Shopping list
For the dough
500g soft wheat flour
20g fresh yeast (or 7g dried)
350ml warm water
30ml extra virgin olive oil, plus extra 4
10g sea salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon honey
For the topping
1 medium onion
45 ml extra virgin olive oil + extra
400 g plum tomatoes
a pinch of fine sugar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
50 g Parmesan cheese (or pecorino)
sea salt & ground black pepper
3 tablespoons fine breadcrumbs
optional 6-8 anchovy fillets
At the weekend we make pizza for the mini monsters, not the regular kind but a Sicilian one with a lot of bread. Actually, it's better to call it focaccia with a pizza topping, anyway, everyone likes it!
How to make a Sicilian Pizza
Put the flour in a mixing bowl.
Sprinkle the yeast on top.
Heat the water.
Add the water to the flour.
Stir it firmly together.
It turns into a sticky mass.
Add the sea salt.
Also add the honey.
Finally add the olive oil.
Mix it all for a few minutes.
Scrape the bowl clean.
Oil your hands (or were gloves too) because the dough is very sticky!
Place the dough in a clean, greased bowl.
Allow the dough to prove for 1 hour in a warm place.
After 1 hour the dough should be doubled in volume
Oil your hands again.
Fold the dough a few times.
Shape the dough into a ball.
Place the dough in a clean bowl.
Cover the dough again and allow it to prove for another hour
Cut the onion into strips.
Grate the cheese.
Brush the baking mold with oil.
The hour is up, back to the dough, with oiled hands again ;))
The dough has risen well.
Put it in the baking mold.
Press it gently to the edge.
Prick holes with your fingertip.
Cover the baking mold and let the dough rise (for the last time) for 30 minutes
Fry the onion until soft in 30ml olive oil.
Add 50 ml water, the sugar and the oregano.
Add the tomatoes and the salt and pepper.
Let it simmer softly for 15 minutes
Mix the cheese with bread crumbs, oil and oregano.
Rinse the anchovy well, it's very salty.
Mash the tomatoes with a spoon and remove from the heat.
Allow the tomato mixture to cool on a cold plate.
Preheat the oven to 200°C / 180°C Fan
Prick the holes again.
Drizzle the dough with olive oil.
Spread the tomato sauce over it.
Scatter the cheese mixture on top.
Place the anchovy on top.
Bake the pizza for 45 - 50 minutes.
Divide the pizza in 'slices' using a pizza wheel.
Serve the Sicilian pizza with fresh cucumber slices.
Or with a simple salad on the side.
Gustare! - Enjoy!