Wood-Fired Pizza
You can make up the dough within a few hours, or let it bulk ferment for several days, which makes the texture and flavour fantastic.
Makes about 18 7” pizzas
7 cups unbleached flour
1 ½ tbsp kosher salt
1 tbsp active dry yeast
3 cups lukewarm water
Measure 4 cups of flour into a large mixer bowl. Add the salt. Dissolve the yeast in 1 cup of the lukewarm water and add it to the bowl along with the remaining 2 cups of water. Stir well with a wooden spoon. Add 2 more cups of flour and stir to a stiff mass. Clean off the wooden spoon and insert the dough hook into the stand mixer; knead on low speed for about 10 minutes, adding in the additional cup of flour to make a soft dough. (Alternatively, knead the dough by hand.)
Grease a large bowl with olive oil, transfer the dough to the bowl and coat it with the oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let proof on the counter at room temperature for 2 days (or if you need the dough right away, let it double in bulk for about 1 ½ hours, then proceed with make the pizza). During the first few hours, place your hand along the edge of the dough, grab a piece and pull it up and fold the dough over onto itself. Turn the bowl a quarter turn and repeat, turning the bowl a total of four times. Cover and let rest. Do this procedure four times over the next 2-3 hours. Then leave the dough to sit at room temperature, covered with plastic wrap. After 2 days, refrigerate the dough for a further 24 hours. Remove the dough from the fridge about 2 hours before using.
About 2 hours before you are ready to make the pizza, start the wood oven with kindling and logs. Let burn until some good embers build up and the oven is 800-900°F. This will take about 60-90 minutes. Use an instant thermometer to gauge the temp. The dark soot will have burned off the inside roof of the oven as well. Push the coals to the back of the oven. Clean the base of the oven with a wet towel. Do this several times. Then let the base come back up to temperature while you make the pizza.
To make the pizza, cut off a piece of dough about the size of a tennis ball. Using your fingers, work the dough to a thin pizza bottom. You can also use a rolling pin. The dough might become round or oval, it doesn’t matter because it will be fantastic regardless. Transfer the dough to a cornmeal-coated pizza peel. *Do this before you top the pizza.* Jiggle the pizza back and forth to make sure it is not sticking. Then proceed.
Smear with about 2 heaping tbsp fresh tomato sauce and top with cheese and other toppings (sliced artichoke hearts, roasted red pepper strips, sautéed mushrooms, fresh mozzarella cheese, for example). Don’t overload the pizza too much or it may stick to the peel or you will lose the toppings when you put the pizza into the oven.
Then, using a quick shaking motion, quickly transfer the pizza to the bricks. With the heat this high, it will take about 90 seconds to 2 minutes to cook the pizza. The dough will puff up and become soft yet sturdy. Turn the pizza often using a paddle. Remove from the oven to a cutting board. Let cool slightly. Cut and enjoy. Repeat with more pizzas.
Fresh Uncooked Tomato Sauce
796 mL can diced tomatoes
1 fresh tomato
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup fresh chopped basil
3-4 cloves crushed garlic
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
¼ tsp chili flakes, optional
Combine all in a bowl and stir. Taste and adjust seasonings.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.