Hi everyone, welcome back!
Today we will be making my all time favorite Sicilian style Pizza. We are going to be making the dough from scratch and a simple and delicious sauce to go along with it.
Ingredients List: Pizza Sauce Yield 1 Pizza
1 can peeled plum tomatoes
6 cloves garlic sliced razor thin
4 sprigs fresh oregano
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 to 2 teaspoons sugar (depending on how sweet you like your sauce)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Ingredients list: Pizza Dough Yield 1 Pizza
3 cups or 408 grams bread flour
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
7 grams or 1 package of active dry yeast (Do not use instant yeast)
1 cup warm water 108 degrees
Step by Step instructions: Pizza Dough
First in a large mixing bowl weigh the bread flour to 408 grams (3 cups).
Next in a liquid measuring cup add 7 grams active dry yeast or 1 package, 2 teaspoons sugar & 1 cup warm water 108 degrees. Give the mixture a stir and let it sit and bloom for 5 minutes.
Make sure that the yeast rises to the top of the water. If it does not rise/bloom your yeast is dead.
Next sprinkle 2 teaspoons of salt and mix into flour. Next create a well in the center of flour to pour the 3 tablespoons of olive oil into.
Pour olive oil into the well, give the water a stir and pour over flour.
Start to mix dough with a spoon until a dough ball starts to form. Once the dough starts to come together dump out the mixture onto a clean surface and start to knead. This is how the dough should look before you start to knead. Its should not be sticky and not a complete dough ball yet.
As you knead the dough it will form a ball. Knead for about 5-10 minutes.
Alternatively you can use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment and mix for 10 minutes or until dough ball is smooth.
Knead dough for 5-10 minutes until dough ball is smooth to the touch. Place the dough into the bowl and toss the dough in olive oil. Then cover with plastic wrap and let it sit in a warm location in your house for 2 hours until dough has doubled in size.
Side note: you can leave dough to rise all day if you like or put in fridge for a 2 day ferment if you are not ready to use it yet.
So while the dough is rising lets start making the pizza sauce!!
Step By Step Instructions: Pizza Sauce
Start by peeling 6 cloves of garlic and slicing them razor thin. Next grab a medium size sauce pot and put 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive into the pan.
Add the garlic to the cold olive oil and then turn on heat to a medium low. Once garlic is a light golden brown, add 1 can of peeled whole plum tomatoes.
Cook tomato sauce on medium low heat for 10 minutes until tomatoes have soften.
Next crush tomatoes with either a potato masher, back of a fork or immersion blender. A potato masher would be the preferred method.
Now cook sauce for another 20 minutes until sauce thickens. Stir every 5 minutes or so.
Final step add 4 sprigs of freshly chopped oregano or 2 teaspoons dried if you don't have fresh. Turn off heat and let cool.
Now it's time to assemble your pizza!! I am using a 9 x 13 in glass baking pan. This works the best for a thick Sicilian style pizza.
First pre heat your oven to 450 degrees. Next dust the bottom of the baking pan with equal parts semolina flour & bread flour.
Next spread out your dough from the center pushing it towards the edges & creating a crust on the edges of the dough. This is so
the sauce and cheese don't spill over the edges.
Now let's add the sauce to this pie!!
Now let's add the cheese. Put how ever much cheese as you like!!
I use low moisture mozzarella as it works the best in my opinion. You can also use a blend of mozzarella and fontina if you like.
The pizza is ready for the oven. You can add any toppings if you like at this point.
Place on middle rack in a pre heated oven at 450 degrees for 30 minutes until crust is golden brown.
Let cool for 10 minutes if you can wait and slice up and serve.
Have fun and experiment. That is what cooking is all about.
I hope you love this recipe as much as I do.
Happy cooking!!
Check out this recipe on youtube!
Amazing dishes! Really lovin' this pie! Thanks for sharing Chris.