Detroit-Style Pizza – This "Rock City" Pizza Rocks

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Make Detroit-Style Pizza – This "Rock City" Pizza Rocks

The next time you hear people arguing about whether Chicagoor New York has the best pizza, politely interrupt them, and make sure they know about Detroit-style, since it really should be part of the discussion. And by discussion, I mean heated argument.

Even though Detroit-style pizza is often referred to as “deep dish,” I don’t think that accurately captures the essence of this crispy, crusty, crazy-good slice. It has flavor elements of a slightly charred, blistered, thin-crust pizza, with the texture of light, airy focaccia. Plus, if you use the properly shaped pan, the edges of your crust get wonderfully crunchy, making for a very unique experience.

If you can’t get the classic 14” X 10” Detroit pizza pan, you can also use a 12” cast iron skillet, although you may need to not use quite as much dough, since I forget how much surface area that has, but it should be close. You can also use two 8” X 8” metal cake pans, but no matter what you go with, be sure it’s at least a few inches deep, otherwise things could get ugly.

Since I’m new to this style of pizza, if you’re from Detroit, please let me know how close I got, and if there’s anything obvious I’m missing. I know I needed more, and thicker, pepperoni, but other than that, I was really happy with how this came out, and hope everyone gives it a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for one 14x10 Detroit-Style Pizza:

For the dough:

1 cup warm water

1 package dry active yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)

1 teaspoon sugar

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 1/2 cups bread flour

For the sauce (you’ll have a little extra):

one (24-oz) jar marinara sauce

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon red chili flakes

1 teaspoon garlic powder

The rest:

8 ounces sliced pepperoni

12 ounces brick cheese (I used 8 oz. of Monterey Jack and 4 oz. of cheddar)

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Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, or “Pizza” As We Call It In New York

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Make Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, or “Pizza” As We Call It In New York

The biggest problem with Chicago-style deep dish pizza, especially for a New Yorker, is that it’s called “pizza.” I’m not sure what else it could’ve, or should’ve been called, but when you grow eating thin-crust, and all of a sudden someone hands you a plate of this, with a fork, and calls it pizza, it’s quite the shock to the system.

Having said that, for the home cook at least, this deep dish pizza is actually much easier to pull off than your classic thin-crust, which really benefits from a 700 F. pizza oven. Another advantage is that we don’t have to worry about too much, or too many toppings, which is usually the fatal flaw of a poorly made NY-style pizza.

One key, besides the buttery, cornmeal-infused crust, is to be sure your sauce is very thick, and flavorful. Some Chicago pizzerias simply use seasoned, coarsely crushed tomatoes, but I prefer using a sauce, as long as it’s reduced at least as much as you see here. Your favorite will work, but just in case you don’t have one of those, here’s a link to our official pizza sauce recipe.

I went with a pretty basic sausage and cheese version here, but you can, and probably should, add other things like peppers, mushrooms, and onions. Same goes for switching up the cheeses, but I do like the combo of fresh, and firm mozzarella. I don’t think it’s quite as good if you use all one, or the other. Regardless, I really hope you give this “pizza” a try soon. Enjoy!

For the dough (enough for a 12-inch cast iron skillet):

1 1/3 cups warm water

2 1/4 teaspoons instant or rapid-rise yeast

2 teaspoons white sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons fine salt

1/4 cup melted butter

1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for the pan

1/2 cup cornmeal

3 3/4 cups flour, plus more as needed

For the fillings/toppings (in order of application):

4 ounces sliced provolone

8 ounces fresh mozzarella

1 pound spicy Italian sausage, removed from casing

4 ounces firm, low-moisture mozzarella

3 to 4 cups very thick pizza sauce (I made a double batch)

2 ounces (about 1 cup very finely grated) Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1 tablespoon olive oil for the top

more cheese and parsley to garnish

- Bake at 425 F. for about 35 minutes

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Proper Pesto

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Make Proper Pesto

There are lots of recipes people claim taste better if made by hand, but there’s no easier case to prove than pesto. That the name means, “to crush,” should tell you something, and while this method does take considerably more physical effort, when you taste this you’ll forget every pestle-pounding minute.

The intensity of the flavors is beyond compare, and as if by some kind of magic, this gorgeous spread develops an addictive spiciness. You can taste each ingredient, and yet when smashed together, new and wonderful flavors are released. If you’re in the market, I recommend the marble mortar seen herein, as long as the inside has some texture to it. If it seems smooth and glassy, keep looking.

Of course, you can play around with the ratios of the five ingredients, and easily adjust this to your tastes, but no matter how they’re combined, taking the time to crush them by hand is well worth the effort. I hope you give this fresh basil pesto a try soon. Enjoy!

4 cloves garlic peeled

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 large bunch basil (about 4-5 ounces)

3 tablespoons pine nuts

2 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated on microplace (about 1 1/2 cups unpacked)

1/2 cup mild extra virgin olive oil

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Tarte Flambée – Alsatian Bacon & Onion Pizza (Not Pizza)

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Make Tarte Flambée – Alsatian Bacon & Onion Pizza (Not Pizza)

The hardest thing about this amazing tarte flambée recipe isn’t the prep, or finding some exotic ingredient, it’s actually trying to explain to your guests why it’s not called pizza. I’m reminded of that old saying, “If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, and looks like a duck, sometimes it’s a trout.”

That’s right, while this is a pizza almost everywhere else, in certain places on the German/French border, it goes by the totally dessert-sounding name of tarte flambée. Just tell people the name comes from the fact it used to be cooked in a fire, and then trail off.

Once your crust is pre-browned and topped, you have several options for bringing this to a successful, and hopefully crispy conclusion. Since the bottom is already browned, I usually just broil it on high, about 8 inches from the flame, for about 5 minutes, or until the top is looking just right.

The other method would be to pop it in a 500 F. oven, for about 7-10 minutes, or until you’re completely happy. Or, you can actually do both – start in a hot oven, and then give it a minute under the broiler to seal the deal. Either way, I really hope you give this tarte flambée a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 tarte flambée:

4 balls prepared pizza dough (about 5 ounces each) Note: Wolfgang Puck pizza dough recipe would would perfectly

12 ounces bacon, sliced

1 large yellow onion, sliced, cooked with salt, until soft, but not caramelized

For the cheese mixture:

1 cup formage blanc

1/4 cup crème fraiche

pinch of nutmeg

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

cayenne to taste

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Pourable Pizza – The Great Liquid Dough Experiment

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Make Pourable Pizza – The Great Liquid Dough Experiment

I once made a mini-pizza using a crumpet. No, I’m not starting a limerick.  Anyway, I toasted it nice and crisp, topped it with sauce and cheese, and it really was not bad. So I thought, what if this was much thinner, and made from the same ingredients as pizza dough? After a few tests, this pourable pizza was born.

Besides being kind of fun to make, this method features a few nice perks. There’s no kneading required, nor do you have to roll/stretch/spin your dough into shape. While thick crust pizza is relative easy to form at home, few can pull off stretching the dough really thin, so this is a very easy way to achieve that.

Also, the great challenge with homemade pizza is the under-cooked crust bottom, and this method allows for that crispy, near-charred bottom you usually only get from a pizza oven. Once topped, I like to finish under the broiler, but a 500 F. oven will also do the job nicely.

Please note, I’m not trying to replace the classic method with this drippy dough, but rather offer a possibly easier-in-some-ways alternative for your next pizza night. And yes, this does work for making thicker crusts. I hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 eight-inch pizzas:

3 cups (14 ounces by weight) *flour

2 cups warm water (105-110 F)

1 package dry active yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 1/2 teaspoons honey

1 tablespoon olive oil 

Note: Like I said in the video, use a whisk attachment, not a dough hook! You can also simply whisk this by hand for 5 minutes. 

* I used something called double-zero flour or “00” flour, which is an Italian flour used for pasta and pizza making. It is very finely milled, and lovely to work with. If you can’t get or find, just use all-purpose.

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Salami Bread – Fourteen Inches of Delicious Pizza-Related Serendipity

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Make Salami Bread – Fourteen Inches of Delicious Pizza-Related Serendipity

What started out as a frustrating attempt to test some pizza dough, turned into what we’re calling salami bread. This 14-inch long loaf of delicious serendipity was a revelation, and I didn’t even get to use it for it’s most obvious purpose…to make the world’s greatest Italian submarine sandwich.

As I mention in the video, I’m not even sure I’d do a meat sub with this, but instead may just load it up with lots of Italian cheeses, as well as fresh and pickled vegetables. Then I’d find a picnic, where I could sit back to soak in the sun, and the compliments.

There are hundreds of possible variations, so that’s going to be your homework. Why wait until the unlikely scenario of having pizza dough, but no toppings? Let’s be proactive. But no matter how you roll, and I really do hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for one salami bread:

12 to 16 ounce ball of pre-made pizza dough

8-10 slices salami or other similar meat

1/4 cup tomato sauce, or other crushed tomato product

freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano to cover

scattering of freshly chopped herbs, to taste

olive oil, as needed

- Bake at 400 F. for 25 to 30 minutes until browned and cooked through.

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You’ve Entered the Calzone Zone

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Make You’ve Entered the Calzone Zone

I’ve never been a huge fan of the calzone, and I assume most people that don’t eat their pizza crusts feel the same way. However, since this has been requested hundreds of times, I thought I’d put my personal feelings aside, and give the recipe a shot.

I call it a recipe, but it’s actually a technique, since the calzone's greatest feature is its ability to accept any combination of cheese, meat, and vegetables as a filling. Today, calzones are most commonly stuffed with the exact same toppings that go on a pizza, which, besides the crust issue, was one of my main problems with it. I mean, why not just fold a pizza in half, and call it a day?

So, I decided to do what I hear is a more traditional filling, featuring ricotta, fresh mozzarella, and ham. The result was as enjoyable, as it was surprising. It was almost, but not quite, lasagna-like. The extra crust didn’t bother me as much, and everything seemed to work together beautifully.

I decided to recommend our Wolfgang Puck dough recipe, because it's fast and easy, and features a nice lightly textured dough, but any prepared pizza dough will work nicely. 

Just be sure to bake this long enough. If you make these the same size, it’s going to take about 15 minutes at 500 F. Your calzone may look nicely browned at 10 minutes, and it will be tempting to take out, but the dough will still be raw. You really want to push this to the point of almost burning.

And what happens if you go too far, and it does burn? No problem. Just order a pizza and fold it in half. So, whether you’re already a calzone lover, or a reluctant skeptic like me, I really hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 Calzones:

1 batch of our Wolfgang Puck pizza dough (get the recipe here), divided into 4 dough balls

8 slices prosciutto

2 cups ricotta, drained if necessary

4 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced thin, and drained on paper towel

1 1/2 cup finely diced smoked ham

freshly ground black pepper to taste

cayenne to taste

(note: before folding, I forgot to drizzle the top of the filling with a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil, which I think would have been a nice touch.)

corn meal for the pan

2 cups marina sauce for dipping, optional
1 egg for egg wash
Parmesan cheese for dusting tops
- Bake at 500 F. for 15 minutes

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Spelt Pizza – Read All About It

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Make Spelt Pizza – Read All About It

I could go into detail about all the great reasons you should maybe consider including some organic sprouted spelt flour in your pantry, but since I’m just about to head out for a little Easter break, it would be a lot easier for me if you could just Google it. 

Very briefly, this “ancient grain” is related to modern wheat, but it’s actually an entirely different species. From what I hear, it's easier to digest, higher in protein and fiber, and to me at least, has a much better flavor and texture than other whole-wheat flours.

Besides the simple and effective dough recipe, I’m also showing off a cast-iron pan technique that does a heck of a job getting the same type of browned, crispy crust you enjoy at your favorite pizzeria. Just keep it on the flame until the bottom starts to brown, and then finish in a hot oven, and/or under a broiler until your toppings are done.  

If you make it ahead, simply take it out of the fridge a few hours before you want pizza, and let it warm up on the counter. It actually gets an even better texture. I hope you give this delicious alternative a try soon. Enjoy!

Makes 4 eight-inch pizzas:

1 package dry active yeast

2 teaspoons honey

1 cup warm water (105 degrees F)

about 3 cups organic sprouted spelt flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

toppings of your choice

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pizza de figos e feta // figs and feta pizza

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Make pizza de figos e feta // figs and feta pizza

falei por ventura cedo demais. agora o outono veio em força. já está frio. pela manhã já custa a sair de casa. a luz é diferente. e o manto de folhas na rua não poderia ser mais bonito! no entanto, a minha melhor amiga (de cá) voltou a Espanha. definitivamente! um capítulo que começou como uma casualidade na rua e acabou a vivermos todos juntos. o 'portunhol'. os momentos de ócio. a procura de trabalho. a partilha de tudo o que tínhamos (e temos!). e os mais que muitos jantares de tapas. nunca nada será esquecido. 'de que color?' será sempre o nosso hino.

probably I spoke far too early. now the autumn is here. it starts getting cold. in the morning it's hard to get out of the house. the light is different. and all the leaves on the street could not be more beautiful! however, my best friend (here) is back in Spain. forever! a chapter that started with a causality in the street and ended up with all of us living together. the 'portunhol'. lazy moments. looking for a job. sharing everything that we had (and have!). and all the tapas dinner we had. nothing will ever be forgotten. 'de que color?' will always be our anthem. 

pizza de figos e queijo feta

para 2 pizzas

ingredientes para a massa (duas pizzas médias):

500 gramas de farinha branca forte
2 c. de chá de sal,
1 c. de chá de fermento em pó
300 ml de água tépida
20 ml de leite
1 batata pequena cozida

Primeiro peneirar a farinha para uma taça e juntar o sal e o fermento. De seguida fazer um furo no meio e juntar a água e o leite e gradualmente ir incorporando os ingredientes com um garfo até ficar consistente ao ponto de ser amassado com as mãos. Enquanto isto, ao lado esmagar bem a batata cozida e juntar à massa. Agora amassar durante 5/10 minutos com as mãos, até ficar elástica.
Findo este processo, colocar a massa num recipiente, tapar bem com um pano de cozinha e deixar levedar num local morno e seco entre 30 minutos a 1 hora, ou até dobrar de tamanho.

Quando a massa estiver pronta, dividir em 2 bolas mais pequenas e preparar a base da pizza. Comece por polvilhar com farinha a superfície onde irá ser estendida e distenda até ficar com uma forma redonda, com 0,5 cm de espessura e deixar com 2 de rebordo e reservar.

ingredientes para o recheio (duas pizzas médias):

1 cebola branca, rodelas finamente cortadas
1 dente alho,
3 c. sopa azeite

4 figos, cortados em quartos

100 g queijo feta

Começar por refogar a cebola o alho e o azeite num tacho até a cebola apresentar uma cor dourada, cerca de 5 minutos
Então, retirar do lume, cobrir a massa da pizza com o molho de cebola, os quartos de figos e o queijo feta desfeito por cima.
Levar ao forno por 20 minutos, a 220º, até estar estaladiça e a massa bem cozinhada.

figs and feta cheese pizza

for 2 pizzas

ingredients for the dough (makes two medium pizzas):

500 g strong white bread flour
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. of dried yeast
300 ml lukewarm water
20 ml milk
1 small boiled potato

At first pile the flour into a bowl and add the salt and the yeast. Then make a well in the middle and add the water and the milk and gradually mix the ingredients with a fork until consistent to the point of being ready to do it with your hands. Meanwhile, smash the boiled potato and add it to the dough. Now knead the dough for 5/10 minutes until elastic.
After this process, place the dough in a bowl, cover well with a kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm, dry place between 30 minutes to 1 hour, or let double in size.

When the dough is ready, divide it into 2 small balls and start making the pizza base. Start by dusting your surface with flour and roll it out into a circle, with 0,5 cm thickness and 2 cm thick bead on the edge.

ingredients for the topping (two medium pizzas):

1 white onion, finely sliced
1 garlic clove
3 tbsp. olive oil

4 figs, cut into quarters

100 g feta cheese 

Heat a saucepan on a medium heat with the onion, garlic and olive oil until the onion is slightly brown (around 5 minutes).
Then, remove from heat and top the pizza dough with the onion sauce, figs and crumbled feta cheese on top.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, at 220º degrees, until it is crispy and the dough well cooked.

___

~ f a c e b o o k ~

~ t u m b l r ~

~ f l i c k r ~

~ i n s t a g r a m ~

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