Sfinciuni (sicilian Pizza)

Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 -2 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup onion, diced
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon italian seasoning (combination of oregano, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and sage)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 cup red wine (i usually use a cabernet sauvignon)
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon rosemary
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 cup hot water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 teaspoons yeast, dry
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
• 2 onions, sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 lb kasseri cheese

Recipe

• 1 for the sauce--heat the olive oil and garlic in a large sauce pan. add the minced onions and sauté until they're translucent.
• 2 stir in the remaining sauce ingredients. reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer until you can't stand it (at least 20 minutes--i usually let it simmer throughout the cooking process), stirring occasionally.
• 3 for the dough--mix the flour, salt, sugar, and spices.
• 4 melt the butter in the hot water.
• 5 dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water (mustn't be too hot, or it'll kill the yeast).
• 6 mix together, knead, and let rise in an oiled bowl (for the duration of the topping onions cooking should be enough).
• 7 for the topping--heat the olive oil and minced garlic in a medium sauce pan.
• 8 add the onions, salt, and pepper. sauté over medium heat until the onions become softened and slightly translucent (they'll continue to cook in the oven, so ere towards the less-cooked side).
• 9 cut the cheese into 1/4" pieces.
• 10 press the dough into a 9"x9" pan, coated lightly but thoroughly with olive oil.
• 11 insert the pieces of cheese into the dough and let rise a bit (maybe 15 minutes more).
• 12 remove the bay leaf from the sauce, and cover the dough with the sauce (you may not use all of it).
• 13 next, spread the onions over the top.
• 14 bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until the dough has cooked through.