Mama Zuquinis Mediterranean Pizza
- Ready In:
- 1hr 15mins
- Ingredients:
- 30
- Yields:
-
2 pies
ingredients
-
Pizza dough
- 295.73 ml sparkling water
- 29.58 ml extra-virgin olive oil
- 4.92 ml sugar
- 9.85 ml active dry yeast
- scant 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 828.06 ml bread flour, divided, plus more as needed for kneading
-
Tomato sauce
- 7.39 ml extra-virgin olive oil
- 7.39 ml garlic, minced
- 177.44 ml onion, diced
- 354.88 ml plum tomatoes (canned is ok)
- 7.39 ml tomato paste
- 1.23 ml salt
- 2.46 ml sugar (to taste)
- 14.79 ml fresh basil, chopped
- 14.79 ml fresh marjoram, chopped
-
Basil pesto
- 2 small garlic cloves
- 4.92 ml toasted pine nuts
- 1 small pinch red chili pepper flakes
- 14.79 ml parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated
- 29.58 ml extra-virgin olive oil
- 473.18 ml basil leaves, loosely packed
- lemon juice, to taste
-
Pizza
- prepared pizza dough
- prepared tomato sauce
- 473.18 ml fresh mozzarella cheese, grated
- 118.29 ml feta, crumbled
- 236.59 ml cherry tomatoes, halved
- 177.44 ml kalamata olive, pitted
- 236.59 ml marinated artichoke, drained
- prepared basil pesto
directions
- DOUGH: In a large bowl, whisk together the water, oil, sugar and yeast. Set aside the mixture for 15 minutes to hydrate the yeast.
- Stir in the salt and two-thirds of the flour, 1 spoonful at a time, to achieve a very soft dough.
- Turn out the dough onto a well-floured board and continue kneading in additional flour until a soft, sticky dough is achieved. The dough should be very moist; the more flour added, the heavier the dough and final crust.
- Place the dough in a large, greased bowl and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Set aside the dough until it doubles in volume, about 1 to 11/2 hours. (While the dough is rising, make the tomato and pesto sauces, and assemble the toppings.).
- When the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and turn it out onto a floured board. Halve the dough and roll each half into a ball. Place the balls on the floured board and lightly flour the top of each. Loosely cover each ball with plastic wrap and set aside until almost doubled again.
- SAUCE: In a medium saucepan heated over medium heat, add the oil, garlic and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, careful not to burn the garlic.
- Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, salt and sugar. Cover the pan and gently simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in the herbs.
- Pass the sauce through a food mill, or purée using a food processor or blender. This makes 1 scant cup tomato sauce. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
- PESTO:In a large mortar and pestle or using a food processor, grind together the garlic, pine nuts, chile flakes, Parmigiano and olive oil. Add the basil leaves, a few at a time, until they are incorporated and a coarse paste is formed.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as desired with additional Parmigiano, lemon juice, pine nuts or olive oil. Thin as desired with a little olive oil.
- Refrigerate the pesto in a nonreactive container with the surface covered with plastic wrap until needed; the pesto will keep for up to 1 day.
- ASSEMBLY: Place a pizza stone on a rack in the oven, and heat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Roll out each dough ball to a 12- to 14-inch round and place on a floured pizza peel. Divide the sauce between the two rounds, ladling evenly over each round and leaving a 1-inch border around each.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella and feta evenly over the pizzas, and garnish the top of each pie with the tomatoes, olives and artichokes.
- Gently slide the first pizza on the stone. Bake until the crust is puffed and golden-brown, about 8 to 10 minutes (timing will vary depending on the thickness of the pie and heat of the oven).
- Remove the pizza and slide the second into the oven. Cool the pizzas slightly, then spoon the pesto over and slice. Serve immediately.
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