J. Kenji López-Alt - Really Good French Bread Pizza with Sausage, Pepperoni, and Giardiniera | Kenji's Cooking Show
Kenji shares his method for making French bread pizza, highlighting the use of supermarket French bread rather than authentic French bread. He explains that the softer, fluffier supermarket bread is ideal for this dish. To prevent the bread from becoming soggy due to tomato sauce, he suggests squishing the bread slightly and applying a protective layer of garlic oil and mozzarella cheese before adding the sauce. This technique helps block the sauce from soaking into the bread. Kenji also discusses the importance of using raw sausage on pizza, as it cooks and releases flavor during baking. He adds toppings like pepperoni, sausage, and a hot muffaletta mix, drawing inspiration from Chicago-style pizzas. Kenji emphasizes the role of air in sandwiches, comparing the fluffy Mortadella sandwich to the compressed muffaletta, and encourages considering air as an ingredient in sandwich making.
Key Points:
- Use supermarket French bread for a softer texture.
- Squish bread slightly to prevent sogginess from sauce.
- Apply garlic oil and mozzarella as a protective layer.
- Use raw sausage for better flavor integration.
- Consider air as an ingredient in sandwich making.
Details:
1. 🍕 Introduction to French Bread Pizza
- Kenji introduces the concept of making French bread pizza with sausage and janire, emphasizing the importance of selecting quality ingredients.
- The segment details the culinary process, including tips for achieving the perfect crust and balancing flavors.
- It sets the stage for a step-by-step guide, highlighting the ease and versatility of this dish.
2. 🥖 Choosing the Right Bread
- French bread pizza originated in Ithaca, New York, highlighting its American roots.
- The ideal French bread for making French bread pizza is 'crummy' French bread, which presumably offers a better texture and absorption for toppings.
- The recipe can be customized, as exemplified by a pepperoni version, indicating versatility in flavor profiles.
3. 🧄 Preparing the Garlic Butter Base
- Melt one tablespoon of butter with one tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in the skillet to create a garlic butter base.
- Add three cloves of garlic, ensuring to stir frequently to avoid burning and maintain flavor.
- Choose softer, fluffier French bread from a supermarket bakery or a take-and-bake option to complement the garlic butter base.
4. 🧀 Building Layers of Flavor
- Utilize both fresh garlic and garlic powder to create a complex flavor profile, as they contribute distinct tastes to the dish. Fresh garlic offers a sharp, pungent taste, while garlic powder provides a more mellow, concentrated flavor.
- To preserve the intended taste of garlic without overpowering it, avoid excessive browning by using the residual heat of a cast iron pan, ensuring it is added at the right time in the cooking process.
- When preparing French bread pizza, compress the bread slightly before adding toppings to prevent it from becoming soggy, thus maintaining its texture.
5. 🍅 Assembling with Sauce and Cheese
5.1. Cheese and Sauce Preparation Techniques
5.2. Using the Balmuda Oven Effectively
6. 🍕 Adding the Toppings
- The process begins with melting cheese and applying an undercoat and topcoat of cheese, enhancing flavor and texture.
- Fresh basil is included as a topping to add a refreshing element to the pizza.
- The approach replicates a modern Chicago thin crust pizza, featuring traditional toppings like tomato sauce, cheese, sausage, and hot jardinera.
- Instead of hot jardinera, a premium product from U JP graciano is used, known for its high quality and local Chicago origins.
- Additional toppings such as pepperoni and hot muffaletta are included, creating a unique and flavorful combination.
- A strategic layer of garlic butter and cheese is applied to the crust to prevent sogginess from the tomato sauce, ensuring optimal texture.
7. 🥪 Exploring Air's Role in Sandwiches
7.1. 🍰 Foods Better When Soggy
7.2. 🍕 Pizza Preparation Tips
8. 🍽️ Enjoying the Final Creation
- The fat rendered from the sausage during cooking enhances the pizza's flavor profile, making it richer and more satisfying.
- Incorporating a hot muffaletta mix adds a spicy, olive-based layer, reminiscent of the classic New Orleans muffaletta sandwich, which traditionally includes olive salad and cold cuts.
- The recipe draws inspiration from Serious Eats, showcasing a fusion of sandwich flavors into pizza form, emphasizing the creative culinary crossover.
- A notable point in sandwich-making is the role of air, as seen in the contrast between the fluffy Mortadella and the dense muffaletta, affecting texture and experience.
- Choosing to add or exclude air is a deliberate decision that influences the overall enjoyment of the dish.
- Post-oven toppings such as fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, and premium olive oil are added to enhance the pizza's flavor and presentation.
- A garlic layer is strategically used to prevent the bread from becoming soggy, ensuring a crispy texture.
- The segment transitions smoothly from the preparation to the enjoyment phase, highlighting the final touches and the anticipation of savoring the dish.