Italian Pizza Recipes with Dough and Sauce

Good Italian pizza recipes are a love of most of us. I am going to share with you one of my best kept secrets.

You might think I am selfish for keeping this little local pizza restaurant to myself but it was too small to share. Now it has been remodeled and made larger so I am willing to share it! This restaurant has many delicious pizza recipes and other traditional Italian foods.

Sammy’s Italian Restaurant & Pizza is located on Route 200 in Ocala Florida. If you are traveling Route 75, take exit 350 and go West on 200 for 3 miles. It is located in the Jasmine Plaza on the left hand side of the road. It is worth taking a few extra minutes to drive to Sammy’s to experience their delicious food and Italian dessert recipes.

The makers of these delicious Italian pizza recipes share a little history of Sammys with their diners on the menu. He has dedicated himself to Italian food ever since he lived in Italy picking olives as a boy. He was inspired by authentic Italian food. His father brought the family to New York where they lived for twenty four years. Sammy vacationed in Florida with his wife and children. In 1994, after visiting a cousin in Ocala, he decided to open a restaurant. Absolutely the authenticity of Italy is present at Sammy’s and also the hustle of New York is present in the service.

To accompany any of these Italian pizza recipes, there are many salads to order. My favorite is the Greek salad which comes in two sizes. Both sizes are larger than you might think and are nice to share at a table. This is the best Greek salad you can find. Besides lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and onion, it has ham, cheese, feta, stuffed grape leaves, olives, peppers and house dressing. You are not limited to the Greek salad because there is also a garden salad, antipasto, chef salad, chicken strip salad and a tuna salad.

Besides serving wonderful Italian pizza recipes, Sammy’s offer their diners a complete Italian food menu. One of my favorites is their red snapper recipe. The filet is sautéed in a light wine and lemon butter sauce and served with broccoli. More of my favorites are the chicken parmesan and veal parmesan; also chicken Marsala and many of the pasta dishes. These are only a few dinners from their extensive menu.

If none of this is what you are craving, there are also choices of great tasting hot and cold sandwiches. The menu includes meals for children and wonderful Italian desserts like tiramisu, zeppolis and the cannoli recipe.

The following is my pizza dough recipe for my favorite Italian pizza recipes. Traditionally pizza is baked directly on bricks or on tiles to make the crust crispier than it is possible to get it by baking it on metal pans. The oil seems to get trapped and fries the crust producing this crispness. Sometimes I heat my large iron skillet with a little olive oil; when it is hot I (CAREFULLY) place my rolled pizza dough in it. Then I quickly add the other ingredients and get it into the oven to bake. This method also allows the crust to fry making it crisper.

PIZZA DOUGH RECIPE

In a large bowl dissolve 1 package active dry yeast in 2.3 cup warm water (110F degrees). Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in 2 teaspoons sugar, ½ teaspoon salt and 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add 1 1/3 cups flour and mix to blend. Beat until dough is elastic. Stir in another ½ cup flour to make soft dough. Turn dough out onto a floured board and knead until smooth (10 minutes). Placed in a greased bowl, turn dough to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double (40 to 45 minutes).

NOTE: At this point I like to refrigerate the dough for several hours or overnight. I like the end result of the product if it has been refrigerated.

The following is my recipe sauce for good Italian pizza recipes. We all have favorite toppings to make our ideal pizza. If you like sauce on your pizza, the careful blend of adding the ingredients and the simmering to make it thick is what produces that wonderful flavor.

PIZZA SAUCE RECIPE

• 1 Can tomato sauce (15 ounces)
• 1 Can tomato paste (6 ounces)
• 3 Cloves minced garlic
• ¼ Cup minced onion
• 1 Teaspoon minced basil
• 1 Teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 Teaspoon sugar
• 2 Teaspoons olive oil
• ½ Teaspoon salt
• 1/8 Teaspoon black pepper

In a heavy sauce pan heat the oil and sauté’ the garlic, onion and basil. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, salt, pepper and sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover with lid and simmer for 20 minutes. NOTE: try this sauce with the pizza dough recipe for your next Italian pizza at home. Let us know how it turns out.

This marinara sauce recipe is light and great over pasta.

MARINARA SAUCE RECIPE

• 3 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 Small minced onion
• 1 Minced carrot
• 1 Stalk celery, minced
• 3 Cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ Cup minced fresh parsley
• ¼ Cup minced fresh basil
• 6 Cups fresh peeled plum tomatoes, chopped
• ½ Teaspoon sugar
• 1/8 Teaspoon black pepper
• 1 Teaspoon salt

In a large heavy saucepan, heat the oil and sauté’ the onion, celery, carrot, garlic, basil and parsley for about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, sugar, salt and pepper and blend. Bring to a boil, cover with a lid and simmer for 30 minutes.

I hope you enjoy all these Italian recipes!

APRICOT ICE CREAM RECIPE

To finish the meal with any of your favorite Italian pizza recipes with this rich flavorful apricot ice cream recipe.

• 8 Egg yolks
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• Grated rind of 1 lemon
• 2 ¼ Cups whipping cream
• ¼ Teaspoon almond extract
• 1 ½ Teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 ¾ Cup minced dried apricots
• ¼ Cup apricot brandy
• ½ Cup water
• 8 Ounces thick apricot preserves
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Combine yolks and sugar in top of double boiler over simmering water and whisk.

Add lemon rind and cream; cook whisking constantly until mixture is slightly thickened to 180F degrees.

Remove from heat; add almond and cinnamon.

Combine apricots, brandy and water in saucepan.

Bring to boil over high and cook until liquid is absorbed and apricots are very soft.

Add apricots to cream mixture.

Combine preserves and lemon juice in saucepan; cook over low until thin.

Remove from heat and cool slightly; add to cream mixture.

Cool mixture to room temperature; cover and refrigerate 24 hours.

Put mixture in ice cream freezer and freeze according to manufacturers directions.

More Great Italian Recipes

Go to Painless Cooking Home Page from Italian Pizza