Il Cucinologo
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Crispy Fried Pizza

17/11/2023

Fried pizza is a classic of Neapolitan street food, a rustic and flavorful dish that is prepared relatively quickly compared to oven-baked pizza. Here is a basic recipe for crispy fried pizza:

Ingredients

  • 500 g of 00 flour
  • 300 ml of lukewarm water
  • 12 g of fresh brewer’s yeast or 4 g of dry brewer’s yeast
  • 10 g of salt
  • Oil for frying (seed oil or extra virgin olive oil for a more characteristic flavor)

For the classic filling:

  • 200 g of ricotta
  • 100 g of smoked provola or mozzarella, cut into cubes
  • 50 g of Neapolitan salami or another type of cured meat to taste, cut into cubes
  • Tomato sauce
  • Fresh basil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water. In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt, then add the water with the yeast little by little, kneading until you obtain a homogeneous and slightly sticky mixture.

  2. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and work it for about 10 minutes. Form a ball, cover it with a cloth and let it rest in a warm place for about 2 hours or until it doubles in volume.

  3. Divide the risen dough into balls of about 80-100 grams each.

  4. Roll out the balls into discs that are not too thin, leaving the edges slightly thicker. Distribute a little ricotta, provola, salami, tomato sauce, basil, salt and pepper in the center of each disc.

  5. Fold the dough disc in half, sealing the edges well to prevent them from opening during frying.

  6. Heat plenty of oil in a high-sided pan. Fry the pizzas until golden and puffed on both sides, turning them only once to prevent them from deflating.

  7. Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.

  8. Serve hot.

Trivia

It is said that fried pizza was one of the responses to the scarcity of ovens suitable for cooking traditional pizza during the Second World War in Naples. Furthermore, fried pizza is characterized by its versatility, being able to be filled with the most varied ingredients, according to personal tastes or family tradition.

If you wish to accompany this dish with a wine, I would recommend a sparkling white wine or a light rosé to contrast the richness of the dish with a note of freshness.