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Posted by: Welcome to my world on 2010-05-06, 10:41:41
Great Chicago Italian Pizza Recipes THE PLEASURE OF PIZZA Whether it's Chicago style pizza, New York style pizza, Tuscan Style pizza, Nepolitano style pizza, Sicilian style pizza, or pizza from my favorite carry out places, we will journey into one of the worlds most favorite dishes. Italian pizza recipes are abundant to say the least. I will give you a few of my recipes to get you started and then I'll try to link you to the rest of the world. To begin lets start at the beginning. THE HISTORY OF PIZZA The original Italian pizza was considered peasant food back during the Renaissance. This flat bread was basic, usually sprinkled with oil and topped with fresh herbs of the day. Tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella were not around during this time. The first true pizzeria dates back to Naples, Italy in the 1830's. Before "Antica Pizzeria Port'Alba " was opened, pizza was sold primarily through street vendors and open-air stands. Here was the first time pizzas were sold with tomatoes. Unlike other areas, it was common for the people of Naples to add tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella cheese to their flat bread. In Naples, a man by the name Raffaele Esposito has been said to be responsible for the modern day Italian pizza. In 1889 he was asked to make a special dish for Queen Margherita Terea Giovanni. The pizza he created was made with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil and is now known as "Pizza Margarita ". This set the standard for todays modern pizza. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Basic Pizza Dough ENOUGH DOUGH TO MAKE YOU RICH Pizza dough is fun and easy to make. Basic dough can be easily transformed into a crusty gourmet pizza by adding different ingredients right into the dough. Ingredients like garlic, basil or rosemary can very well enhance the flavor of your homemade pizza. If your planning on a pizza day make sure the kids get involved. It's a lot of fun and a great way to get the family together. Also plan on having flour all over the place. To begin with make sure you have the right tools. I strongly recommend a pizza stone. It's worth the investment in order to make a better quality pizza. Though my grandmother used a cookie sheet which worked just fine. Here's a little extra that comes along with this pizza dough recipe. Make more than you need and freeze for later or use the extra dough to make Sfinges. I favor the last suggestion better. Sfinges are simply fried dough sprinkled with sugar. I'll put this recipe in the dessert section for you. Let's begin the basic pizza dough. INGREDIENTS # 4 cup of all purpose flour # 1 1/ 2 cups of warm water # 1 package of active dry yeast # 1 tsp. salt # 2 Tbls of extra virgin olive oil # 1 Tbls of sugar PREPARATION # In a large bowl pour in warm water and sugar # Stir to dissolve sugar. # Add yeast and gently stir until yeast is disolved. # Let mixture sit for around 15 minutes to activate yeast. # Add oil and salt and gently stir. # Add one cup of flour and mix # Add a second cup of flour and mix until sticky. # Add third cup of flour and mix until dough becomes thick. # Place the dough on a floured board and gradually knead in the remaining flour. # Dust with extra flour and continue kneading until dough becomes firm. About 10 minutes. # Kneading is complete when you have a smooth silky ball of dough. It's better to over knead than to under knead. # Grease a large bowl with a little oil. # Place dough in the bowl turning once to coat the dough. # Cover with a dish towel an place in a warm place for about 2 hours allowing the dough to double in size. # Take the dough out of the bowl and cut in half and roll the into two balls. # With a rolling pin roll the dough and place onto a grease baking pan or carefully place in the stove on an already heated pizza stone. # Cover and let it sit in a warm place for around another hour. Your now ready to add your favorite topping and cook. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Pizza Sauce MY SAUCE INGREDIENTS # 1 15oz can of tomato puree # 1 6oz can of tomato paste # 2 shallots minced # 2 cloves of garlic minced # 2 Tbls of olive oil # 1/ 4 cup red wine # 1 tsp of dried basil # 1 tsp of oregano # 1 tsp of sugar # 1 tsp salt # 1/ 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper PREPARATION # Saute shallots and garlic in oil for about 5 minutes. # Add tomato puree, paste, wine and cook about ten minutes, # Add basil, oregano, sugar, salt and pepper. # Cook for around 1 hour stirring on occasion. # Let cool before topping the pizza dough. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx # FRESH TOMATO SAUCE INGREDIENTS # 10 plum tomatoes # 1 6oz. can of tomato paste # 1 small yellow onion minced # 2 cloves of garlic minced # 6 leave of fresh basil chopped # 1 tsp dried oregano # 1 Tbls sugar # 1 tsp salt # 1/ 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper PREPARATION # Place tomatoes in a large pot of boiling water for about 3 minutes. # Remove tomatoes and let cool. # Peel the skin off the tomatoes and clean out the seeds and chop. # In a large skillet saute the onions and garlic for 2 minutes. # Add tomatoes, paste, basil, oregano, sugar, salt and pepper and cook for about 2 hours stirring occasionally. # Let cool before placing on top of pizza dough. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx UNCOOKED PIZZA SAUCE INGREDIENTS # 1 28oz can chopped tomatoes # 4oz. of tomato paste # 3 cloves of finely crushed garlic # 1/ 8 cup of freshly grated romano cheese # 1/ 8 cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese # 1 Tsp of dried basil # 1 tsp of dried oregano # 1/ 4 tsp of salt # 1/ 4 tsp of freshly ground pepper # 1 Tbls of sugar PREPARATION # In a bowl mix together all the ingredients and let chill in the refrigerator for about 2 hours to let the seasoning blend together. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Anyway, there is no limit to your imagination as far as toppings a concerned. Its going to depend on your taste and what you have in the fridge. Here are a few toppings to start you off. TOPPINGspizza ingredients # Sausage# Pepperoni# Onions # Black Olives# Green Peppers # Mushrooms# Spinach# Tomatoes # Bacon# Anchovies# Ricotta # Artichoke Hearts# Hot Giardinaira # Sun Dried Tomatoes# Long Green Onions# Fresh Basil# Fresh Mozzarella # Prosciutto# Sage Leaves Use any combination of the ingredients above plus a hundred more. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
