Friday, June 14, 2013

Basic Kale Pizza Dough (Pizza Night!)

http://www.farmfreshfeasts.com/2013/06/basic-kale-pizza-dough-pizza-night.html

The first weeks of a seasonal summer CSA farm share are like the Spanish Inquisition:  no one ever expects it, and by it I mean all the greens.  You sign up for a summer share and you're thinking tomatoes, corn,  cucumbers, zucchini.  Those crops are all heat-loving summer crops.  What is ripe in August is not what is ripe in June.  In June, because what is ready was started weeks/months before in the cool spring, so you get greens.  Arugula, beet greens, cabbage, collard greens, mustard greens, salad greens, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip greens, and kale, kale, kale. (See the Visual Recipe Index by Ingredient for ideas!)

http://www.farmfreshfeasts.com/2013/06/basic-kale-pizza-dough-pizza-night.html

It took me a while to embrace the greens, I admit.  Oh, not the salad mix, or spinach, those are pretty easy to love.  And Swiss chard is home and mother to me as I grew up eating it from our backyard garden.  My trouble with spring greens is this:  while I like cooked greens, by May/June I'm craving light, fresh fare, not long-simmered flavorful "pots of greens" goodness.

Yes, I could put the greens up to enjoy in winter soups.  But it's not even summer yet, and I'll be getting more greens at the end of the CSA season as the weather turns to fall.  I needed to find ways to enjoy my spring greens NOW.
My current obsession is sautéed beet greens and spring onions seasoned with sherry vinegar and topped with a sunny side up egg.  On rainy days, and we've had a few, we're enjoying a Finnish summer soup with kale.  In the meantime, however, it's time for a Friday Night Pizza Night and this time, I bring you a basic kale pizza dough. [Does my use of the term basic mean that in the future there will be another type of kale pizza dough (link to Spicy Kale Pizza Dough)?  Why yes, yes it does. Clever reader, you.]
Not interested in kale on a pizza?  Try my Visual Pizza Recipe Index for other ideas!
In a quixotic move, I use both an old school steamer and a bread machine to make this dough.  I use the steamer because I wanted to be sure that my weights for this recipe were unaffected by how well I drained the cooked kale. (I also got the steamer from my mom a few months ago, used it for gyoza/mandoo and realized it's a pretty useful thing to have around.)  If you don't have a steamer, use a microwave or a lidded pot with a small amount of water to cook your kale.

I like to use a bread machine to mix my pizza doughs that contain green leafy vegetables because I can focus better on the dough.  My teenaged son tells me that humans aren't physically capable of multi-tasking . . .  I'll just say that deciding how much to knead the dough while simultaneously deciding how much water to add to the dough is a difficult task for me.  I find it easier just to let the dough cycle worry about the kneading part and I'll worry about the extra water part.
Why don't I know exactly how much water to add?  This kale is not from factory farms with standardized growing conditions.  It's been a cool, wet spring here in Ohio, and the water content of the blue curly kale from my CSA is probably different than the water content of your Red Russian or Lacinato kale grown in a drier climate.  All will work in this dough, though.   To help, I've provided both the weight and volume measurements for my raw and steamed kale, as well as photos of the whole process.
http://www.farmfreshfeasts.com/2013/06/basic-kale-pizza-dough-pizza-night.html
Clockwise from upper left--the basic kale pizza dough process.

Basic Kale Pizza Dough (makes enough for 2 medium pizza crusts)

(please refer to My Pizza Primer for a whole host of tips, techniques, and collages about making pizza in your own kitchen, and know that I start my dough up to 3 days before I want to bake it)

2 3/4 ounces / 65 grams / 4 cups packed torn raw kale (stems to the composting pigs or worm bin)
12 3/4 ounces / 360 grams / 3 cups bread flour
1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
3/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil
3/4 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning blend
3/8 teaspoon dried minced garlic (or 1-2 cloves fresh, smashed and chopped)
10-16 Tablespoons water (see directions below)

Place several inches of water into the base of a steamer pot.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add kale to steamer basket, and steam 12-15 minutes until leaves are just tender.  Remove from heat.  
Save the steaming water!
My 4 packed cups of raw kale decreased to 1 generous tightly-packed cup (2 cups very loosely packed), weighing 3 1/4 ounces or about 90 grams at this point (yes, it got smaller and heavier--like a Black Hole of Kale?).
In a bread machine bucket, place kale, flour, yeast, salt, seasonings and oil.  Add 8-10 Tablespoons of the steaming water (what with all the weighing and measuring and photos the water had a chance to cool down from boiling to merely warm when I added it).  Start the dough cycle, and let the machine knead for about 3 minutes before checking.  If/when the dough looks dry still, add a Tablespoon of leftover steaming water at a time, giving a minute or so between additions, until the dough forms a ball in the pan.  Then walk away and let it finish kneading without hovering.  You're not going to do any additional good.  Store in an oiled container in the refrigerator for a few days, or pop in the freezer (label it for my sake please). 

I made a 2 pizzas with this batch of dough:  a simple cheese pizza and a spicy buffalo sausage pizza.

http://www.farmfreshfeasts.com/2013/06/basic-kale-pizza-dough-pizza-night.html

http://www.farmfreshfeasts.com/2013/06/basic-kale-pizza-dough-pizza-night.html
http://www.farmfreshfeasts.com/2013/06/basic-kale-pizza-dough-pizza-night.html

Four Cheese Pizza, and Spicy Buffalo Sausage Pizza, on Basic Kale Pizza Crust

1 recipe Basic Kale Pizza dough (above)
1 cup your favorite red pizza sauce, divided
2 - 3 cups shredded Italian blend pizza cheese, divided
1 buffalo style fully cooked sausage (2 1/3 ounces or 66 grams) sliced thinly

On the day you wish to bake a pizza, about 2 hours before you're ready to bake, have your child remove the chilled dough to the counter so it can come to room temperature and the yeast can wake up and do its thang.  About 30 minutes to an hour before you're ready to bake, preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.  If you've got a pizza stone, now is the time to put it in the oven to preheat. Or just leave it in there.  If you don't have a stone, get one at a thrift store while you're getting a bread machine use a cookie sheet or other rimless pan.  Divide dough into two equal portions. On an oiled piece of parchment paper, stretch out each dough into the shape that pleases you.  

Spread 1/2 cup sauce over each dough, coming close to the edge--but don't go over!  Scatter half the cheese on each dough.  Top one pizza with buffalo-style sausage slices for the more adventurous eater of the household.  

Slide the pizza-on-parchment onto your baking stone or cookie sheet.  Bake 5-8 minutes, then shimmy the parchment out from under the crust, allowing the crust to bake directly on the stone or sheet.  After another 3-5 minutes, when the cheese is browned and bubbly, remove the pizza to a cooling rack and slide the second pizza in.  Repeat the baking/shimmying/baking/cooling process.  Slice and serve.

Enjoy mastering the bag of kale this week.  

http://www.farmfreshfeasts.com/2013/06/basic-kale-pizza-dough-pizza-night.html

30 comments:

  1. OK, the preview pizza looks more up my alley- no red sauce. So just how long am I going to have to wait for that recipe? I have kale coming today... ;-)

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  2. How 'bout I tell ya what I topped it with (it's a Spicy Kale Dough) and you go from there? I got the idea from Tammy at Agrigirl, who said she likes cottage cheese and spicy greens on a pizza.
    I like cottage cheese and seasoned salt scooped up with ruffled potato chips ;) .
    I spread cottage cheese on the spicy kale crust, topped it with sautéed mushrooms and torn kale that I massaged a bit with olive oil from the oiled piece of parchment, and shook some seasoned salt over the whole thing before baking. Yum!
    Had that (intended, this time) Kale Chip Side Effect and was creamy and delicious. Now can you wait for the real recipe? Thanks!

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  3. Great idea! I don't have a bread machine so I would have to make some adjustments but I like this concept a lot

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    Replies
    1. I work at a thrift shop, and we get bread machines in all the time--if you have space and some spare cash, try your local thrift shop for one. It really makes veggie dough easier.
      Thanks!

      Delete
  4. I love this!!!! What a great use for Kale!

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    Replies
    1. Alyssa,
      I figured it was a natural progression from spinach to kale, and I wasn't wrong in my figuring. I'm glad--all that weighing and measuring for a bomb recipe would be a waste!

      Thanks!

      Delete
  5. Kirsten, I can relate to being overwhelmed by so many greens from the farm in June. I never tire of kale chips, but I think my family is getting a bit bored with them so I should try this crust. Thanks!!

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    Replies
    1. Annemarie,
      I love kale chips, but I'm the only eater at home who will eat them now, and I do prefer them fresh, not days old, so I need alternate ideas. Like this one.

      If you try it, please let me know how it goes--you take such lovely photos.

      Delete
  6. It IS all about the greens, but other than one bunch of kale, I'm swimming in lettuce. Green leaf, romaine, loose leaf, lettuce, lettuce, lettuce. I didn't buy my typical premade lunches this weekend. Instead, I think it's going to be a hefty lunch time salad kind of week. I also made a huge salad (and a casserole of macaroni and cheese) for my girlfriend who just had the baby. Even after that, I'm two weeks into my CSA and I've got four heads of lettuce in the fridge. I better get foraging.

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    Replies
    1. Meghan,
      On the FB page I shared a link to Agrigirl's post all about what to do with extra lettuce. She's got great ideas.
      I've been able to keep up with lettuce so far, primarily because the composting pigs will eat the bruised lettuce at the bottom of the bag, but I will turn to Tammy's ideas when it gets overwhelming.
      Thanks!

      Delete
  7. Great idea!! We have homemade pizza all the time, this is a great way to sneak in some extra veggies.

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    Replies
    1. Abby,
      I think it's kind of blatant for sneaking, but yes, I know what you mean. Let's say "boost the veggie content" maybe?
      Thanks!

      Delete
  8. Whaaaaat?!? Your spin on everything-pizza always amazes me! Love your creativity!!!

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  9. I'm visiting from the Clever Chicks Blog Hop. I'm obsessed with kale. Holy guacamole, you made kale pizza crust. I will definitely be trying this!! I posted a lot of greens recipes a couple of recipes on my blog (but none were pizza, wow!) if you would like to check them out. www.greeneggsandgoats.com

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    Replies
    1. Heather,
      I'm glad to learn of your blog--I'm always looking for more ideas for greens.
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  10. I love the look of the bits of kale in the pizza dough! Still working on getting the fam to embrace "different" pizza doughs. I think the hubby might have more of an issue with it than the kid. :)
    Sarah

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    Replies
    1. Sarah,
      We frequently have pizza & a movie, so perhaps sometimes they are distracted by the movie and don't notice at first what they are eating? Or perhaps I've worn them down over time (and crazy pizza doughs).
      Thanks!

      Delete
  11. I love love love this idea!! I'm a HUGE fan of kale and am always looking for new ways to get it mah belly! Following you!

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    Replies
    1. Lauren,
      I love the name of your blog: From Everyday to Gourmet, it sounds so nice out loud too!
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  12. I will definitely be making this pizza soon. I have become a big fan of kale and this is a great way to use it. Great idea and great pictures.Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week; I hope you’ll join us again!


    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino

    The Chicken Chick

    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy,
      Any suggestions on getting my kids to become big fans of kale?
      Thanks for hosting!

      Delete
  13. Wow! I LOVE kale and am looking for new ways to cook with it! This is going on the menu for July!Thank you so much for linking up with me this week at Tasty Tuesdays! I’ve pinned this & shared it with my followers!

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    Replies
    1. Anyonita,
      Thank you for pinning, and for hosting!
      I appreciate it.

      Delete
  14. We have pizza at least once a week - this is a must try! I have just recently started using Kale in my morning shakes and would love another use for it. Pinning right now. :)

    I co-hosted Tasty Tuesdays this past week and wanted to thank you for linking up! Hope to see you again this week. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jess,
      I confess that spinach is my favorite for green smoothies, but I use what I've got, so it can be kale, chard, or whatever for the green in the smoothie. And my favorite pizza, My Deployment Pizza, is on a spinach crust.
      Thanks for pinning, and thanks for co-hosting!

      Delete
  15. This is so clever and original! And guess what? I have kale in my garden. It's been left to appease the groundhog, but not anymore now. I'll wrestle my kale leaves out of his teeth if I have to, I'm making that pizza dough! Great blog!

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    Replies
    1. I thought I'd be clever and plant re-grown celery in my garden, early, to ward off varmints taking the crops I really wanted. Unfortunately they don't seem to care for the celery, preferring instead the tender parsley, fennel, and dill plants.

      Argh.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  16. My new favorite crust...Kale all the way!

    Thanks for sharing and linking up :)

    ReplyDelete