The Ultimate Pizza Food

THE ULTIMATE PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees F and place the pizza stone on the bottom rack.
• Crumble the yeast in a small bowl then add 1/4 cup of warm water and the syrup. Stir together and leave for 5 minutes to dissolve.
• Put the flour and salt in a mixer fitted with a dough hook and give it a quick spin to mix. Pour in the yeast mixture, the remaining warm water and the olive oil at the same time, see Cook's note*.
• Spin on low until the flour and water come together and the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Put the ball of dough in a large bowl and drizzle a few drops of olive oil on top to keep it from forming a skin as it proofs. Cover with a towel and leave in warm place for 30 minutes to let the dough proof. When the dough has proofed it will double in size and look spongy.
• For the topping: Caramelize the onions in a frying pan over low heat with a little olive oil and one of rosemary sprigs. When the onions are golden season with sea salt and black pepper and a few drops of lemon juice to bring out the flavor.
• When the dough has proofed, roll it out onto to a floured surface and punch the air out with your hands, then start shaping it into a circle When it's stretched out, dust a pizza paddle with flour and place the dough on it.
• Cover with a generous splash of olive oil and scatter with pieces of Robiola. Shingle the pancetta slices around and add the caramelized onions, and the stripped needles of the remaining rosemary sprig. Drizzle with olive oil. Add salt and black pepper.
• Slide the pizza onto the stone in the oven (be careful the stone is 500 degrees F) and bake for 15 minutes. Shave white truffles over it. Eat immediately.
• Special equipment: Pizza stone and pizza paddle .

ULTIMATE PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• -Dissolve yeast and sugar in water; allow to rest for 8 minutes.
• -In a separate bowl, combine flour and salt.
• -Pour yeast mixture over flour mixture and mix well with a heavy spoon.
• -Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 2 minutes.
• -Working from the edges to the center, press dough into a 12" circle.
• -Place dough on a lightly greased pizza pan and stretch dough to edges.
• Add sauce and toppings of choice.
• Bake at 500 degree oven for 8-12 minutes or until edges are golden.
• Makes one 12" pizza dough.

ULTIMATE PIZZA MARGHERITA

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix flour, semolina, salt and yeast. Make a dip in the middle, pour in oil, water, then stir and squeeze everything together (hands are easiest for this). The dough should feel very sticky (pic 1). When it is well mixed, cover and leave for 15 mins.
• Tip the dough on to a lightly oiled work surface and rub your hands and the inside of the bowl with oil. Knead the dough about 12 times only, giving it a quarter turn each time you knead. Tuck the ends under so it is the shape of a ball and lay it in the bowl, seam side down. Cover and leave for 10 mins. Repeat the kneading and leaving for 10 mins again, then knead and leave for 15 mins, oiling the surface and your hands each time.
• In between kneadings make the sauce for the topping. Drain the tomatoes and tip them into a bowl. Snip them into small pieces with scissors (pic 2). Stir in garlic, tomato purée, and seasoning. Set aside. Brush a baking sheet with oil and sprinkle with a little semolina. Heat oven to 240C/fan 220C/gas 9.
• When the dough is ready, cut in half and put one half onto a lightly fl oured surface. Knead 4-5 times to squash out any air bubbles, then roll it out. At the point where it just keeps springing back, brush off the flour from the work surface and rub on a little oil. This makes it easier to roll. Continue to roll out until you have a 28cm circle, pulling it into shape as well. Lift it onto the baking sheet (it's easier if you drape it over a rolling pin).
• Drain the mozzarella, then pat dry with kitchen paper. Brush the dough with olive oil, then spread half the sauce over, almost up to the edge. Scatter over half the basil, then tear up one mozzarella ball and scatter over the basil (pic 3). Grate over pepper and drizzle with a little oil. Bake for 12-15 mins, until the topping is bubbling and the dough is going brown. Repeat with the remaining dough and toppings. To serve, scatter with parmesan shavings, rocket leaves and drizzle with oil.

ULTIMATE PIZZA SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt butter with the oil. Add the onion, celery and garlic and saute until soft and transparent.
• Add tomato sauce and tomato paste and stir until smooth.
• Add remaining ingredients and bring to slow simmer.
• Simmer for 30-60 minutes (or not at all depending on your taste and time frame).
• Remove the bay leaf and spread the sauce on your prepared pizza dough.