Submitted by foolishpoolish on August 1, 2008 - 5:25pm

Pizza

I had some fun making pizza today using a refrigerated dough (all natural leavening).

The dough was mixed roughly by hand without precise measurements (have not replaced my defunct digital scale yet). I used an intermediate build made from my 100% hydration AP starter, Tipo 00 and water. The final dough was around 60% hydration - I'm guessing. Again I used an organic italian tipo 00 flour (around 11% protein - not like the usual low gluten 00 flour which doesn't work nearly as well). After a short session of 'french folding', the dough was bulk fermented for 2 hours at room temperature with stretch-and-folds at 1/2 hour intervals. Divided the dough and shaped into balls for overnight refrigeration. The next day I simply let them come up to room temperature (about 2 hours) before shaping the pizzas. 

Each pizza was baked on a pizza stone at about 500F (with some help from the broiler) for about 3-4 minutes each. It falls outside of the 700+F, <2 minute napoletana rules...and I didn't use San Marzano tomatoes etc.  but at least it's nice to know that you can make reasonable pizza at home without resorting to oven modifications, wood fired ovens etc. etc.

 Basic Margherita-style Pizza (Basil sprinkled after baking as inspired by the reknowned Dom DeMarco of DiFara's)

Basic Margherita-style Pizza. As you can see the basil was sprinkled after baking..something I've seen in pictures of pizza from the reknowned DiFaras. Nothing worse than burnt basil imo.

'Upskirt' shot. The other pizzas were actually a little more charred than this one...but pizza-covered fingers and cameras do not mix well!

'Upskirt' shot (apparently that's pizza-speak for under-side) The other pizzas were actually a little better charred than this one...but pizza-covered fingers and cameras do not mix well!

Fennel Sausage Pizza

Fennel Sausage Pizza 

Pizza 'crumb'

Pizza 'crumb' 

)

Oops! The pizza stretched beyond the stone as I was transfering from the baking sheet to the stone so I had to fold it back over or risk pizza all over the oven floor. Oops! Tasted good though! :) 

 

FP 

 

Filed under:

Broiler

Wow!  Fantastic looking pizza's.  How exactly did you leverage the broiler?  Heat the oven to 550, turn on broiler and slide in pizza?  Just use the broiler the last min?

I need to try this technique.

Thanks

Frosty

Yep

Yes that's pretty much it ..I've experimented with various methods and I've found the way that works best for my oven.   

 You need to find the right shelf for your pizza stone and broiler setting (if you have an adjustable broiler) so that you don't get carbon frisbees.

In other words, 'your mileage may vary'.

FP 

 

Broiler

Thanks for the comments.  I've been making pizza for some time now and use Reinhardt's Pain de Ancient for it.  It's a bit tough for pizza dough, but I love the flavor. 

 I usually use a 500F oven, but don't get the burnt bits on the top of the crust, which I like.  My broiler is not adjustable, but I may try it for the last min or so.

Thanks for the great idea.  Seems kinda ovbious now, but it never occured to me.

Frosty

mmmm Pizza

I usually do a pizza for baking day dinner, but I am currently obsessed with the tandoor.

Looking at the pictures, makes me miss the pizza - but I can't do both.

Looks great!

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Those looks great.

Those looks great.

Thanks

Thanks Pat, Floyd.

Pat, the naans look good - the tandoor looks scary! 

Cheers

FP 

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Pizza

Nice looking pizzas, FP!  I especially like the char on the crust.  We have two things in common; I, too, use my broiler to heat my baking stone to temperatures that would otherwise be inaccessible to my home oven and I also hate the taste of burnt basil so I apply fresh basil to the pizza after baking:

http://www.breadcetera.com/?p=65

SteveB

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