Pizza Master Tony Gemignani shares his Truffle Pizza Recipe
Truffles or Tartufo in Italian have a very unique flavor to them. There are many different types. Some of the common types used in restaurants are a variety of black winter and white summer. They can be very aromatic and pungent in flavor. Their flavor profile range from earthy, woody, garlicky and mushroom. I went truffle hunting this year in Tuscany with Savini who have been in business since 1920. They had specially trained dogs sniffing truffles that are slightly shallow rooted. We scoured the forest in Italy for hours looking for truffles and found five. Truffles can vary in price from moderate to extremely expensive. You can dust and clean them off, use a truffle shaver and shave the truffles over your pizza after its bake. Truffle oil is commonly used if you have no access to fresh truffles. I look for a 100-percent white truffle-infused oil. You will also find truffle honey, butter, cheese and cream that are excellent additions or options to your pizza. Typically a pizza with truffles or truffle oil are white with no tomato sauce.
- Dough ball that makes a 12 inch pizza
- 2½ ounces mixed mushrooms (oyster, pioppini, lobster, lions Maine mushrooms preferred)
- 1 ounce smoked pancetta thinly sliced
- ¼ inch squares
- 2½ ounces sliced provolone (7 slices)
- 1 teaspoon size drizzle white truffle oil
- Maldon salt
- ¼ ounce arugula
- Shaved Asiago or Parmigiano
- 1½ ounces Fromage blanc cheese
- 1½ ounces olive oil
- Salt & fine black pepper
- Shaved white summer truffle (optional)
- Mushroom preparation: Clean and trim mushrooms. I prefer to keep the mushroom shape rather than chopping them in small pieces.
- Add olive oil to a medium sized sauté pan over medium heat.
- Place mushrooms into the pan continuously tossing or stirring for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Lightly salt and pepper your mushrooms and set aside. You want your mushrooms to still be slightly firm.
- Pizza preparation: Shape and stretch your pizza into a 12- to14-inch circle.
- Place provolone on your pizza, then the mushrooms and pancetta.
- Place your pizza into your oven and bake.
- When finished take your pizza out of the oven and cut into desired slices.
- Add the ingredients in this order; arugula, shaved Asiago or Parmigiano, fromage blanc pinched in small pieces, white truffle oil or shaved truffles and Maldon salt.
- Serve and enjoy.
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