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Monday, July 6, 2009

Pepperoni Pan Pizza

Makes two 9-inch pizzas serving 4 to 6

Dough
1/2 cup olive oil
3/4 cup
skim milk plus 2 additional tablespoons, warmed to 110 degrees
2 teaspoons sugar
2 1/3 cups
all-purpose flour , plus extra for counter
1 package
instant yeast
1/2 teaspoon
table salt

Topping
1 (3.5-ounce) package sliced pepperoni
1 1/3 cups
tomato sauce
3 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella
cheese

1. To make the dough: Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 200 degrees. When oven reaches 200 degrees, turn it off. Lightly grease large bowl with cooking spray. Coat each of two 9-inch cake pans with 3 tablespoons oil.
2. Mix milk, sugar, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in measuring cup. Mix flour, yeast, and salt in standing mixer fitted with dough hook. Turn machine to low and slowly add milk mixture. After dough comes together, increase speed to medium-low and mix until dough is shiny and smooth, about 5 minutes. Turn dough onto lightly floured counter, gently shape into ball, and place in greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in warm oven until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
3. To shape and top the dough: Transfer dough to lightly floured counter, divide in half, and lightly roll each half into ball. Working with 1 dough ball at a time, roll and shape dough into 9 1/2-inch round and press into oiled pan. Cover with plastic wrap and set in warm spot (not in oven) until puffy and slightly risen, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, heat oven to 400 degrees.
4. While dough rises, put half of pepperoni in single layer on microwave-safe plate lined with 2 paper towels. Cover with 2 more paper towels and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Discard towels and set pepperoni aside; repeat with new paper towels and remaining pepperoni.
5. Remove plastic wrap from dough. Ladle 2/3 cup sauce on each round, leaving 1/2-inch border around edges. Sprinkle each with 1 1/2 cups cheese and top with pepperoni. Bake until cheese is melted and pepperoni is browning around edges, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven; let pizzas rest in pans for 1 minute. Using spatula, transfer pizzas to cutting board and cut each into 8 wedges. Serve.

(America's Test Kitchen recipe)

This recipe is baked in cake pans with oil on the bottom, and that gives the crust a crispy, almost fried, texture on the bottom similar to Pizza Hut's pan pizza. I only put about 1 T oil on the bottom and I still get a great result. The best thing to cut the grease is to render your pepperoni before topping the pizza (see #4 above). It's the best idea ever!

2 comments:

Mindy said...

Emy, have I'm curious to know if you've tried this with whole wheat. Any luck? Sounds good!

Emily said...

I haven't tried it with whole wheat. Let me know how it goes if you do!