avg —
Pizza with Pineapple and Ham
Instructions
Prepare all the necessary ingredients. You can use any dough – I am using pizza dough with dry yeast with an egg added. Yeast dough made with kefir or milk will also work, as will ready-made frozen yeast dough or even puff pastry.
First of all, make the sauce. Mix the mayonnaise and ketchup, add half a teaspoon of Provençal herbs. You can also add a little dried garlic. Stir well – adjust the proportions to your own taste.
Cut the ham into small pieces. My canned pineapple is already sliced, so I will not chop it any finer.
Roll the dough into a large round layer 3–5 mm thick, to fit your dish. My baking tray is 36 cm in diameter.
Spread the prepared sauce over the entire surface of the dough.
Arrange the pieces of ham.
Then add the pieces of pineapple.
You can also add other ingredients – for example, onion rings and olives. Pickled mushrooms, corn or anything you like will work too.
Generously sprinkle the pizza with coarsely grated cheese. Mozzarella is best, but any hard cheese will do.
By this point the oven is well heated – at least 200 °C, ideally 250–280 °C. Put the pizza in the oven and bake for 10–15 minutes depending on the temperature.
The pizza with pineapple and ham is ready. Sprinkle it with finely chopped basil or green onions – whatever you have or like best. Serve hot.Enjoy your meal!
Tips
- 1
Heat the oven as much as possible – at least 250–280 °C, to imitate a stone oven. At a low temperature the pizza will "boil" rather than bake.
- 2
Dry the pineapple – drain off the juice and blot it with a paper towel. Otherwise the pizza will turn out watery and the base will go soggy.
- 3
The mayonnaise-and-ketchup sauce is the "Russian" classic for Hawaiian pizza. The authentic version uses only tomato sauce, but the home-style mayonnaise variation tastes better.
- 4
Squeeze the excess moisture out of the mozzarella before grating – warm liquid will spoil the pizza. The same principle works in other kinds of pizza.
Video
FAQ
Which ham should I choose? +
The classic for Hawaiian is pink "pizza topping ham" cut into cubes. Avoid cheap sausage with a lot of moisture and starch – it "leaks" under the cheese. Alternatives: fried bacon (more "smoky"), smoked chicken breast (lighter), smoked turkey. For a "spicy" Hawaiian, add pepperoni or chorizo. Check the composition: meat first in the list, less than 10% water, no soya or monosodium glutamate. A slice thickness of 3–5 mm is best – thinner will "burn", thicker will not cook through.
What can replace the pineapple? +
Alternatives: fresh pineapple (brighter and more natural), pear (for a "pizza with pear and gorgonzola"), apple (cut into slices, it goes with ham), canned peach (a summer option), mango (an exotic note). Without pineapple you simply get a ham pizza, not a Hawaiian. The pieces should be medium (2–3 cm); large ones will not soak through and small ones will "drown". If it is canned in syrup, drain it in a colander and dry it. Canned in natural juice is the ideal option, with less sweetness. Lightly fry fresh pineapple in a dry pan to bring out the aroma.
How long does the pizza keep? +
In the fridge in a container – 1–2 days. But it is best eaten fresh, as pizza "does not like" reheating: the base goes soggy and the cheese turns "rubbery". Reheat it in a dry frying pan under a lid for 3–5 minutes (the base becomes crisp again) or in the oven for 5 minutes at 180 °C. The microwave should be a last resort only, as the pizza will turn soft and "rubbery". In the freezer pizza keeps for up to 1 month – thaw it in the oven without defrosting first, 10 minutes at 200 °C. Freshly baked is the "taste of the evening"; the next day it is not the same.
What to serve the pizza with? +
The Italian classics: with dry red wine (Chianti, Montepulciano), beer (light, lager) or sparkling water. A green salad of "rocket + cherry tomatoes + olive oil + parmesan" is the classic accompaniment. Sauces for dipping the crust: garlic sauce, barbecue sauce, olive oil with herbs. For a children's version – no spicy sauces, with lemonade or juice. For a "manly" serving – with rings of hot pepper and beer. For a big group – 1 pizza per 2–3 people, rounded out with a salad and a light snack (bruschetta, marinated olives).
- Comment
or post as a guest
Be the first to comment.
