Four Seasons Pizza Food

PIZZA QUATTRO STAGIONI (FOUR SEASONS PIZZA)

Steps:

• Place a pizza stone in the center rack of the oven. Preheat the oven to 550 degrees F for 1 to 2 hours before you're ready to bake the pizza to get the stone nice and hot.
• Generously sprinkle a flat work surface with flour. Use a rolling pin to stretch the dough into a flatbread about 5 inches wide and as long as will fit on your pizza stone. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured pizza peel or unrimmed baking sheet so it can slide right onto the pizza stone in the oven. (I use the bottom of a baking sheet.)
• Gently spread the marinara sauce on top, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the edges for the crust (my favorite part!). Place the toppings in four separate quarters of the pizza, each representing the 4 seasons: Place the zucchini flowers in one quarter, the artichoke hearts and prosciutto in another quarter, the mushrooms in another quarter and the olives in the final quarter. Sprinkle the whole pie with the mozzarella and 1/4 cup of the Pecorino Romano and drizzle with olive oil.
• Turn off the oven and turn on the broiler. Use the peel or baking sheet to slide the pizza onto the pizza stone. The heat from the stone will cook the bottom of the pizza and the boiler will char and cook the top, mimicking a Neapolitan pizza oven. Bake until the bottom is cooked and the top is charred, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Top the entire pizza with the arugula, sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup Pecorino Romano and drizzle with olive oil. Slice the hot pizza and serve immediately.

QUATTRO STAGIONI PIZZA - FOUR SEASONS PIZZA

Steps:

• Add the yeast to the lukewarm water with 1/2 tsp sugar for 5 minutes. Combine the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the water/yeast mixture whilst mixing the dough together with a spoon until you have obtained a dough. If it's too sticky you can gradually add a little more flour.
• Dust a clean work surface with a little flour and knead the dough for around 5-10 minutes until it's silky smooth and soft. If you lightly press your finger on the ball of dough it should spring back up easily. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil to a large clean bowl and rub all over until the bowl is coated. Shape the dough into a ball and place in the bowl, rub the top of the dough with a tiny amount of olive oil. Cover with cling film and leave in a warm place for at least 3 hours until doubled in size.
• When you are ready to make the pizzas place your pizza trays in the oven and preheat the oven to 220°C/425F/gas mark 7.
• Divide your dough in half roughly with your hands and place on a lightly floured work surface. Press lightly in the dough to shape it into a rough circle or rectangle then using a rolling pin dusted with flour roll the dough out to fit your tray. The dough should be rolled out as thin as possible without tearing.
• Remove the pizza tray from the oven and dust lightly with semolina flour. Transfer your dough to the tray and spread with 3 tbsp of passata, you don't want to much or your pizza will go soggy. Tear up half the mozzarella with your hands and dot it over the base.
• Finally, add your toppings over four sections of the pizza. Repeat with the second pizza and bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the cheese has melted and the crust is crispy.

FOUR SEASONS PIZZA: PIZZA QUATTRO STAGIONE

Steps:

• Prepare the dough 1 hour prior to making pizza. Divide the dough into 4 (6-ounce) balls. Allow to rise until ready to shape.
• Preheat oven with pizza stone to 500 degrees F.
• Prepare the toppings. In a bowl, combine the mozzarella and Fontina. In a small saute pan, over high heat, saute the mushrooms in the olive oil until done. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a plate and allow to cool. Reserve. Remove the meat from the steamed clams and reserve. Discard the shells. Slice the tomato into at least 6 thin round slices. Reserve.
• To assemble the pizzas: Place a ball of dough on floured board and stretch to about 10 or 12 inches. Repeat with 2 additional balls. Divide last dough ball into 6 pieces, and roll each one into 10-inch strips. Divide tomato sauce evenly on dough circles leaving a small rim. Divide the cheese on top of each pizza. Carefully place 2 strips of dough over each pizza so that you have 4 quarters which represent the 4 seasons.
• Garnish each quarter: 1 with tomato, 1 with clams, 1 with mushrooms, and 1 with prosciutto julienne.
• Slide pizza onto hot pizza stone. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and transfer to a serving plate. Sprinkle basil over tomato section and grated Parmesan over the mushroom section. Serve immediately.
• In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and honey in 1/4-cup warm water.
• In a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour and the salt. Add the oil, the yeast mixture, and the remaining 3/4 cup of water and mix on low speed until the dough comes cleanly away from the sides of the bowl and clusters around the dough hook, about 5 minutes. (The pizza dough can also be made in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse once or twice, add the remaining ingredients, and process until the dough begins to form a ball.)
• Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and knead by hand 2 or 3 minutes longer. The dough should be smooth and firm. Cover the dough with a clean, damp towel and let it rise in a warm spot for about 30 minutes. (When ready, the dough will stretch as it is lightly pulled).
• Divide the dough into 4 balls, about 6 ounces each. Work each ball by pulling down the sides and tucking under the bottom of the ball. Repeat 4 or 5 times. Then on a smooth, unfloured surface, roll the ball under the palm of your hand until the top of the dough is smooth and firm, about 1 minute. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let rest 15 to 20 minutes. At this point, the balls can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 days.
• Yield: 4 (8-inch) pizzas
• In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil. Over medium heat, saute the onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Add the tomato paste, tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and simmer for 20 minutes or until sauce thickens.
• Strain into a clean saucepan. Whisk in butter, piece by piece. Add basil. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Use as needed.
• Yield: 2 1/2 cups
• Place the chicken bones in a 6 or 7-quart pot, pour cold water over to cover, and bring to a rolling boil. Skim off the foam and fat that collects on the top.
• Add the remaining ingredients, lower the heat to a simmer, and simmer uncovered for 2 to 3 hours, skimming as necessary. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean bowl and cool. Refrigerate, covered, for up to 3 days, discarding the hardened layer of fat before using or freezing.
• Yield: about 2 quarts
• Recipe courtesy Wolfgang Puck, "Pizza, Pasta & More!," Random House, 2000

FOUR SEASONS SKILLET PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• For the pizza sauce: Add the tomato puree, olive oil, dried oregano, salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon water to a bowl and mix together.
• For the pizza: Heat the olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Season the mushrooms with salt and pepper. Saute on high, tossing and moving them so they cook quickly, until the mushrooms have released their water and have started to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove them to a plate and wipe the skillet carefully with a paper towel.
• To assemble the pizza: Place the pizza crust in the skillet. Spread the pizza sauce over the crust leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge. Sprinkle with the mozzarella. Imagine the pizza divided into four quadrants representing the seasons.
• For spring: Arrange the artichoke hearts over one quadrant and sprinkle with the fontina.
• For summer: Arrange the tomatoes on a second quadrant cut-side up, placing the mozzarella pearls around them.
• For fall: Arrange the sauteed mushrooms on a third quadrant.
• For winter: Arrange the pepperoni and olives on the last quadrant.
• Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the pizza is hot and the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Garnish with the Parmesan and basil.

FOUR SEASONS PIZZA

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients listed under 'For the sauce' to prepare the sauce.
• Knead together the ingredients listed under 'For the dough' to prepare the dough.
• Then make mounds of dough, each weighing 225gms.
• Flatted the balls of dough in a round shape.
• Spread on the sauce evenly on each mound.
• Add home-made or mozzarella cheese and finely chopped veggies.
• Cook for 12 to 15 minutes in an oven at 275°C.
• Garnish with chopped basil and serve hot.