Thursday, May 15, 2014

Create Your Own Version Of An Authentic Neapolitan Pizza

By Arline Bradley


People regard food not only as a basic necessity, but also a source of pleasure. Most people love to eat, and even try different cuisine to satisfy cravings. All time favorites include hamburgers, french fries, chicken, donuts and pizza.

According to a recent survey, Americans were asked to list down their favorite foods. Topping the list are hamburgers, hotdogs, sandwich cookies, doughnuts, french fries, and pizza, especially authentic neapolitan pizza.

This is the original type of Italian pizza. It uses very simple ingredients such as basic dough, raw tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil, and mozzarella cheese. It does not have any fancy toppings which makes it quite hard to perfect.

Here is a recipe on how to make your own version. Go on and gather all the necessary materials and start working. With patience and perseverance, you will also be able to produce a pizza that tastes like it was especially flown in from Italy.

The secret to a delicious recipe lies in the dough. You do not need to use too many ingredients. You only need to prepare water, yeast, salt and flour. To make, you must first dissolve about 16 grams of fine sea salt in one third liter of water. Once the salt has melted, you add first about 15 percent of the entire flour you are planning to use. Add the yeast and dissolve it in the slightly watery mixture. Then, little by little, add the rest of the flour until you are ready to knead it.

To knead, you will not need a rolling pin, just your hands. Using only two fingers on each hand, massage the dough for ten minutes or so. Then, blanket the mixture with a damp cloth. Let it sit for about two hours, then divide into smaller divisions, then let sit again for six hours, more or less. Do not put the dough in the fridge. Use only two fingers to shape the crust.

For the sauce, it is important that you only use fresh ingredients. Use fresh ripe tomatoes with olive oil and basil. Let all these ingredients pass through a food mill and season with salt and pepper to taste. Put an even amount of this sauce on top of the dough and some mozzarella cheese and garnishing of basil. Remember to leave a border the size of an inch all around the edge.

Put a pizza stone in an oven. Preheat it at the hottest setting possible before putting the food in. Cook at four hundred fifty degrees in ninety seconds, or when cheese has already melted. You can also cook it for longer if you want a toasty crust.

An authentic taste does not take overnight to perfect. To get that Italian flavor, you may have to try and try again until you get it right. If, after many tries, you feel that you still have not got it right, do not despair. You can always buy flavorful ones at pizzerias in Toronto, ON and no one will be able to know any better.




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