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Try a Recipe for Breakfast Pizza
Sample a recipe from the Tuscan cookbook written by two of The Cooking Channel's Brightest Stars
Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos are ambassadors of contemporary Tuscan cooking. In Extra Virgin, food, family, and style come together in a celebration of the pleasures of the rustic Italian table with 120 recipes for simple yet exquisite meals that are accessible, full of fresh flavor, and easy to prepare. Gabriele is a traditional Italian with a big heart, and Debi is an outgoing, brash New York City girl. Their sassy and playful exchanges illuminate what’s important in everyday life: good food and a lot of love.
BREAKFAST PIZZA
Serves 4
1 cup canned whole peeled tomatoes (pelati)
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
¼ pound pancetta, diced medium
Pizza Dough (page 201), formed into 4 (13-inch) discs, at room temperature
½ pound mozzarella cheese, shredded
4 large eggs
1 handful fresh basil leaves
Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500°F for 1 hour before baking (Or pre-heat a wood-fired pizza oven to very hot, 4 hours before baking.)
In a food processor, puree the tomatoes until smooth. Season with salt to taste.
In a skillet, heat the olive oil and pancetta over medium heat and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until crisp.
Using a spoon, spread one-fourth of the pureed tomatoes on 1 disc of dough, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Sprinkle one-fourth of the mozzarella on top.
Gently place the pizza on the pizza stone and bake for about 4 minutes, until golden with slight signs of charring. (If using a wood-fired oven, gently place the pizza on the oven floor, and bake for 3 minutes, or until golden and crisp.)
Remove the pizza from the oven and break an egg over the center of the pizza. Top with one-fourth of the cooked pancetta, return the pizza to the oven, and bake another 3 to 4 minutes (1 to 2 minutes if using a wood-fired oven), until the egg is cooked.
Remove the oven, transfer to a cutting board, and top with one-fourth of the basil. Serve immediately. Repeat with the remaining 3 pizza discs.