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Umm….so yeah. There is pizza, and then there is this pizza.
I am well aware that it is not your typical everyday pizza, but apparently it’s pretty traditional in Italy.
Ok, and New York. Any New Yorker’s out there ever had The Montanara Pizza?
So, do you remember back in the summer when I made the Mozzarella in Carrozza? and I was telling you guys about that old Italian cookbook my dad got me? Well, this is another recipe idea from that book. It’s not the same recipe, but it’s the same idea, a classic fried Italian pizza.
I am not really sure what’s it is called, because in my cookbook half of the recipes are in Italian, but after a little research online I discovered that a fried pizza is commonly referred to as The Montanara Pizza and according to the New York Times, they are pretty popular in NYC now.
So there’s the background behind this recipe. Super fun stuff, right? Yeah.
Here’s the deal, this pizza is basically a Margarita pizza, but fried and made more consumer friendly – and winter friendly, by using canned san marzano tomatoes.
I used my favorite dough recipe, but this time, I let the dough rise overnight to allow it to develop flavor. Apparently, this is customary in Italy, so I went with it. For the sauce, I stayed pretty traditional, but at the same time, did my own thing, because I just can’t help myself.
And FYI, the sauce is soo good. It’s loaded with garlic, basil and maybe a little butter too. Whaat? Yes.
And oh my gosh? For the toppings, it’s really just some smoked mozzarella and basil. Crazy simple, but it is all you need. If you have some pine nuts, I’d add those too, but other than that, it’s all about the cheese.
Fried crust, melted cheese and fresh basil. Seriously.
Oh, and I figured that if there was ever a time to post a fried pizza, it’d be now, just days before the Super Bowl, when fried food is 100% acceptable.
I feel like I should also explain that we are only frying the dough here. See, you just take one ball of dough and flatten it out into a circle. Fry the circle of dough for about one minute per side and remove from the oil. Then top the fried dough with sauce, cheese and basil, place on a super hot pizza stone, and then under the broiler it goes for about two minutes or until the cheese is all melted and bubbly. And then of course – you eat it!!
Heck yes.
If you do not have a pizza stone, you can just use a 10-12 inch cast iron skillet or a baking sheet, but use the stone if you have it (and then the skillet and then if you don’t have either of those, the baking sheet).
Ok, and now I am done. Are you ready for the best pizza ever?
The Montanara Pizza (Classic Fried Italian Pizza).
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 2 ounce cans san marzano tomatoes, 28
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- salt, to taste
- 1 parmesan cheese rind
- 16 ounces smoked mozzarella cheese, sliced
- pecorino romano cheese, grated
- 1 bunch fresh basil
- 1 in recipe [pizza dough | https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/whipped-feta-and-roasted-jalapeno-greek-pizza/], preferably left to rise the fridge overnight.
Instructions
- If possible, prepare your pizza dough the night before and allow it to rise in the fridge overnight.
- Heat a medium to large soup pot over medium-low heat. Add the olive oil, butter, garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Slowly cook the garlic in the oil/butter for about 10-20 minutes, but be very careful not to burn the garlic. You want the garlic to be fragrant and lightly caramelized. Now carefully add the tomatoes, crushing them with your hand as you add them. Add the tomato paste, dried basil, oregano, a good pinch salt and the parmesan rind. Bring the sauce to a low boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer, with the lid off for about 1 hour or as long as you can. If you are going to go longer than an hour, keep the lid on. You can make the sauce three to four days in advance. The longer it simmers and sits, the better.
- To prepare the pizzas, Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
- Place a pizza stone under the broiler (or large pan) and heat it for 30 minutes. Pour enough canola oil into an 8 quart pot to go 2 inches up the sides of the pot. Heat until a deep-fry thermometer reads 350 degrees F. Divide the dough into four balls. Dust each ball of dough with semolina. Using your fingertips, press the dough into a 8-10 inch circle, it does not need to be perfect. Using a fork, poke holes all over the dough; gently lower the dough into the hot oil. Fry, flipping once, until golden and puffed, 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a pizza peel or clean surface. Repeat with the remaining dough. Spread each pizza with as much sauce as desired. Distribute a quarter of each of the cheeses and basil leaves over each piece of dough. Drizzle the pizzas with a little olive oil. Slide pizza, one at a time, onto stone. Turn the oven to broil and broil until cheese melts, about 1-1½ minutes. Serve hot with fresh pecorino, basil and pine nuts.
- *Heavily adapted from [Saveur | http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Montanara-Starita-Fried-Pizza-with-Marinara-Sauce].
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
GOOD. Lets make it already!
Wait just a second….HOLY GAUCAMOLE! You can fry pizza?!?! What stroke of utter brilliance is this and why have I never eaten it? Tieghan, you did it AGAIN!
I know! I kind of thought the very same thing!
Thanks!
This is really interesting, because while I’ve never heard of a fully fried pizza like this, it is slightly similar to a pizza oven pizza at home technique I’ve been experimenting with recently from the Pizza Pilgrims’ book (they’re London’s most famous pizza joints & street food, we have the same agent!) http://www.amazon.com/Pizza-Pilgrims-Recipes-Backstreets-Italy-ebook/dp/B00ALKTW1C/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422456940&sr=1-1&keywords=pizza+pilgrims&pebp=1422456942520&peasin=B00ALKTW1C
For that, you cook the round of dough in a dry, blistering hot pan while you put the toppings on so the base gets nice and crisp and puffs up, then you blast the top under a very hot grill the same as yours. I love the method, though I’m not happy with the dough recipe I’m using with it, yet.
That sounds a lot like a cast iron skillet pizza method, it;s delicious!! Oh and I am so buying that book, it look awesome!!
This looks like the dough at our local Catholic School carnivals. We would have it fried with pizza sauce or sprinkled with powdered sugar. yummy!!
Oh yum! Thanks Karen!
These look fantastic Tieghan, perfect for the weekend coming up. Love the recipe for the sauce – it’s on my ‘to make’ list. Pinning!
Thanks so much, Kathy! Hope you get to make the pizza! 🙂
This looks fabulous! My husband is italian and they call fried pizza dough “Pizza Fritta”
What a fun name! 🙂
Ok, this has got to be THE best looking homemade pizza crust I have EVER seen! Seriously. I am now going to let my dough rise overnight because obviously I have been missing out on a huge trade secret! Gorgeous photos, too!
Thanks so much! Leaving the dough overnight adds so much flavor, you will love it!!
My mouth is already watering. Seriously, could it be a better combo? Garlic, basil, melted cheese, FRIED crust and melted butter?! This is calling my name already…
Thanks Crissy!! 🙂
Happy almost Friday!
omgosh… making pizza dough in 5 minutes… dinner tonite? THIS PIZZA!
Thanks Janet! Hope you love this!
It’s so easy! It’s so beautiful! I’m sure this is amazing and I can’t wait to try it! Got my pizza stone out of the cabinet already. xxoo
Yeah! Thanks Terri!!
SMOKED MOZZARELLA is a thing!?!? I NEED that in my face, and ALL over my face.
I am all about a simple ‘za. and this sounds like it needs to get into my belly! Pinned!
OMG yes!!! And it is so good! 🙂
Looks like something im gonna be eating this week! Looking good, looking good that sauce must be really tasty.
Thank you!
I think I found what I want for dinner! 🙂
Thanks!
Oh my! I think I have died and gone to pizza heaven. Can pizza get any better? I’ve never fried my pizza dough but this is convincing me that I have been committing a pizza making crime all these years. Fire up the fryer honey!
Thanks Lynn!
Holy yum this looks so good and would last about 10 secs in our house.
Thank you!
Wonderful pictures!
Every Friday I think I should have a pizza because I made it through another work week. I will definitely be having this.
Friday is SO perfect for pizza! 🙂