Monday, October 3, 2011

Fresh Tomato and Cheese Pizza

I will give you 3 guess as to what cookbook this came from.  Clearly, I'm obsessed.  Sometimes, that's a good thing.



It's a good thing if you like delicious and somewhat better for you pizza.  It starts with Bittman's "Mostly Whole Wheat Pizza Dough", then is simply topped with a tomato and cheese mixture.  My daughter said it tasted like an Olive Garden pizza.  I think it was a compliment.





I personally loved this pizza.  I loved the flavor and texture of the dough, and it reheated well too.  It made me a happy girl.



Here's how to do it:
For the dough
2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp instant yeast
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp olive oil

For the toppings
about 3 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
3 ripe tomatoes, cored and chopped
3/4 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 
1 tbsp chopped basil or fresh oregano
Salt and black pepper

1.  Combine the flours, yeast, and salt in a large bowl.  Stir in 1 1/2 cups water.  The dough should be relatively sticky and wet, like biscuit batter.  If not, add a little more water.

2.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl, cover and put it in a warm spot.  Let the dough sit for at least 6, or up to 12 hours.  (The longer it ferments, the more complex the flavors). 

3.  When you're ready, heat the oven 500F.  Generously oil a baking sheet or large ovenproof skillet.  Dust your hands with a little white flour and fold the dough over in the bowl a few times.  It will be sticky, but resist the urge to use too much flour.  Gently press the dough into the skillet or onto the baking sheet...doesn't have to be perfect.  Drizzle the top with 2 tbsp olive oil.

4.  Put 1 tbsp of the oil in a skillet over med low heat; when it's hot, add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently until it softens, about 1 minute.  Raise the heat a bit and add the tomatoes; cook, stirring frequently, just until most of their liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.  Let the tomatoes cool.

5.  Toss the tomatoes with the mozzarella, Parmesan, and herbs.  Spread the mixture on the pizza dough and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Put the baking sheet in the oven and bake until the crust is crisp and the cheese melted, about 8 to 12 minutes.  Let stand for several minutes before slicing so the cheese sets.  

This is the part of the post where I'd like to tell you about the totally awesome Bauducco Panettone I received as a part of Foodbuzz's Tastemaker Program.  And it was so awesome we tore right through it without doing anything creative (or photogenic).  We were also unknowingly assisted with a rather large portion of the chocolate chip panettone by our friend Rinny.  




Yes I know chocolate is bad for dogs, someone should tell Rinny that.  
Don't worry, he's okay :)

10 comments:

The JR said...

Sounds like somebody got on the table!

Pizza looks so good.

Debbie said...

The picture alone has me hooked. Looks wonderful!

Joanne said...

Bittman's dough is my absolute favorite recipe! I love this pizza...such a classic.

Pam said...

Homemade pizza is the best.

Monet said...

Nothing sounds better! I broke my arm...so I can't type much but wanted to know that I'm still reading your lovely blog. You make me smile, as always. Blessings and love!

Dawn @ Words Of Deliciousness said...

I love homemade pizza. I love making it and eating it. Your pizza looks great. Thank you for stopping by my blog!

Kerstin said...

I heart pizza too and feel like I could eat it every day - looks perfect :)

Heather S-G said...

ha ha ha ha ha....how did I just know where this recipe originated? You are obsessed, woman! But hey, some obsessions are healthy, and this is definitely one of them. Pizza definitely looks awesome :)

scrambledhenfruit said...

Pizza is still one of my all time favorite foods. :) This looks wonderful!

Chris said...

Fresh homemade pizza is head and shoulders above anything you can buy, don't you think? Yours looks great.

An odd thing, when I make homemade pizza I can only eat 1, 2 slices tops at a time. It fills me up so much faster than delivery pizza.