Is there anyone who doesn’t like pizza? With all of the possible variations – thick or thin crust, plain cheese or supreme – pizza is a favorite with people of all ages. Pizza can also be simple and fun for the whole family to make at home.
Even if you consider the kitchen foreign territory, you can make an Italian traditional 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 a PBS television show called “Breaking Bread with Father Dominic” and has written many books on spiritual growth through baking bread. This recipe will yield one 15 inch thick-crust pizza or two smaller thin-crust pizzas.
Ingredients:
1 pkg. active dry yeast
1 tsp. brown sugar
1 cup of warm water
1/2 cup of cold milk
1¼ tsp. salt
2 Tbs. olive oil
3 – 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
In a medium size bowl, stir to dissolve yeast and brown sugar in warm water. Let the mixture stand for about five minutes. Stir in the olive oil, cold milk and salt. Add 2 1/2 cups of flour, one half cup at a time, and mix until thoroughly integrated. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead for about five minutes, adding small amounts of flour to keep the dough manageable. Using olive oil, lightly oil the dough’s surface. Place the dough in a clean, medium size bowl. Then cover it with plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rise in the refrigerator for at least two hours, or leave it overnight.
Around two hours before you plan to make your pizza, punch down the dough, then knead it lightly. Then, form 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 form the crust, flatten the dough with your hands, and then roll it out on a lightly floured board. Stop when the crust reaches your desired size. Father Dominic suggests using a pizza stone and having the oven at 500 degrees F.
When the dough is prepared, then it’s time to choose the toppings. What Italian traditional pizza is complete without Italian meats? 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. Buon appetito!
