Oven Fried Pizza Food

OVEN "FRIED" PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a cast iron skillet large enough to hold 1 of the pizza rounds, heat about 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, turn heat off and add 1 of the pizza rounds. Use a spatula to press gently on the top of the round to keep it relatively flat as it cooks. When you see it is slightly brown on the underside, season the top lightly with salt and pepper and flip the round on its second side. Season it with salt and pepper and top with the onion sausage-onion mixture and place the skillet in the center of the oven until the pizza has finished cooking, 5 to 8 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough and topping.
• In a large bowl, combine the yeast and warm water. Stir to dissolve the yeast and allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes.
• Using a sieve or strainer, "sift" about half of the flour over the yeast mixture and blend until smooth with your hands. Add the salt, pepper and honey and mix to blend. Sift in the remaining flour and mix to blend.
• Lightly flour a cutting board or flat surface. Turn the pizza dough onto the floured area and knead for 3 to 5 minutes. The flour should feel smooth and the ingredients fully integrated. Place the dough inside a lightly oiled large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest in a warm place, about 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in volume.
• Press gently on the dough and turn it onto a floured surface. Divide the dough into 4 equal parts, rolling each quarter into a loose ball. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and allow the dough to rest for an additional 15 minutes. Flatten each ball, 1at a time, and roll into a 6-inch round. Place each round in a single layer on a lightly greased baking sheet.
• In a medium skillet over high heat, heat the olive oil and cook the sausage, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks, until golden brown and crispy.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove the sausage from the pan onto a paper-towel lined plate. Drop the onions into the pan and cook over medium heat until caramelized, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the honey.
• Add the caramelized onions to the pizza fried pizza dough and top with mozzarella, sausage, basil, and a drizzle of good extra-virgin olive oil.

CRISPY DEEP-FRIED PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oil to 365 degrees F. A deep-fryer is best, but if using a stove top method, fill a cast iron Dutch oven or heavy chicken fryer with oil about 4 inches deep.
• Roll dough out and cut it in half. Stir the oregano and basil into the pizza sauce. Slice the pepperoni. Spread half of the pizza sauce on half of each side, of the dough, add the cheese and pepperoni, distributing evenly. Apply a thin line of the water to the edge of the dough and fold each over onto itself and press to seal.
• Check the oil temperature and carefully add the pizza pockets. Cook for 2 minutes, turn over and cook for 1 minute more. Remove to a paper towel lined plate. Transfer the pizza to serving plates and garnish with remaining pizza sauce, Parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
• Combine all the dry ingredients in bowl of food processor or stand mixer. Or if by hand, combine in a medium bowl. Add the warm water to small glass bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Add oil and yeast mixture to dry ingredients and depending on method using, combine until a dough ball forms. For food processor, pulse on dough setting until dough is smooth and elastic. For stand mixer, slow speed until dough is smooth and elastic. For hand method, knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic. Form the dough into a ball. Lightly oil a large bowl, add the dough ball to it, cover tightly with plastic wrap or a well-floured tea towel, and set in a warm place or a 100 degree F oven until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Punch down, and let rest for 5 minutes. Divide the dough in half for 2 large pizzas or into 4 equal pieces for calzones or small individual pizzas. Roll the dough into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Cooks Note: Can be made ahead and also freezes well.

PIZZA FRITTA - ITALIAN FRIED PIZZA

Steps:

• Heat up the passata in a small saucepan along with the garlic and olive oil. Simmer for a few minutes for the flavours to infuse, then switch off the heat. Note: Skip this step if you want to use plain passata.
• Sprinkle flour over a clean work surface and your fingers, then portion out pizza dough into pieces roughly the size of your fist. Flatten and stretch the dough out into rough circles around 1 cm / 0.4 inch thick and 10-15 cm / 4-6 inch wide.
• Pour vegetable oil into a small frying pan until it's just covering the bottom of the pan by about 0.5 cm / 0.2 inch. Heat through. Test with a wooden chopstick or toothpick and when bubbles form on the tip, it's ready to start frying.
• Stretch each piece of dough out again just before cooking so it cooks evenly. Fry each piece separately for 1 minute per side until golden brown and puffy. Drain on paper towel.
• Top fried dough with quick pizza sauce or passata, mozzarella / bocconcini and fresh basil leaves or your chosen pizza toppings. Garnish with freshly grated parmesan.

OVEN-STYLE PIZZA FRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat lightly with oil.
• Grind fennel seed, oregano and basil into a powder using a spice mill or mortar and pestle.
• Wash, peel and slice potatoes into thin french fry shapes.
• Combine ground spices, tomato paste, garlic powder, salt, sugar and oil in a small bowl until smooth.
• Place potatoes and seasoning paste in a large ziplock or plastic bag.
• Using your hands, move the potatoes around in the bag until they are evenly coated with the seasoning paste.
• Place potatoes in a single layer on the baking sheet.
• Bake for 25 minutes at 400°F.
• Using a spatula, turn potatoes over and sprinkle with parmesan cheese (if using).
• Bake for 10-20 minutes more or until fries become golden and start to crisp (time may vary with size of fries).
• Serve with marinara sauce or ketchup, if desired.

PAN-FRIED PIZZA

Steps:

• Combine flour, yeast and salt in a food processor. Turn machine on and add 1/2 cup water and 2 tablespoons oil through feed tube. Process for about 30 seconds, adding more water, a tablespoon or so at a time, until mixture forms a ball and is slightly sticky to the touch. (If mixture becomes too sticky, add flour a tablespoon at a time.)
• Put one tablespoon olive oil in a bowl and turn dough ball in it. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise until dough doubles in size, 1 to 2 hours. When dough is ready, re-form into a ball and divide it into 4 pieces; roll each piece into a ball. Place each piece on a lightly floured surface, sprinkle with a little flour, and cover with plastic wrap or a towel. Let rest until each puffs slightly, about 20 minutes.
• When ready to cook, press one ball into about a 10-inch round. Use a little flour, if needed, to prevent sticking and a rolling pin, if desired. Film a 10-inch skillet with olive oil and turn heat to medium. When oil shimmers, put dough in pan and adjust heat so it browns evenly without burning. (If dough puffs up unevenly in spots, push bubbles down.)
• Turn dough, then top browned side with tomato sauce, cheese, a bit of salt and pepper, and, if you like, prosciutto and/or basil leaves. If top is now heavily laden, cover pan and continue cooking, or run it under broiler, just until toppings become hot. With only a couple of toppings, just cook until bottom browns. Repeat with remaining dough; serve hot, warm or at room temperature.