato over the cheese. Do not cover the entire surface of the pizza with tomatoes. Finally, drizzle the pizza with 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Slide the pizza back toward the hot coals, but not directly over them. Using tongs, rotate the pizza frequently so that different sections receive high heat; check the underside often to see that it is not burning. The pizza is done when the top is bubbly and the cheese melted, about 6 to 8 minutes. Serve at once, topped with the basil leaves and additional olive oil, if desired.
• Pizza Dough: Sprinkle the yeast over 1/2 cup warm (105 to 110 degrees F) water and allow it to dissolve and activate, about 5 minutes. Combine the flour and salt and mound it onto a cool work surface creating a high walled well in the center. Combine the yeast mixture with 1 1/2 cups of cool water and pour into the well. Slowly begin to mix the water and flour, a little at a time, moving your fingers in short, counter clockwise circles around the border of the water. When the dough is firm enough to hold it's shape, scrape the remaining flour over it and knead until the mass is smooth and shiny, approximately 7 minutes. Transfer the dough to a bowl that has been brushed with olive oil. Brush the top of the dough with olive oil to prevent a skin from forming, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place away from drafts until doubled in bulk, about 2 hours. Punch down the dough and knead once more. Let the dough rise again for about 40 minutes, punch down again and form dough into 4 balls.
• Combine all the ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower the heat to very low, and gently simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside for 30 minutes so the flavors continue to infuse the oil as it cools
• Strain the oil into a clean jar. When it has cooled to room temperature, cover and refrigerate.

GRILLED PIZZA WITH TOMATOES, CORN AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Pour 1/4 cup warm water into large bowl. Sprinkle yeast over; stir to blend. Let stand until yeast dissolves and mixture is slightly foamy, about 10 minutes.
• Stir 1 1/2 cups room-temperature water and salt into yeast mixture. Add 3 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until slightly sticky dough forms. Knead dough on floured surface until smooth and elastic, adding more flour by tablespoonfuls if sticky, about 10 minutes. Oil large bowl. Add dough; turn to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let rise in warm area until doubled in volume, about 50 minutes.
• Punch dough down; turn out onto floured surface. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces; knead each briefly until smooth. Cover with towel; let rise until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Roll out 1 dough piece on lightly floured surface to 11 x 8-inch rectangle. Transfer to floured baking sheet. Brush top with oil. Place oiled side down on barbecue. Grill until bottom is golden, about 2 1/2 minutes. Brush top with oil. Using tongs, turn bread over; grill until second side is golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet. Brush bread with oil. Repeat with remaining dough pieces. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover with foil; let stand at room temperature. Before continuing, prepare barbecue; use medium-high heat.)
• Sprinkle Parmesan and Fontina over breads. Top each with tomato slices, corn kernels, parsley and jalapeño. Drizzle with oil. Place breads on barbecue; cover loosely with foil. Grill until cheese melts, watching closely, about 2 minutes. Cut each bread into pieces; serve warm.

GRILLED PIZZA WITH ITALIAN CHEESES AND BITTER GREENS

Steps:

• Prepare a hot charcoal fire with the coals mounded in the center. Punch the dough down. Oil a baking sheet, and stretch the dough out on it to form a 10- to 12-inch circle 1/8-inch thick.
• Gently lift the dough, using both hands, and drape it onto the grill over the hottest part of the fire. Within a minute, the dough will puff slightly, and the bottom will stiffen. As soon as grill marks appear on the underside, turn the dough over with tongs, and move it to the edge of the grill, away from the heat.
• Quickly brush the dough with 1 tablespoon oil. Scatter the minced garlic over the dough. Sprinkle on the cheeses, followed by the chopped tomato. Arrange the arugula leaves on top. Drizzle with the remaining oil.
• Slide the pizza back over the coals. Cook the pizza, rotating frequently, for 30 to 60 seconds, or until the bottom is slightly charred and the cheeses bubble. Serve at once.

PIZZA AL FORNO WITH MUSHROOMS, GORGONZOLA, AND RADICCHIO

Steps:

• Prepare a very hot fire (650° to 700°F) in a wood-fired oven or cooker.
• In a cast-iron skillet or heat-resistant baking dish, heat the 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat and sauté the mushrooms for 5 minutes, then add the garlic and sauté for another 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• In a medium-sized bowl, toss the radicchio with the balsamic vinegar.
• Flour a baking peel and shape each dough ball into a 10-inch round on the peel. Brush with olive oil, being careful not to get oil on the peel. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt. Leaving a 1/2-inch border of crust, top with the mushrooms, then the radicchio, thyme, and Gorgonzola. Drizzle with olive oil (including the edges) and sprinkle again with sea salt.
• Slide the pizzas off the peel and onto the oven floor. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes, rotating once, or until golden on the edges and the cheese is melted. Let cool for 5 minutes, then cut into wedges and serve.

FABRIZIA LANZA'S SICILIAN PIZZA (SFINCIONE)

Steps:

• Make the dough: In a mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, put 1 cup lukewarm water and yeast. Add semolina and stir to make a thin paste. Let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes, until bubbly.
• Add flour, salt and olive oil, and mix until dough becomes a rough mass. Knead dough until smooth, about 5 minutes. Dust with flour as needed, but don't add much: This is meant to be a soft dough. Put kneaded dough in a resealable plastic bag or a bowl covered with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably longer, up to 24 hours.
• Make the sauce: Put 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water, and raise heat to high. Simmer briskly until all the water has evaporated and onions are soft. Add tomato purée and bring to a simmer, then turn off heat. Season with salt and pepper, and add red pepper to taste. Allow mixture to cool, then stir in bread crumbs, grated cheese and anchovies. Let mixture rest for 5 minutes, then taste and adjust seasoning.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Drizzle olive oil to coat the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet. Remove dough from refrigerator and press down to deflate. Using a rolling pin, flatten dough to a small rectangle.
• Transfer dough to oiled baking sheet, and, using the palms of your hands, stretch dough to the edges. If dough is rebellious and resists, let it rest for a few minutes, then stretch again. (It may take 2 or 3 attempts.) Cover dough loosely with plastic wrap or a damp tea towel, and set in a warm place to rise. After 30 minutes or so, dough should have doubled in thickness.
• Spoon the topping evenly over the dough, then use a spatula or the back of the spoon to spread the topping smoothly over entire surface, leaving a half-inch border. Drizzle surface with 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes on the oven's middle shelf, until nicely browned. Check the underside to make sure it is crisp, and bake for a few more minutes if necessary. (Tent top with foil if top has browned too quickly.)
• Remove from pan to a cutting board. Sprinkle with a little salt and a large pinch of oregano. Cut into 8 square slices. Serve warm or at room temperature.