This archive report was first published on 25 October 2019.
Imagine a perfectly cooked pizza, straight from the oven, with a crispy crust, melted cheese, and your favorite toppings. This indulgent treat is not just a restaurant experience, but also a recipe for success that can be made at home.
According to Chef Manuel Miano of Roberto's Italian Restaurant in Mombasa, making pizza at home is a fun and easy process. Chef Miano, who recently returned from a culinary visit to Milan, Italy, has been sharing his expertise with local chefs, teaching them how to make authentic Italian dishes.
"I just came from Milan and I am teaching the chefs here how to make the authentic dishes. I have been cooking since I was young. Italian is about the culture and a food," said Chef Miano.
So, what's the secret to making a perfect pizza at home? Chef Miano shares his recipe, starting with the preparation of the ingredients. You'll need flour, warm water, oil, salt, and yeast. To make the pizza base, mix the flour, yeast, salt, and warm water until you have a wet dough. Then, knead the dough until it's smooth.
"When you are making for two people, you use 500 grams of flour, 300 grams of water, 35 grams of oil, and a pinch of salt and five grams of yeast," said the chef.
Once the dough is kneaded, place it in a bowl and cover it with a wet table towel for about two hours to rise. "The most important thing is when you mix and have the dough, allow it to rise. You can put it in the oven which should be off and the cover the bowl with a wet towel. After two hours you will see the dough raising," he said.
After the dough rises, portion it and roll each piece into large rounds. You can choose to make a thin or thick crust, depending on your preference. "When you are rolling remember that the dough will rise in the oven so make sure you size it appropriately," explains Chef Miano.
Spread the dough with oil and bread crumbs, then place it on a baking tray lined with a bit of oil. Add your choice of toppings, such as tomato sauce and Mozzarella cheese. The classic topping recommended by Chef Miano includes tomato, pinch of oregano, oil, salt, and a bit of sugar to reduce the acidity of the tomato, as well as fresh basil leaves.
"In Kenya there is a lot of basil leaves and they are also affordable," he adds.
Bake the pizza in an oven preheated to 180 degrees Celsius for about 20 minutes until crisp. "It will get nice and crunchy. Cooking pizza at home is like making chapati, the difference is that you wont fry," he said.
Once ready, portion the pizza and serve. With Chef Miano's expert tips and techniques, making authentic Italian pizza at home is a recipe for success that's sure to impress your family and friends.
