16 inch Neapolitan Style Pizza

[CoalsArt]

In my pizza travels those restaurants serving Neapolitan style doughs (using 00 Caputo Flour) usually come no bigger than 12 inches. Is it possible, using that type of dough, to make 16 inch pizza? Has anyone tried that? I would imagine it becomes one big wet mess.

[Tscarborough]

Re: 16 inch Neapolitan Style Pizza

Nah, it works better, actually. Here is one.

[CoalsArt]

Re: 16 inch Neapolitan Style Pizza

Looks beautiful. Are you using a 00 flour? The center stays crisp?

[Tscarborough]

Re: 16 inch Neapolitan Style Pizza

Sometimes, that one is (OO). I have to start them on a screen since my peel is only 14", then I remove it to finish them. The center is very thin and crisp. Here is one in the oven.

[CoalsArt]

Re: 16 inch Neapolitan Style Pizza

What is your preference? I was just on pizza-making forum and I was trying to describe the exact crust that I am after. This is what I wrote:

What I really want for this crust is to have a thin crispy outer layer that crackles and breaks apart when you put pressure on it. The inner dough is light and airy with a creamy custard like crumb. It should have big irregular bubbles yet have a little chew when you take a bite. A puffed cornicione giving way to a thin, yet crispy crust, all the way to the edge and does not droop. It will have maximum flavor in the dough and I would be willing to put a sourdough starter (I am cultivating one), a poolish/biga, long ferment, etc to get the dough where I want it. All this using a local mill for the flour at 12.9 protein. Can I get there?"

As you can see I have really been thinking about this. I love authentic Neapolitan pizza. But I just don't care for it when it gets soft in the middle. So I have been experimenting with American bread flours. It seems you get a lot of crispness with the 00 flours but it does not last long outside of the oven.

[Tscarborough]

Re: 16 inch Neapolitan Style Pizza

I do not really like 00. I prefer an 80/20 bread flour/semolina mix with a minimum 24 hour cold ferment. Crunchy, airy, and little to no gum line. I vacillate on the cornicione between none and big puffy ones. Both are made with the same recipe, it is a matter of how the dough is opened.

[Tscarborough]

Re: 16 inch Neapolitan Style Pizza

I am doing pizza tonight, but I got hungry so I made this one in the kitchen oven at 550 for about 5 minutes, then under the broiler for a couple. The 48 hour dough is 80/20 with oregano flakes. I opted for a big cornicione this time.

In the WFO tonight they will brown much more.

[CoalsArt]

Re: 16 inch Neapolitan Style Pizza

Beautiful! And the dough stays crispy right to the end of the tip? Is the semolina a strong flavor note? I can't believe how big the bubbles are in that crust. I have a coal oven which I am firing up next week. I am so ready to work with a high heat temp oven. My electric "POC" must be broken as I am having trouble reaching temps over 450. Therefore my dough experiments have been less than satisfactory.

[Tscarborough]

Re: 16 inch Neapolitan Style Pizza

I can't taste the semolina, it just has a feel. It makes it crunchy, but not crackery. Here is a crap picture of how it stands up.

[Tscarborough]

Re: 16 inch Neapolitan Style Pizza

Three more tonight in the WFO. A 70/30 deer sausage that I "Italianized" with fennel, onions, garlic and oregano in the precook, Calabrese sliced thin like pepperoni, shallots, baby portobellas, mild jalapenos, and capers in various combinations.

[kmrice]

Re: 16 inch Neapolitan Style Pizza

Tscarborough, what kind of bread flour, and what kind of semolina, do you use? I have KA bread flour, but I know that has a pretty high protein percentage, even for bread flour. The semolina I've used in past was very course, almost like corn meal.

Also, what are you using for yeast? Sourdough? ADY? Instant?

Any tips you'd care to share would be appreciated. Your suggestions a while back for my sourdough bread have made a huge difference, for which I am very grateful.

Karl

[Tscarborough]

Re: 16 inch Neapolitan Style Pizza

KABF, the Semolina is Golden Temple "Duram Atta". It is as fine as the KABF. For yeast, 1/4-1/2 tbsp ADY in one cup of warm water, with 1 tbsp of turbinado sugar. I make a very wet dough, around 73% at the first rise, and about 68% by the time it is balled for cold ferment.

[CoalsArt]

Re: 16 inch Neapolitan Style Pizza

Dang! I just bought red mill semolina flour. Is that still to grainy?

[Tscarborough]

Re: 16 inch Neapolitan Style Pizza

No, it is just expensive. I pay 6 bucks for 5#, the Red Mill is about 4 bucks for 1#.

[kmrice]

Re: 16 inch Neapolitan Style Pizza

Thanks, Tscarborough. I've been really pleased with Caputo 00, but I'll try your blend and see if I can improve my crusts.

Karl