New York Pizza Food

NEW YORK-STYLE PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• Combine water and sugar in small bowl; stir to dissolve sugar.
• Sprinkle yeast on top; stir to combine.
• Let stand 5 to 10 minutes or until foamy.
• Combine flour and salt in medium bowl.
• Stir in yeast mixture.
• Mix until mixture forms soft dough.
• Remove dough to lightly floured surface.
• Knead 5 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic, adding additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed.
• Place dough in medium bowl coated with nonstick cooking spray.
• Turn dough in bowl so top is coated with cooking spray; cover with towel or plastic wrap.
• Let rise in warm place 30 minutes or until doubled in bulk.
• Punch dough down; place on lightly floured surface and knead about 2 minutes or until smooth.
• Pat dough into flat disc about 7 inches in diameter.
• Let rest 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pat and gently stretch dough from edges until dough seems to not stretch anymore.
• Let rest 2 to 3 minutes.
• Continue patting and stretching until dough is 12 to 14 inches in diameter.
• Spray 12- to 14-inch pizza pan with nonstick spray; sprinkle with commeal, if desired.
• Press dough into pan.
• Preheat oven to 5OOF.
• Follow directions for individual recipes, baking pizza on bottom rack of oven.

NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA

Steps:

• Process tomatoes in food mill, food processor or with an immersion blender. Puree should not be perfectly smooth, but should have no chunks larger than 1/16".
• Heat butter and oil in large skillet over medium-low heat until melted. Add garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes and salt and saute until garlic is fragrant but not browned, about 3 minutes. Add pureed tomatoes, basil, onion halves and sugar. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to the lowest setting (so that bubbles barely break the surface) and cook until reduced by half, about 1 hour. Season to taste with salt. Remove and discard onion and basil sprigs. Cool completely before using, or store in refrigerator in airtight container up to 2 weeks.
• Combine flour, sugar, salt and yeast in food processor; pulse to combine. Add olive oil and water. Run processor until dough forms a ball that spins around the workbowl cleaning the sides, about 15 seconds, then run an additional 15 seconds.
• Knead dough by hand 2-5 times on a floured work surface. A small piece of dough should stretch enough to allow light to pass through easily without tearing (the windowpane test). Divide dough in three and place into 1-qt plastic containers or zip-top bags. Refrigerate at least 24 hours, or up to 5 days.
• 2 hours before baking, remove dough to counter, place rack with pizza stone in center of oven and preheat oven to 500°F Form dough into a tight ball by gathering edges into the center and pinching shut; place into a clean mixing bowl, cover with a towel or plastic wrap, and allow to rise until doubled, about 2 hours.
• Grate mozzarella cheese; you should have about 4 cups. Place on a plate and place in freezer for at least 15 minutes before baking.
• Place dough ball on lightly floured surface. Press out into 8" circle, leaving the outer 1" slightly raised. Stretch the dough over your knuckles until it forms a circle 12"-14" in diameter, about 1/4" thick. Place dough on pizza peel.
• Spread about 2/3 c sauce over crust, leaving 1/2"-1" bare at the edge. Evenly spread 1/3 of cheese over sauce. Slide pizza onto baking stone and bake until cheese is melted and has scattered brown spots, and cornicione is brown and puffy, 12-15 minutes. Remove from oven, transfer to a cutting board, slice and serve immediately. Repeat with remaining dough balls, sauce and cheese.

NEW YORK STYLE THIN CRUST PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees F. If you have one, place a pizza stone on the bottom rack of the oven.
• Divide the dough in half and roll into a 12-inch circle, about 1/2-inch thick.
• Dust pizza peel or baking sheet with cornmeal. Place rolled out dough on peel. Brush pizza dough with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Spread 1 cup tomato sauce evenly over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border along the edges. Sprinkle 1/4 cup basil leaves on top of sauce and then top with 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano. Finally, top with 1/2-pound mozzarella slices. Bake for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling and the edges are golden brown. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 2 pizzas.
• In an electric mixing bowl, whisk the yeast, sugar, water and lard together to make a paste. Add the flour and salt and mix, using a dough hook, until the dough comes away from the sides and crawls up the dough hook. Remove the dough from the bowl. Grease the bowl with olive oil and place the dough back in the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and divide dough in half. Roll the dough into balls, cover, and let the dough rest for 15 to 20 minutes. The dough is ready to be shaped.

NEW YORK-STYLE PIZZA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, combine oil, salt, yeast mixture and 1 cup flour; beat on medium speed until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky). Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Preheat oven to 475°. Grease a 14-in. pizza pan. Roll dough to fit pan. Pinch edge to form a rim. Cover and let rest 10 minutes. Spread with tomato sauce; top with cheeses, basil, oregano and pepper flakes. Bake on a lower oven rack until crust is lightly browned and cheese is melted, 15-20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing.

NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA

Steps:

• Sprinkle the yeast over the surface of the warm water in a large bowl. Let stand for 1 minute, then stir to dissolve. Mix in the flour, salt and olive oil. When the dough is too thick to stir, turn out onto a floured surface, and knead for 5 minutes. Knead in a little more flour if the dough is too sticky. Place into an oiled bowl, cover, and set aside in a warm place to rise until doubled in bulk.
• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). If using a pizza stone, preheat it in the oven as well, setting it on the lowest shelf.
• When the dough has risen, flatten it out on a lightly floured surface. Roll or stretch out into a 12 inch circle, and place on a baking pan. If you are using a pizza stone, you may place it on a piece of parchment while preheating the stone in the oven.
• Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the dough. Sprinkle with oregano, mozzarella cheese, basil, Romano cheese and red pepper flakes.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bottom of the crust is browned when you lift up the edge a little, and cheese is melted and bubbly. Cool for about 5 minutes before slicing and serving.