Clam Pizza

Introduction

Welcome to a culinary adventure where we dive into the world of pizza making, featuring a delicious Clam Pizza inspired by the iconic New Haven-style apizza. This recipe, presented by Chef Tuan, focuses on creating an easy yet luxurious clam pizza loaded with fresh clams, garlic, oregano, and Pecorino Romano cheese. Perfect for seafood lovers, this pizza combines the briny flavors of the sea with the aromatic and savory elements of garlic and cheese, all baked to perfection.

Ingredients

• Fresh Clams (shucked, or lightly steamed if you prefer)
• Pizza Dough (230g for a 12-inch pizza)
• Garlic (half sautéed for topping, half infused in olive oil)
• Pecorino Romano Cheese
• Dried Oregano
• Olive Oil (infused with garlic)
• Fresh Parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Preparation Steps

1. Shuck the Clams: It's recommended to use fresh clams and shuck them yourself. If you're not comfortable with shucking, you can lightly steam the clams and then remove them from their shells. The freshness of the clams is crucial for the authentic taste of this pizza.

2. Prepare the Pizza Dough: Stretch out your pizza dough to about 12 inches. For this recipe, a dough ball weighing 230g is ideal, offering the perfect crust thickness and texture.

3. Sauté Garlic: Sauté half of the garlic until caramelized and mix the other half into olive oil. This method reduces the raw garlic's sharpness, ensuring a balanced flavor that complements the clams without overpowering them.

4. Assemble the Pizza: Start with a base of garlic-infused olive oil on the stretched dough. This layer helps prevent the dough from becoming soggy. Liberally season with Pecorino Romano cheese and dried oregano. Add the clams and the caramelized garlic evenly over the top.

5. Bake the Pizza: Bake the pizza in a preheated oven. If using an Ooni Koda 12, as demonstrated by Chef Tuan, adjust the flame to avoid direct high heat on the clams, which can turn them rubbery. Aim for a 900°F oven temperature but adjust as necessary based on your oven type.

6. Garnish and Serve: Once baked to perfection with a beautifully leopard-spotted crust, let the pizza rest on a cooling rack briefly before transferring to a serving plate. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a pop of color and a hint of freshness.

Conclusion

This Clam Pizza recipe brings a touch of New Haven's famous apizza to your kitchen, allowing you to enjoy the luxurious taste of fresh clams paired with the rich flavors of garlic, cheese, and herbs. Whether you're a seasoned pizza maker or trying your hand at seafood pizzas for the first time, this recipe promises a delightful experience that's sure to impress. So gather your ingredients, and let's bring the taste of the sea to your pizza night!