Topping a thick-crust pizza with bread crumbs might sound like a strange idea, but it really is the crispy, cheesy secret sauce behind this Sicilian Christmas Pizza. Well, that and the actual sauce of onion and anchovies--ingredients you might want to keep secret from guests. Also key is the extremely sticky dough, which bakes into a feather-light, spongy crust that contrasts perfectly with the crumbly topping. Garnish with the customary dried oregano if desired.
Provided by Chef John
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 3h
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 21
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 443.5 calories, Carbohydrate 50.5 g, Cholesterol 22.9 mg, Fat 20.1 g, Fiber 3.2 g, Protein 14.7 g, SaturatedFat 5.8 g, Sodium 780.2 mg, Sugar 5.1 g
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Margret Munywoki
margret-munywoki@gmail.comI can't wait to make this recipe again!
Xenith N.K
x_n@aol.comThis is the best sfincione recipe I've ever tried.
Vincent Hurtado
vincent62@gmail.comI made this recipe in a cast iron skillet and it turned out perfectly.
Chad Smith
c_smith13@yahoo.comI added some roasted red peppers to my sfincione and it was delicious.
Md. Naim Ahmed
ahmed.m57@hotmail.frThis recipe is a great way to use up leftover Christmas ham.
Orestis Ef
ef96@hotmail.comI love the festive green color of this pizza. It's perfect for Christmas.
Mian Mudassir
m_mudassir31@yahoo.comThis was a great recipe for a crowd. I made it for a party of 20 people and there was plenty of pizza to go around.
Chudhary Hamza
chudharyh60@hotmail.frI made this recipe for my Italian grandmother and she loved it. She said it reminded her of the sfincione she used to eat when she was a child.
Mustafa Kamal
m_kamal52@aol.comThis recipe was a bit time-consuming to make, but it was worth it. The pizza was absolutely delicious.
sadeesha pro
sadeesha-pro@hotmail.comI was a little hesitant to try this recipe because I'm not a fan of anchovies, but I'm so glad I did. The anchovies added a delicious salty flavor to the pizza.
Jenny Pagadian
pagadian53@yahoo.comThis was the perfect dish for my Christmas dinner. It was easy to make and everyone loved it. I will definitely be making this again next year.
Pain Wala
wala.pain@hotmail.comI'm not usually a fan of pizza, but this recipe changed my mind. The sfincione was so light and fluffy, and the toppings were perfectly balanced.
Dipak Jyoti
d.j49@yahoo.comThis was a great recipe. I made it for my Christmas party and everyone loved it. The pizza was so flavorful and festive.
Tiaan Raats
tiaan-r23@yahoo.comMy family loved this recipe! The pizza was crispy and flavorful, and the toppings were delicious. I will definitely be making this again.