South American Pizza Recipes

NEAPOLITAN PIZZA

Steps:

• Make the dough: Combine the warm water and yeast in a small bowl, stirring to dissolve the yeast. Combine the flour and salt in a medium bowl. Add the yeast mixture to the flour and stir to make a shaggy dough. (The dough should be tacky. If it feels too wet and sticky, add flour, 1 tablespoon at a time; if it's too stiff, add a little water.) Transfer to a lightly oiled surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 3 minutes. Place an inverted bowl over the dough and let rise slightly, 30 minutes. Divide the dough into 4 pieces and form each into a ball; arrange 3 inches apart on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Rub the tops of the dough lightly with olive oil and cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator about 2 hours before baking; let sit, covered, until ready to use. One hour before baking, put a pizza stone or inverted baking sheet on the middle oven rack and preheat to 500 degrees F (or 550 degrees F if your oven goes that high).
• Make the sauce: Combine the tomatoes and their juices with 1 teaspoon salt in a blender; blend until smooth.
• Generously sprinkle a pizza peel or an inverted baking sheet with cornmeal. Place 1 ball of dough upside down on the cornmeal using floured hands. Gently pull the dough into an 8- to 10-inch circle, reflouring your hands as needed and being careful not to deflate the dough. Spread about 1/4 cup tomato sauce on the crust; top with one-quarter of the mozzarella. Drizzle with 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil and season with salt.
• Slide the pizza onto the hot stone and bake until the crust is dark golden brown and the cheese is bubbling, 7 to 9 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and sprinkle with basil. Let cool 2 minutes before slicing. Repeat to make 3 more pizzas.

ARMENIAN PIZZA (AKA LAHMAJOON)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Pulse the garlic in a food processor to mince it. Add the onion and pulse to chop, then add the green pepper and pulse to chop. Add the lamb, tomato paste, tomatoes, parsley, cumin, cayenne, and salt and pepper; process until everything is very well chopped. The consistency should be wet and pasty, like hummus. Spread a thin layer of the meat mixture onto flour tortillas all the way to the edge. Bake directly on the oven rack for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are browned and the meat is cooked through. If the tortilla begins to inflate in the oven, pop it with a fork from the top. To serve, squeeze some lemon over the top, fold the pizza into quarters, and eat out of hand.

QUICK HAWAIIAN PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Place crust on a baking sheet. Mix marinara and barbecue sauces; spread over crust., Top with remaining ingredients. Bake until crust is browned and cheeses are melted, 10-15 minutes.

MEDITERRANEAN PIZZA

Steps:

• Drain artichokes, reserving marinade. Chop artichokes; set aside. On a floured surface, roll bread dough into a 15-in. circle. Transfer to a greased 14-in. pizza pan; build up edges slightly. Brush the dough lightly with reserved marinade., Combine the basil, oregano and thyme; sprinkle over marinade. Sprinkle with 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, ham, artichokes, tomatoes, olives and feta cheese. Sprinkle with remaining Monterey Jack cheese. , Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until crust and cheese are lightly browned.

SOUTH AMERICAN PIZZA

Steps:

• Sauté beef and onion.
• Add chili sauce, chili powder, taco seasoning and salt and pepper to taste.
• Add refried beans or bean dip.
• Open crescent rolls and lay flat on shallow baking pan or cookie sheet with one-inch side; forming a pizza shell.
• Spread cooked beef onto pizza shell. Top with cheeses.
• Bake at 350° for 1/2 hour or until pizza crust is golden brown.

SEAFOOD PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Sprinkle the shrimp in a bowl with the oregano, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper.
• Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, then add the butter and let melt. Add the flour and cook, 1 minute. Add the garlic and continue to cook, whisking, 1 minute more. Whisk in the milk and cook until very thick, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup Parmesan and remove from the heat. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Preheat the broiler to high.
• Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly-floured work surface into two 10-inch ovals. Brush the grill pan with the remaining tablespoon olive oil. Grill the dough on both sides until there are grill marks, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove the crusts to a sheet tray. Add the shrimp to the grill pan and grill on both sides until fully cooked, pink and opaque, about 4 minutes total. Spread the white sauce on the dough in an even layer. Scatter the shrimp over the sauce. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan. Place under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly, keeping a close eye so it doesn't burn, 2 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle the red pepper flakes and parsley on top before serving.

HAWAIIAN PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place pizza crust on a baking sheet and top with all remaining ingredients, in the order listed.
• Bake 8 to 12 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.

SOUTH AMERICAN PIZZA

Steps:

• Mix South American mix with can of tomato paste, and spread on pizza crust.
• Add sliced pepperoni and black olives (optional). Top with cheeses.
• Bake at 400 till cheese is melted and golden brown.

SOUTH AMERICAN PIZZA WITH CHORIZO AND CHILI PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
• Roll the pizza dough on a floured surface and place on a cookie sheet.
• Spread the pizza sauce over top. Cover with a sprinkling of garlic, then a 1/2 cup of queso fresco. Top with chorizo and green onion, then cover with the remaining cheese and chili slices. Cook until the crust is golden brown (10 to 12 minutes). Garnish with cilantro.
• Note: I prefer my crust prebaked for a crispier crumb. May need to reduce final cook time.