Traditional Florentine Pizza Crust Recipes

PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water; stir gently to dissolve. Let the mixture stand until the yeast comes alive and starts to foam, about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Turn the mixer on low and add the salt and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the flour, a little at a time, mixing at the lowest speed until all the flour has been incorporated. When the dough starts to come together, increase the speed to medium; stop the machine periodically to scrape the dough off the hook. Get a feel for the dough by squeezing a small amount together: if it's crumbly, add more water; if it's sticky, add more flour - 1 tablespoon at a time. Mix until the dough gathers into a ball, this should take about 5 minutes.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and fold it over itself a few times; kneading until it's smooth and elastic. Form the dough into a round and place in a lightly oiled bowl, turn it over to coat. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let it rise in a warm spot (i.e. over a gas pilot light) until doubled in size, about 1 hour. This is a good time to stick a pizza stone in the oven and preheat them to 500 degrees F.
• Once the dough is domed and spongy, turn it out onto a lightly floured counter. Roll and stretch the dough into a cylinder and divide into 3 equal pieces. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes so it will be easier to roll out.
• Roll or pat out a piece of dough into a 12 inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Dust a pizza paddle with flour and slide it under the pizza dough. Brush the crust with a thin layer of olive oil, and top with your favorite flavors. Slide the pizza onto the hot stone in the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the crust is golden and crisp. Repeat with the remaining dough.

CHICKEN FLORENTINE PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Stir together Italian seasoning and garlic powder; toss with chicken. Spread ricotta cheese on pizza crust. Top with chicken, spinach and tomatoes. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Bake until crust is golden and cheese is melted, 10-15 minutes.

FLORENTINE PIZZA

Steps:

• To prepare the pizza, preheat the oven to 200C/Gas 6/fan 180C. Put the pizza base on a baking sheet and spread with the sauce.
• To cook the spinach, put it in a microwavable bowl, cover with cling film and pierce it a couple of times. Put in the microwave on High (850W) for 2 minutes until wilted (or cook in a covered pan for 2-3 minutes). Drain and spread the spinach over the pizza base, then get the mushrooms out of the jar with a fork and scatter them over the top. Season and sprinkle with half the parmesan. Bake for 10 minutes.
• Make four dips in the spinach with the back of a spoon, and crack an egg into each. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bake for a further 6- 8 minutes, until the eggs are just set.

DEEP-DISH FLORENTINE PIZZA

Steps:

• For crust:
• Grease a 14-inch deep dish pizza pan. (or 2 9-inch square baking pans).
• Sprinkle with 4 teaspoons cornmeal.
• Dissolve yeast in warm water & sugar in mixing bowl.
• Add 1/2 cup cornmeal, oil, salt and 1/2 cup whole wheat flour and 1 cup white flour.
• Mix well.
• Stir in enough additional flour to make a soft dough.
• Knead for about 5 minutes.
• Shape to form ball; place in greased bowl, turning once to coat surface. Cover, let rise in warm place about 45 minutes until double.
• Punch dough down.
• Cover.
• Let rest 10 minutes.
• Roll out or stretch dough to fit pan and come up sides forming a 1 inch rim. Let rise from 5 minutes - 20 minutes depending on how you chewy you want the crust.
• For topping:
• While dough is rising, thaw spinach in microwave.
• Squeeze moisture from spinach.
• Remove meat from casing if necessary.
• Brown in a 12-inch skillet with onion & garlic.
• Drain the fat off.
• Add spinach, cook about 10 minutes more.
• Spread cheese evenly over crust.
• Arrange meat mixture over cheese.
• Top with mushrooms.
• Combine pizza sauce & water.
• Spread over toppings.
• Bake at 450 degrees for about 15 - 18 minutes.
• Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over pizza.
• Bake an additional 5 - 10 minutes.
• Let rest 5 - 10 minutes before cutting.

TRADITIONAL FLORENTINE PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• Mix the water with the sugar and yeast. Let stand for 5 minutes until dissolved and the yeast starts to bubble.
• Add the salt, olive oil and 1 cup of the flour and mix well.
• Add 2 more cups of flour, dough should be still a little sticky but should be able to form a ball.
• Turn out onto floured surface and start to knead, adding a little bit of flour as needed, until your dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
• Form a fall, place into an oiled bowl and cover with a cloth napkin. Let dough rise for 45 minutes. Punch down and divide in half.
• Preheat oven to 400°F If using a pizza stone, be sure to put the stone in the oven while it heats up.
• If using a baking pizza pan, lightly oil your baking pizza pan. Otherwise, shape pizza on a lightly floured surface. With your hands, press on the dough to spread it out to about 1/2 cm high (very thin). Top pizza with toppings of your choice. Allow to rest for 10-15 minutes. If using a pizza stone, transfer to pizza stone.
• Drizzle olive oil over the top of the pizza before placing into the oven and bake for 18-22 minutes if using a pizza pan, 8-5 minutes if using a pizza stone, or until the cheese has melted and the crust is golden.

SAUSAGE FLORENTINE PIZZA

Steps:

• Preparation Instructions:
• Position oven rack in center of oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
• In a large skillet, saute sausage, mushrooms and garlic until the meat is browned.
• Drain off fat and remove excess with paper towels.
• To skillet, add pizza sauce, oregano, basil, spinach, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook, stirring frequently, until hot.
• Place pizza crust on a lightly greased baking sheet.
• Bake for 5 minutes and remove from oven.
• Spread meat mixture evenly over pizza crust.
• Top with cheese. Bake for an additional 8-10 minutes until cheese is bubbly.
• Remove from oven, sprinkle with fresh cut basil or other fresh herbs, cut and enjoy!
• *Always cook sausage to internal temperature of 160 degrees F

CHICKEN FLORENTINE FLATBREAD PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a large baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.
• Melt butter for sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in flour and whisk for 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in milk and whisk until sauce starts to thicken, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper; cook until cheese is melted, about 1 minute. Set aside to cool, about 5 minutes.
• Spread cooled sauce over the flatbread and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Top with spinach, chicken, tomatoes, onion, and salt. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and crust is lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

CHICKEN FLORENTINE PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Mix salt and garlic powder together in a small bowl.
• Combine spinach and water in a microwave steamer. Microwave on high for 60 seconds. Drain spinach, then squeeze out any excess water.
• Roll pizza dough on a lightly floured surface to a 14-inch circle.
• Pour oil into a 12-inch cast iron skillet. Sprinkle 1/2 of the garlic salt over the bottom of the skillet. Place dough into the skillet and shape crust so edges come up the sides of the skillet. Prick holes in the bottom of the dough with a fork.
• Spread pizza sauce over the dough. Sprinkle 1/2 of the Italian cheese over the sauce. Add spinach, chicken, then sun-dried tomatoes. Top with remaining cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
• Remove from the oven. Run butter along the edges of the crust, then sprinkle the remaining garlic salt over the melted butter. Bake for 5 more minutes.
• Transfer pizza to a pizza peel and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.