Friday, May 22, 2009

Pizza Featuring Caramelized Onions


My head is still spinning from my online gaming. Why? What? Where?

Well, if you've taken a look at my profile, it does say that one of my hobbies is online gaming - so no surprises there.

Anyhow yesterday was one of the first days in a long time that I could peacefully read food blogs without worrying about enemy attacks on my cities and the recipe that caught my eye was a pizza recipe by Justin Schwartz of Justcook NYC.

Those of you who have ever been neck deep in the culture of online gaming will know what I'm talking about, but when you are involved in an intense war, the pantry starts to empty out like the rations in your virtual cities (because you can't leave the computer for long and go buy real life rations).

Justin's recipe was perfect as we already had the ingredients: Yeast, flour, onions.

And I will be honest. Ronny made this pizza from beginning to end and I didn't do a thing! Actually this isn't true. I did the easy part, i.e. making the caramelized onions.

In fact, it was Ronny who made sure I was eating properly throughout this recent gaming escapade. I think he understands because we used to do hardcore gaming together and that's how we met.

Anyhow here's Justin's recipe for his pizza featuring caramelized onions.

Ronny used a different pizza dough recipe. The one Ronny used is from the May/June 1988 edition of 'Cook's'. I can't really reprint it here because I don't have permission, but it's a recipe by Steven Connolly who was chef at Manhattan's Mezzaluna restaurant at the time. It's a thin, crisp type of crust and Steven Connolly has modified the recipe to work in home ovens. I've been using this recipe since my twenties.

What did we do different besides the pizza dough?

Well, we made a layer of mozzarella cheese, sprinkled chunks of blue cheese instead of Fontina cheese over this, covered this with a layer of fresh thinly sliced Spanish tomatoes (make sure your knife is sharp!), then topped it off with the caramelized onions.

This combination works for me as the tomatoes add a 'freshness' that's lacking from the other ingredients. Might I add that my favorite type of pizza usually only has vegetables, cheese and herbs on it. On the other hand maybe you feel like indulging in the thrill of the pure richness of cheese and caramelized onion heaven. If this is the case, follow the original recipe!

11 comments:

taste traveller said...

Your pizza looks absolutely divine & I'm sure that the sharpness of the tomatoes was a wonderful contrast to the sweet caramelized onions! I understand gaming keeping you from cooking - I think we all have our distractions! :-)

Dewi said...

Love caramelized onion. What a perfect topping Murasaki.

Trish said...

I love it and love ya for being a hardcore gamer. NOT because I am in the slightest way interested or understanding of the attractions...except....I have an 18 year old...so I know it to be time consuming AND....I understand. So you are that much more real to me lady!

Murasaki Shikibu said...

Taste Traveller: Yeah it provided a nice contrast ;)

Elra: I love love love caramelized onion. Can't believe I didn't like onions when I was a kid!

Trish: hehe yes - there are lots of 18 year olds playing the games I'm playing now. Love you too for loving me...lol

Justin said...

thanks so much for the shout-out, murasaki. your pizza sounds great too.

NKP said...

Yum, sounds delish! I love homemade pizza.

Siri said...

Hey- just thought I'd let you know that my installation of "goodcounter.org" onto my site a few months ago has no created complete chaos and transplanted baker has been removed from the net (hopefully only temporarily). Just in case you were wondering....

Also- ever heard of this happening before? Any suggestions? I've got my husband on the case and my fingers are crossed that the entire last year isn't down the drain!!!!

Murasaki Shikibu said...

Siri: Oh, no... What is goodcounter.org? I do have some friends who are in IT and can ask them but I've got to have more details. That's terrible news. :(

Murasaki Shikibu said...

Siri: http://groups.google.com.vc/group/blogger-help-troubleshoot/browse_thread/thread/988cf0cbd641a594

Marta said...

Murasaki! I just finished caramelising about 1 kilo of onions! I didn't really know what to do with them and now you've illuminated me! Thanks!!!!

SteamyKitchen said...

fab photo of pizza!