Kitchen Secrets with Our Cuban Chef – Pizza Cubana
The history of pizza dates back to Ancient Greece, the birthplace of flatbreads. However, as we know it today, pizza is believed to come from Naples, Italy. Cubans have our version of pizza, but it has to meet some requirements to be Pizza Cubana:
- Thick and soft dough
- A thin burnt edge
- That it can be folded and the dough does not split.
- Vita Nova sauce is a sauce with a unique touch.
- Cheese that drips when folded.
Pizza Cubana has these unique characteristics, it may not be the best in the world, but it is ours, and surely many people who live abroad miss it. Pizza Cubana is usually thick dough, with melted cheese and tomato sauce creating a mix of flavors difficult to forget. In the old days, with only 10 Cuban pesos, we used to buy the Neapolitan, the one with cheese, as we call it. So much so that you may end up buying the ham, Hawaiian or onion pizza -which are more expensive- but without thinking about it you say: I’m going to buy a 10 peso pizza, because that’s what they’re called!
Pizza Cubana is distinguished for having a thick, soft and spongy dough. They are small, usually the size of a plate. The cheese is generously spread on top, the more cheese the better!
They have toasted edges that make them delicious. The sauce has a sweet touch that characterizes its flavor. We’re not going to lie to you! It has a high-fat content, but we are not dieters.
Now… how do you eat the pizza cubana here? No need for utensils, just be prepared to get your hands dirty. You fold it in half and take bites. That’s the Cuban way to eat pizza.
Check out our recipe and don’t forget to share a photo of your pizza with us on our social networks.
HOW IS PIZZA CUBANA MADE?
Ingredients for the pizza dough:
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 sachet of instant yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 1/4 cup of water at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cups wheat flour
- 11/2 teaspoon salt
- extra flour to work with the dough
Besides, you will need
- Olive oil with 1 clove of garlic well crushed (optional).
- Tomato sauce (if it is homemade, much better)
- Melted cheese
SO HOW TO PREPARE PIZZA CUBANA?
- Place the warm water in a large cup or bowl and pour the yeast over it. Let it stand for 5 minutes, without stirring.
- Mix 2 cups of flour with the salt and sugar in another large bowl.
- Add the rest of the water (1 1/4 cups at room temperature) to the water with the yeast and stir until well mixed.
- Add this yeast water plus the olive oil to the flour with salt and sugar and mix until well blended.
- Now proceed to add the rest of the flour (2 cups) to this dough and mix well.
- Take it out of the bowl you are using and knead it with your hands on a surface with a little bit of flour, until you get a dough with an elastic consistency, which is not too wet or sticky.
- Next, let it rest for about 1-1:30 minutes in a large bowl -it will double in size- and lightly grease. Cover it with a damp cloth and try to put it in a warm corner of your kitchen.
- Meanwhile, you can prepare everything you are going to put on top of the pizza, cut it, and have it ready. Also, heat the oven because you need it to bake the pizza very hot, at 500F (260C).
- Once the resting time has elapsed, remove the dough from the bowl and take it to the surface where you are going to work with it. Tap it gently with your fists and divide it into 2 or 3 portions according to the size of your pizzas.
- Let each portion rest for another 5-10 minutes.
- Proceed to give it the desired shape by stretching the dough with a rolling pin (you can use a bottle instead) and helping yourself with your hands. Give it the right thickness for your taste.
- At this point I mount the pizza dough on baking paper (parchment paper) that I place on the metal shovel (pizza peel) to move the pizza to the stone where I bake it because it is much easier. In case you use a tray for baking the pizza, you can put it directly on the tray, or you can put a piece of baking paper underneath to prevent it from sticking.
- With a small brush or your fingers spread the olive oil with the crushed garlic (or without garlic) on the base of the pizza, especially on the edges.
- Pour the tomato sauce (I recommend not to use too much, 1/3 cup is enough to cover a 10-12 inch pizza) and then the cheese and the rest of the ingredients you are going to put on your pizzas.
- Using the pizza peel, take it to the oven (which is already preheated and ready) and slide it onto the baking stone, which you also preheated along with the oven. If you are using a baking tray, put the tray directly into the oven.
- Bake one pizza at a time for 8-12 minutes, until the topping and cheese are golden brown. Take it out as soon as it is ready.
- Enjoy the delicious Pizza Cubana!
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