Potato Fennel Pizza With Taleggio Recipes

POTATO FENNEL PIZZA

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a large pot with enough cold water to cover by 2 inches; add a large pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Cook until the potatoes can just be pierced with a fork, 10 to 25 minutes depending on their size. Drain and let them sit to dry out until they're cool enough to handle. Slice the potatoes as thin as you can manage, at most 1/4-inch-thick; transfer the potato slices to a bowl and gently toss with the lemon juice and zest, 4 tablespoons oil, and lots of salt and pepper.
• Put the remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When it's hot, add some of the fennel in a single layer, taking care not to crowd (you'll probably have to work in batches) and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining fennel.
• Return all the fennel to the skillet and add the wine. Reduce the heat so the liquid bubbles gently and cook, stirring occasionally and scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, until the fennel is quite tender and the pan is dry, 5 to 10 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Heat the oven to 500 degrees F and put the rack in the lower third, with the pizza stone if you're using one.
• Prepare the pizza dough according to the recipe directions. Top each pizza with half the potato slices (it's okay if they overlap a bit), then scatter with half the braised fennel. Put one baking sheet into the oven or slide the pizza on its parchment onto the stone. Bake until the crust is crisp, anywhere from 5 to 12 minutes. Chop the fennel fronds, sprinkle half over the pizza, drizzle with olive oil, slice and serve. Bake the second pizza while you eat the first.
• Grease a large bowl with olive oil. Put all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, instant yeast, and salt in a food processor. With the machine running, gradually add olive oil and 1 cup water, taking care not to overmix. Continue to run the machine, slowly adding 1/2 cup more water, until the dough forms a ball and is slightly sticky to the touch, about 30 seconds. If it's still dry, add 1 tablespoon water and process for another 10 seconds, but make sure the dough stays only a little sticky. (Unlikely, but if the mixture is too sticky to handle, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time and process for 10 seconds.) Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and knead by hand until you have a smooth, round ball, just a few seconds. Put the dough in the prepared bowl, turn to coat in the oil and cover with plastic wrap; let rise until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.
• Cut the dough into 2 pieces. Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a towel and let rest until it puffs slightly, 20 minutes or so.
• Cut 2 pieces of parchment the size of large rimmed baking sheets (or pizza stone if you have one). Line 2 baking sheets with the parchment and, using floured hands, transfer one piece of dough to the parchment with the help of a spatula or pastry blade; put the other piece of dough on the second sheet. Let the dough sit for a few minutes; this will relax the dough and make it easier to roll out. Lightly press or roll each dough ball into the pan to about 1/4-inch thickness, flouring the dough only as necessary to prevent sticking. (If you're using a pizza stone, roll or pat out the dough onto parchment, 1/4-inch-thick, then transfer to a peel.) Press gently on the dough to readjust and flatten before topping.

POTATO & TALEGGIO PIZZA

Steps:

• Make up the dough following the pack instructions. Roll out thinly to make a rectangle about 30 x 40cm, then transfer to a well oiled baking sheet. Cover with cling film and leave to rise for 20 mins. Preheat the oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7.
• Slice the potatoes thinly and boil in salted water, or steam, until just tender, about 3-4 mins, then drain well and pat dry. Shred the spring onions. Thinly slice the cheese.
• Spread the potatoes over the pizza dough and drizzle with a little olive oil. Scatter over the onions, cheese and lardons. Bake for 15-20 mins, until the topping is crisp and golden. Cut into squares to serve.

TRUFFLED TALEGGIO OR FONTINA AND MUSHROOM PIZZA

Steps:

• Put a large heavy baking sheet (17 by 14 inches) on lowest rack of oven, then preheat oven to 500°F
• Stretch out dough on a lightly floured surface, pulling on corners to form a roughly 16- by 13-inch rectangle (Thin crust is the key.). Transfer to a tray lined with parchment paper. Lightly prick dough all over with a fork.
• Slide dough (still on parchment) onto hot baking sheet. Bake until top is puffed and pale golden in patches, 6 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from oven; prick any large bubbles with a fork and flatten. Scatter mushrooms evenly over crust, then season with salt and pepper and lay cheese on top.
• Bake pizza until edge of crust is deep golden and cheese is bubbling and golden in patches, 8 to 10 minutes. Drizzle with truffle oil and season with pepper. Serve immediately.

FIG AND TALEGGIO PIZZA

Steps:

• *30-60 minutes before ready to bake the pizzas, place a baking stone on a rack in the lowest level of the oven; turn on oven to the maximum temperature-450° to 500°.
• Place 1 ball of pizza dough on a floured surface; holding your hands flat, pat the ball out evenly with your fingers, lifting it and turning it over several times, until it reaches a 12-inch circle (do not knead or handle the dough any more than you need to); if the dough seems sticky, dust it lightly with flour.
• Dust a pizza peel with flour; carefully transfer the circle of dough to the peel, reshaping it if needed.
• Shake the peel once or twice to make sure the dough does not stick; if it does, lift the dough and sprinkle the peel with more flour.
• Brush the dough with some of the oil; spread with half the ricotta, leaving a ½ inch border.
• Sprinkle with half the Taleggio and sage; arrange half the fig slices on top; sprinkle with half the Parmigiano and drizzle with 1 tablespoon honey.
• To slide the pizza onto the prepared baking stone, line up the edge of the peel with the back edge of the stone, then tilt the peel, jerking it gently to start the pizza moving.
• Once the edge of the pizza touches the stone, carefully pull back on the peel until the pizza is completely off.
• After the pizza is on the stone, do not try to move it until it firms up in 2-3 minutes.
• Bake the pizza 6-7 minutes or until the crust is browned.
• Slice and serve immediately.
• Make a second pizza with the remaining ingredients.