The Making of Pizza Bread

It feels like ages since I’ve blogged.  A lot has taken place these past few months, including my mother’s passing last June.  Lately, my moods regarding cooking and baking have been on and off, but I have kept myself active around the house, especially in the garden.

Today, I was in the kitchen for most of the day and wanted to share this recipe for pizza bread, along with probably one of the best pizza sauces I’ve ever made.

 

Ingredients

  • Six French bread rolls
  • Homemade pizza sauce*
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • Pepperoni
  • Red chili flakes (optional)
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Other pizza toppings, such as crumbled sausages, bell peppers, black olives, fresh herbs, etc., as desired

 

*Pizza Sauce

  • 1 (28-ounce) can of organic diced tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) unsalted butter
  • 2 medium cloves garlic (about 2 teaspoons)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Pinch red pepper flakes
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and split in half
  • 2 (6-inch) sprigs of fresh basil with leaves attached
  • 1 teaspoon sugar

 

Recipe preparation (for pizza sauce)

  1. Combine olive oil and unsalted butter in a medium saucepan and heat over medium-low until butter is melted.
  2. Add garlic, oregano, pepper flakes, and a large pinch of salt and cook until fragrant but not browned, about 3 minutes.
  3. Add tomatoes, onion halves, basil sprigs, and sugar.  Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to the lowest setting until reduced by half, about 1 hour.
  4. Season to taste with salt.  Allow to cool and store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

 

Recipe preparation (for pizza bread)

  1. Prep the bread by cutting them in halves and hollowing the inside.  Save the hollowed portions for making croutons, or place them aside for the birds to enjoy.
  2. Fill in bread halves with a tablespoon of the pizza sauce and spread evenly.
  3. Next, top with six pieces of pepperoni and a handful of mozzarella cheese evenly distributed.  Top additionally with red chile flakes and fresh basil if desired.  Set aside.
  4. Repeat with the remaining bread halves.
  5. Wrap pizza bread individually with saran wrap, and freeze until ready to consume.
  6. When ready, preheat the oven to convection broil.
  7. Add the desired amount of frozen pizzas onto a baking pan and place in the oven.  Bake for approximately 5 minutes or until bread is golden brown with slightly crispy edges.