Pizza With Hot Soppressata, Mozzarella, Chilies, and Honey
- Yield:Makes four 10- to 12-inch pizzas, serving 4
- Active time:45 minutes
- Total time:3 to 4 hours
Honey and soppressata make an unlikely but natural pair on pizza. [Photograph: J. Kenji López-Alt]
Spicy salami and sweet honey are perfect partners on this Neapolitan-style pizza with fresh mozzarella and sliced chilies.
Why It Works
Spicy salami and sweet honey are perfect partners. Read the Whole Story- Sweet and spicy flavors are in perfect balance.
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Neapolitan Pizza Dough or 2 pounds store-bought pizza dough
- 1 (14-ounce) can whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes
- Kosher salt
- 12 ounces fresh mozzarella, torn into rough chunks and drained
- 4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
- 6 to 10 ounces sliced hot soppressata or salami
- 1 small serrano chili, thinly sliced
- 12 to 15 fresh basil leaves
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons honey
Directions
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1.
Divide dough into four equal parts and place each in a covered quart-sized deli container or a zipper-lock freezer bag. Allow to rest at room temperature for at least 2 hours before baking. Transfer tomatoes to a medium bowl and roughly crush by hand. Season to taste with salt and set aside.
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2.
Adjust oven rack to 6 inches under broiler and place stone or steel on rack. Preheat oven to highest possible temperature (500 or 550°F) for at least 45 minutes. Alternatively, use a KettlePizza and Baking Steel grill insert.
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3.
When ready to bake, turn one dough ball out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently press out dough into a rough 8-inch circle, leaving the outer 1 inch higher than the center. Gently stretch dough into a 10- to 12-inch circle, about 1/4 inch thick, by draping over knuckles and gently stretching. Transfer to floured wooden pizza peel.
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4.
Preheat broiler to high. Spread a thin layer of crushed tomatoes over the pizza, leaving the 1-inch border around the edge. Spread 1/4 of mozzarella over pizza, followed by 1/4 of Parmesan, 1/4 of sliced soppressata, 1/4 of chilies, and 1/4 of basil leaves. Sprinkle lightly with salt and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
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5.
Transfer pizza to hot stone or steel and broil, rotating regularly for even cooking, until edges are puffed and lightly charred and bottom is crisp, 3 to 6 minutes total. Retrieve pizza with a metal peel and transfer to a cutting board. Allow to rest 1 minute. Meanwhile, switch oven back to 550°F to reheat stone or steel for remaining pizzas.
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6.
Drizzle pizza with 1 tablespoon honey, slice, and serve.
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7.
Repeat steps 3 through 6 for remaining pizzas.