Best Sicilian Pizza Recipes

SICILIAN PIZZA SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir until just starting to turn golden, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in tomato puree, water, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
• Bring tomato sauce to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until flavors blend, about 30 minutes.

SICILIAN PIZZA

Steps:

• Make the dough: Whisk the flour, sugar, salt and the yeast in a medium bowl. Pour the warm water into a large bowl, then add the flour mixture and stir until combined. Stir in 2 tablespoons olive oil to make a very sticky dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead, dusting with more flour as needed, until the dough comes together and no longer sticks to your fingers, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a lightly oiled large bowl and turn to coat. Tightly cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Coat an 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet with 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add the dough and stretch it to fit the baking sheet. Brush with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until puffy, about 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Make the sauce: Combine the tomatoes and their juices and the salt in a medium bowl and crush well with your hands or a potato masher. Uncover the dough and sprinkle with salt. Gently place the baking sheet in the oven (the dough might deflate if it is knocked). Bake until golden, about 20 minutes. Remove the crust from the oven, top with the sliced mozzarella and cover with 2 cups of the crushed tomatoes. Bake until the cheese is bubbling through the sauce and starts browning, 15 to 20 more minutes.
• Let the pizza stand 10 minutes, then remove from the pan using a spatula and transfer to a cutting board. Let cool 1 to 2 minutes before slicing.

SICILIAN PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Coat a large bowl with teaspoon of olive oil and set aside.
• Stir first three ingredients together and let sit for 10 minutes, until nice and foamy.
• Place three cups of flour in large bowl and mix in salt.
• Place one cup of flour on work surface.
• Mix pour olive oil into yeast mixture and then pour yeast mixture into bowl with flour.
• Stir until as combined as possible.
• Turn out onto floured surface.
• With well floured hands, knead dough to work in the cup of flour on the board.
• Continue kneading until nice, smooth dough-ball is formed.
• Place in oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, then kitchen towel and let sit for 30 minutes.
• Dough should double (at least).
• Use half the dough to form a pizza crust, crimp the edges, brush edges with olive oil and top as desired.
• Bake on pizza stone or ceramic tile at 425 F for approx 15 minutes.

SICILIAN PIZZA DOUGH - NOBLE ROMAN'S COPYCAT

Steps:

• Place all ingredients into breadmaker in the order listed.
• Allow breadmaker to knead and let rise slightly before removing, approximately 20 to 25 minutes.
• ***Don't forget to remove the dough before the bake cycle starts.***.
• Remove the dough and place it on a lightly floured cutting board and cover with a clean moist towel to rise an additional 30 minutes or so before forming on the pizza tray.
• NOTES: Noble Roman's Sicilian Pizza Baking Tips (from someone who used to work at Noble Roman's).
• To really bring out the flavor of the Noble Roman's Sicilian Pizza you should prepare a cake pan as follows:.
• Warning: Make sure you keep good airflow through the kitchen & turn on the overhead fan as this will smoke like the Dickens. The pan should be retained only for this use.
• Paint the inside of the cake pan with a thin coat of virgin olive oil.
• Bake the pan at 450 degrees until the oil has varnished the pan. Additional coats may be necessary. Before placing your dough in the pan paint it again with virgin olive oil.
• Place the dough in the pan and let the dough rise once.
• After the dough has risen, push the dough down working it to the pan edges.
• The cheeses used are 2/3 mozzarella and 1/3 muenster plus a dash of oregano.
• Put the cheese directly onto the dough. Add desired toppings. Then ladle the sauce in dots on the top ensuring the sauce does not contact the edges of the pan (or it will burn). The olive oil is what really lends the unique flavor.
• Noble Roman's bakes them for 15-20 minutes at 500 degrees or until the cheese is golden.
• At 450 degrees bake you may have to add 5-10 minutes.

SICILIAN PIZZA SAUCE - NOBLE ROMAN COPYCAT

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Add onion, basil and oregano; cook until onion softens slightly, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes.
• Mix in garlic and cook 2 minutes.
• Add tomato paste and cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add tomatoes and bring to a simmer; cook until sauce is of desired thickness.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• NOTE: Sauce can be prepared ahead. Cover and refrigerate 1 week or freeze up to 1 month.

SICILIAN PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• Combine warm water and yeast in a small bowl; stir until yeast is dissolved. Let stand until yeast forms a creamy foam, about 10 minutes.
• Pour yeast mixture into a large bowl; add shortening, salt, sugar, and Italian seasoning. Stir in flour by hand until dough comes together.
• Turn dough out on a floured work surface and knead until smooth, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a large greased bowl. Cover with a moist towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
• Punch dough down gently. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes for air to release. Roll into a ball; spread and stretch over the bottom of a pizza pan. Let rise for 15 minutes before topping and baking.

PIZZA RUSTICA (A SICILIAN SAUSAGE AND PROSCIUTTO PIE)

Steps:

• Place a piece of cheesecloth into a strainer, and place the ricotta cheese into the cheesecloth. Set a bowl underneath the strainer to catch drips, and refrigerate 8 hours, or overnight, to allow moisture to drip from ricotta.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place sausage into a large skillet over medium heat, and cook and stir until browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes. Drain excess grease, and allow sausage to cool.
• Place the drained ricotta cheese into a large bowl, and stir in 5 beaten eggs and mozzarella cheese until well mixed. Mix in the cooked sausage, Parmesan cheese, parsley, prosciutto, and black pepper until thoroughly combined.
• Divide the pizza dough into fourths, and roll out 2 of the pieces into 12-inch circles. Fit the circles into 2 10-inch pie plates, leaving 1 inch of dough hanging over the edge. Divide the filling between the 2 pies. Roll out 2 top crusts, place onto the pies, and fold the edges of the bottom crusts over the edges of the top crusts to seal. Crimp and flute the edges of the pie crusts.
• Beat 1 egg with water in a small bowl, and brush the egg wash over the tops and edges of both pies. Cut several slits into the top crusts to vent steam.
• Bake pies in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, then lower oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Continue to bake until the crust is browned and the filling is hot, 45 to 50 more minutes. Serve at room temperature.

SICILIAN-STYLE PIZZA DOUGH (BREAD MACHINE)

Steps:

• Place all ingredients into the bread machine in the order listed or as suggested by manufacturer. Set the bread machine to the "dough" setting.
• After dough cycle is complete, remove dough from the bread machine and place it on a lightly floured cutting board (dough will be very sticky). Cover with a piece of saran wrap that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Allow to rise for 30 minutes.
• Punch down dough and form crust on baking sheets, pizza pans, or pizza stone. Top with your favorite sauce, cheese and toppings. For thick crust pizza, allow dough to rise for 10 minutes before adding sauce and toppings.
• Bake at 425 degrees for approximately 20-25 minutes.

SICILIAN CHRISTMAS PIZZA (SFINCIONE)

Steps:

• Pour warm water into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Sprinkle yeast on top and let bloom. Add salt, sugar, olive oil, and flour. Knead, scraping down sides as necessary, until dough is very elastic and sticky, 6 to 7 minutes. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 90 minutes.
• Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and salt. Saute, stirring occasionally, until onions soften, sweeten, and turn translucent, 6 or 7 minutes. Add red pepper flakes, black pepper, tomato paste, oregano, and anchovies; mix until anchovies dissolve. Add marinara sauce, rinse out the container with water, and add the water. Stir and let simmer on medium-low heat until flavors come together, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Combine bread crumbs and Pecorino Romano cheese in a bowl; toss together with a fork. Add the reserved anchovy oil and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Mix until bread crumbs are well moistened.
• Generously coat a rimmed 13x18-inch sheet pan with up to 3 tablespoons olive oil. Oil your hands and turn dough out onto pan. Pull, stretch, and press it to the sides of the pan, pausing to let dough rest whenever it shrinks back too quickly.
• Spoon sauce over the dough and spread up to about 1/2 inch from the edges. Add mozzarella and provolone cheeses. Sprinkle bread crumb mixture evenly on top; do not press down. Drizzle remaining olive oil on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until pizza is well browned is bottom is cooked, about 35 minutes. Bake for as as long as you can without the crumbs on top burning so that the crust cooks as much as possible.
• Slide pizza onto a cooling rack to prevent the bottom from getting soggy. Transfer to a cutting board once cooled.

FABRIZIA LANZA'S SICILIAN PIZZA (SFINCIONE)

Steps:

• Make the dough: In a mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, put 1 cup lukewarm water and yeast. Add semolina and stir to make a thin paste. Let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes, until bubbly.
• Add flour, salt and olive oil, and mix until dough becomes a rough mass. Knead dough until smooth, about 5 minutes. Dust with flour as needed, but don't add much: This is meant to be a soft dough. Put kneaded dough in a resealable plastic bag or a bowl covered with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably longer, up to 24 hours.
• Make the sauce: Put 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water, and raise heat to high. Simmer briskly until all the water has evaporated and onions are soft. Add tomato purée and bring to a simmer, then turn off heat. Season with salt and pepper, and add red pepper to taste. Allow mixture to cool, then stir in bread crumbs, grated cheese and anchovies. Let mixture rest for 5 minutes, then taste and adjust seasoning.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Drizzle olive oil to coat the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet. Remove dough from refrigerator and press down to deflate. Using a rolling pin, flatten dough to a small rectangle.
• Transfer dough to oiled baking sheet, and, using the palms of your hands, stretch dough to the edges. If dough is rebellious and resists, let it rest for a few minutes, then stretch again. (It may take 2 or 3 attempts.) Cover dough loosely with plastic wrap or a damp tea towel, and set in a warm place to rise. After 30 minutes or so, dough should have doubled in thickness.
• Spoon the topping evenly over the dough, then use a spatula or the back of the spoon to spread the topping smoothly over entire surface, leaving a half-inch border. Drizzle surface with 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes on the oven's middle shelf, until nicely browned. Check the underside to make sure it is crisp, and bake for a few more minutes if necessary. (Tent top with foil if top has browned too quickly.)
• Remove from pan to a cutting board. Sprinkle with a little salt and a large pinch of oregano. Cut into 8 square slices. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SICILIAN PIZZA WITH SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Drizzle the olive oil in a 10-by-15-inch baking dish or on a rimmed baking sheet. Place the balls of dough side by side in the baking dish and pinch the edges together to make one large piece of dough. Press and stretch the dough so it fills the dish. (If using a baking sheet, press and stretch the dough into a 10-by-15-inch rectangle.) Spread the crushed tomatoes over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. Top with the red pepper flakes, cheese, sausage and green pepper. Bake the pizza until the crust is golden brown and the sausage is fully cooked, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly, then cut into squares.

SICILIAN PIZZA (SFINCIONE)

Steps:

• First, make the dough. Mix the yeast and sugar with the warm water. Place the flour and salt in a mixer with a dough hook, or in a bowl, make a well in the middle and pour in the liquid and oil. Mix by hand for 10 mins or 5 mins in the mixer, until dough is silky. Tip into a well-oiled bowl, cover with a cloth and place somewhere warm for about 40 mins or until doubled in size.
• Tip the dough onto a work surface and knead for 2 mins, knocking out any air pockets. The dough should be soft but not too elastic.
• Dust a 25 x 16cm baking tray with a little flour and place the dough in the centre. Using the palms of your hands and tips of your fingers, push the dough to the edges of the tray. Leave it for 30 mins to rise. While the dough is rising, fry the sausage in a dry pan until crumbly.
• Heat oven to 230C/210C fan/gas 8. Spread the tomato sauce over the base, followed by the sausage, ricotta, provolone and dried breadcrumbs. Finally, drizzle with olive oil. Put in the oven for 5 mins, then turn down the heat and cook at 200C/180C fan/gas 6 for 20-25 mins, until golden brown. Leave to cool slightly, then cut into 6 chunks and serve.

SICILIAN CHRISTMAS PIZZA (SFINCIONE)

Steps:

• .1. Combine all of the crust ingredients and mix and knead to make a smooth, soft dough, using a stand mixer, bread machine, or your hands. 2. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and allow it to rise until puffy about 90 minutes. 3. While the dough rises get your toppings ready. Fry the onions in a large skillet over medium heat with a few tablespoons of olive oil, sugar, and season with salt and pepper. Stir every five minutes until browned, about 25-30 minutes. 4. Add in the tomatoes, anchovies and a teaspoon of oregano, simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off heat and allow to cool. 5. Stir together the bread crumbs, oil and oregano, set aside. 6. Spray a large rimmed baking sheet (a 13″ x 18″ half sheet pan) with non-stick spray. Drizzle it with olive oil, tilting the pan so the oil spreads out a bit. 7. Gently deflate the risen dough, and stretch it into an oval in your hands. Put it on the baking sheet and gently knead and stretch it out to fit the pan. If you have a hard time stretching it leave it alone for five minutes and try again. 8. Cover the dough, and let it rise again for about 90 minutes. 9. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Uncover the dough and sprinkle the mozzarella evenly over top, then spread the tomato/onion sauce over top, sprinkle with Parmesan, then the bread crumbs. 10. Bake the pizza for 35 minutes, or until the crust and crumbs are brown. Remove from the oven and let set for 5 minutes before slicing. To keep the crust crispy cut pizza in half or in quarters and place on a wire cooling rack. Slices can be cut with kitchen shears. Serve hot or cold. I

OLD CHICAGO SICILIAN PIZZA ROLLS

Steps:

• Unroll pizza dough.
• Spread ranch dressing over dough.
• Spread pepperoni, green onions and cheese over ranch.
• Roll up tightly and slice into rolls.
• Place on cookie sheet and bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.

SICILIAN STUFFED PIZZA WITH RICOTTA AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Turn oven to 450 degrees and put a pizza stone on the middle shelf to heat for 20 to 30 minutes. (Alternatively, use a heavy-duty baking sheet.)
• Sprinkle a clean work surface lightly with semolina. Place the pizza dough on top and push down with your hands, flattening it. Dust lightly with semolina, if it seems sticky. Press down and outward with fingers to a diameter of about 8 inches. (You may use a rolling pin if you prefer.)
• Sprinkle more semolina beneath the dough so it will easily slide as you begin to stretch it in all directions to a diameter of about 10 inches.
• To transfer the dough to the oven, slide a pizza peel (or something similar, like the steel, rimless bottom of a tart pan or a stiff piece of cardboard) under the dough. There should be sufficient semolina on the bottom of the dough to keep it from stickling to the peel.
• Transport the dough to the oven and quickly slip it from the peel onto the pizza stone. In a few minutes it will begin to puff. Let it bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until nicely browned and well puffed. Remove from oven and place on a cutting board.
• Use a knife to cut all the way around at the edge, separating the top half from the bottom. Add the fillings: Spoon the ricotta in blobs to cover the surface, then smooth briefly. Drizzle ricotta with 3 tablespoons olive oil and arrange randomly the anchovy, pepper strips and basil. Season lightly with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper to taste.
• Cover everything with pecorino and arugula and put the top back on the pie. Use a large knife to cut the pie in half, then in wedges of what ever size you with. Serve immediately.

SICILIAN TUNA & BASIL PIZZA

Steps:

• Mix together the tomatoes, tomato paste and garlic and season well with salt and pepper. Spread thinly over the pizza base.
• Place the tuna, basil and capsicum on top.
• Sprinkle the cheese over the pizza.
• Bake in a hot oven (230°C) for 10 minutes until the cheese has melted.

SICILIAN DEEP DISH EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PIZZA

Steps:

• Dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water in a bowl; let stand 5 minutes.
• Lightly spoon 2 3/4 cups flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife.
• Add flour, oil and salt to yeast mixture, stirring to form a soft dough.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
• Knead until smooth and elastic (about 5 minutes).
• Add enough of remaining flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands.
• Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top.
• Cover and let rise in a warm place free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.
• Punch dough down; divide dough in half.
• Roll each half of dough into a 11 inch circle on a lightly floured surface.
• Place the prepared pizza dough into 2 9-inch cake pans that are lightly greased and sprinkled with cornmeal.
• Press dough up the sides of the pan.
• Cover and let rise until puffy-- about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Combine eggplant and next 3 ingredients.
• Place eggplant mixture on a jelly roll pan, spreading evenly.
• Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes, or until tender.
• Remove eggplant from oven and increase oven temperature to 400°F.
• Combine eggplant mixture, artichokes and next 6 ingredients, dividing it equally between the pizza crusts.
• Top with cheese.
• Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes or until crusts are lightly browned.

GRILLED SICILIAN PIZZA

Steps:

• Top pizza crust with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and olives.
• Drizzle oil over all.
• Fold a 24x18-inch piece of heavy foil in half lengthwise.
• Place pizza on foil, turning edges of foil up to edge of pizza.
• In a grill (with a cover), arrange preheated coals around a drip pan for indirect grilling.
• Test for medium heat above pan.
• Place pizza on the grill rack over the drip pan.
• Cover and grill about 8 minutes or until pizza is heated through, topping with escarole the last 2 minutes of grilling.
• To serve, sprinkle Parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper over pizza.

MEATBALL PIZZA, SICILIAN-STYLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• For the pizza: Grease the bottom of a 13-by-9-inch rimmed baking sheet with the oil. Use your fingers to spread and stretch the dough super thin to fill the baking sheet. Cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature until the dough is slightly puffed, about 1 hour.
• For the roasted pepper honey: Place the pepper over an open flame over high heat. Roast, using tongs to turn on all sides, until completely black, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer the pepper to a paper bag (or to a large bowl covered with plastic), fold the bag closed and steam, about 10 minutes. Transfer the pepper to a cutting board, cut in half and scrape out and discard the seeds. Turn the pepper over and use a kitchen towel to wipe the charred skin from the outside (do not rinse). Add the pepper, honey, oil, crushed red pepper flakes if using and salt to taste to a blender and blend until smooth. Set aside or keep in a glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. Makes about 1 cup.
• Gently spread the tomato sauce on top of the dough, then top with the mozzarella. Break the meatballs into small pieces and layer on top of the pizza. Sprinkle with half the basil and drizzle with olive oil. Top with half the pecorino and the oregano.
• Bake until crisped and browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place it on the stove over medium heat to gently fry the bottom of the pizza until crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining basil and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon of the roasted pepper honey and additional olive oil. Sprinkle with the remaining pecorino, slice the hot pizza and serve immediately.
• Combine the bread, milk and pepper to taste in a large bowl and mix with your hands until a paste forms. Add the beef, pork, veal, pecorino, garlic, egg, parsley and a pinch each salt and pepper, then use your hands to gently combine.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Scoop about six 1-inch chunks of the meatball mixture into the skillet and cook, turning occasionally, until all sides are browned, 6 to 7 minutes total. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the meatballs to a kitchen towel or plate and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Repeat with the remaining oil and meatball mixture or freeze: Arrange the remaining uncooked meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer the frozen uncooked meatballs to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container and store up to 2 months. Makes 20 meatballs.

SICILIAN PIZZA CAKE

Steps:

• Coat the bottom and sides of an 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Prepare the cake mixes as directed; spread in the baking sheet, filling it about three-quarters of the way (you will have leftover batter).
• Bake the cake at 350 degrees F until a toothpick comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool in the pan, then scrape off the top of the cake with a fork, leaving a border for the crust.
• Cut the fruit leather into 1 1/2-inch circles using a cookie cutter or kitchen shears and set aside. (If the strips are too narrow, roll them out slightly with a rolling pin before cutting.)
• Grate about 2 tablespoons of white chocolate into a bowl and set aside. Chop the remaining white chocolate.
• Microwave the chopped white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring, until smooth.
• Mix the preserves with 2 tablespoons of the melted white chocolate in another bowl ¿ this will make the sauce more opaque.
• Spread the strawberry sauce on the cake, inside the border.
• Top with spoonfuls of the remaining melted white chocolate, spreading each slightly with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle with the grated white chocolate.
• Use a kitchen torch to toast the melted white chocolate and the edges of the cake. Top with the fruit-leather circles.