Is there anyone who doesn’t like pizza? With all the possible variations, from thin to thick crust, plain cheese to piled high with toppings, pizza is a favorite with people of all ages. Pizza is also a great way for the whole family to share in the cooking process.
Even if you consider the kitchen foreign territory, you can make an Italian homemade pizza with just a few easy steps. The first step is making the dough. If you’re short on time, you can purchase pre-made pizza dough at your local grocery store. However, handmade pizza dough is not difficult to make, not to mention it’s delicious!
For this Italian pizza recipe, try using Father Dominic Garramone’s recipe for making pizza crust. Father Dominic is a Benedictine priest who hosted the television show, “Breaking Bread with Father Dominic”, on PBS. He has also written numerous books on spiritual growth through baking bread. This recipe will make one thick-crust pizza about 15 inches in diameter, or a few smaller thin-crust pizzas.
Ingredients:
1 pkg. active dry yeast
1 tsp. brown sugar
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup of cold milk
1¼ tsp. salt
2 Tbs. of olive oil
3 – 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
Using a medium sized bowl, stir the yeast and brown sugar together in warm water until dissolved. Let it rest for about five minutes. Stir in the olive oil, salt and cold milk. One half cup at a time, add 2½ cups of flour and mix until thoroughly incorporated. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board. Then, knead the dough for about five minutes, adding small amounts of flour in order to keep it manageable. Lightly oil the surface of the dough. Place it in a medium size clean bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let it rise in the refrigerator for at least two hours or overnight.
Punch down the dough about two hours before you intend to make the pizza. Then, knead it lightly, forming it into a ball. Place the dough on the counter and cover with a clean, dry towel. Let it rest there until it comes to room temperature. To create the crust, flatten the dough with your hands. Then, use a rolling pin to roll the dough out on a lightly floured board to your desired size. Father Dominic suggests preheating the oven to 500 degrees fahrenheit and preparing the crust on a pizza stone.
Once the dough has been prepared, it’s time to choose your pizza toppings. What Italian traditional pizza is complete without Italian meat? The best place for Italian meat toppings is Volpi Foods, America’s oldest and most prestigious producer of authentic, hand-crafted Italian meats. Whether you use your favorite tomato sauce or plain olive oil as your base, Volpi’s wide variety of dry cured meats will add flavor and excitement to any pizza.
For a twist on the traditional pepperoni pizza, try using Volpi’s hot Sopressata for a spicy pizza pie. If you’re in the mood for a salty and sweet combination, use slices of Volpi’s famous melt-in-your-mouth prosciutto. Add fresh spinach leaves, sprinkle with goat cheese crumbles, then layer with thin slices of prosciutto. Bake in the oven until the crust is light golden brown, then slice and serve immediately.
This simple and delicious Italian pizza recipe is a guaranteed crowd pleaser for parties or a family cooking night at home. Try it tonight at your house. You’ll be transported to Tuscany at first bite. If you’re looking to pair a red wine with your pizza it shouldn’t be too hard. I’d choose a well priced Cabernet wine or blend with a hearty meat pizza but you have many choices. How about a Zinfandel with a sausage pizza or a Chianti with a cheese pie? Buon appetito!
