Italian cuisine is beloved worldwide for its rich flavors and comforting dishes. With an ELBA oven, you can bring the taste of Italy into your home. Here are two classic Italian recipes—pizza and lasagna—that you can easily prepare with the help of your ELBA oven.
Classic Margherita Pizza
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 packet active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
- Fresh basil leaves
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
- Prepare the Dough:
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until frothy.
- In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Make a well in the center and add the yeast mixture and olive oil.
- Mix until the dough comes together, then knead on a floured surface for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.
- Prepare the Oven:
- Preheat your ELBA oven to 250°C (482°F) with a pizza stone or baking sheet inside.
- Assemble the Pizza:
- Punch down the dough and roll it out into a thin circle on a floured surface.
- Transfer the dough to a piece of parchment paper for easy handling.
- Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Arrange mozzarella slices on top and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.
- Bake the Pizza:
- Slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
- Remove from the oven, top with fresh basil leaves, and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
- Serve:
- Slice and enjoy your homemade Margherita pizza!
Traditional Lasagna
Ingredients:
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cans (15 oz each) tomato sauce
- 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
- Prepare the Meat Sauce:
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, chopped onion, and minced garlic over medium heat until the beef is browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Prepare the Ricotta Mixture:
- In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, and half of the Parmesan cheese. Mix well.
- Cook the Noodles:
- Cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to prevent sticking.
- Assemble the Lasagna:
- Preheat your ELBA oven to 175°C (350°F).
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce at the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Place a layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce. Spread a layer of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, followed by a layer of meat sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat layers, ending with a final layer of noodles, meat sauce, and remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake the Lasagna:
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until the lasagna is hot and bubbly.
- Serve:
- Let the lasagna stand for 10 minutes before serving. Slice and enjoy your traditional Italian lasagna!
With these recipes, your ELBA oven will help you create delicious, authentic Italian dishes that are sure to impress. Buon appetito!
