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    Home » main course » pizza » PFB Challenge #5 - Smoked Duck Pizzas

    PFB Challenge #5 - Smoked Duck Pizzas

    Oct 17, 2010 · 26 Comments

    Smoked Duck PizzaCan you believe it? We're halfway through Project Food Blog, and I'm still standing. There aren't enough adjectives in the world to describe how amazed and excited and overjoyed I am to have made it to this point in the competition, especially since I'm in the company of 71 other fantastically talented bloggers.

    Which brings us to Challenge #5, in which we remaining bloggers have been tasked to create their own unique spin on pizza. For the purposes of this challenge, anything goes, so long as the final product consists of a solid base topped with sauce and at least one topping.

    Even though the challenge left a lot of room for interpretation, I decided not to stray too far afield for my entry. I'm a sucker for a proper old school pizza pie with a thin crispy crust baked in a wood-fired oven, so why not pay faithful homage to the classic rather than aiming for a complete re-boot of the franchise? More importantly, though, I wanted this pizza to be a reflection of the kind of food I love to eat and love to blog about... simple, homey, un-fussy, delicious food made from fresh seasonal ingredients.

    So, with that in mind, I set out to an unabashedly fall-flavoured sort of pizza using a mix of un-traditional ingredients with traditional methods.

    Roast SquashI first started with my toppings, beginning with two ingredients that I think embody the essence of October in Ontario: roasted pumpkin and fresh sage. I also switched out the traditional tomato sauce for a slow-roasted garlic paste to accentuate the sweetness of the pumpkin, and chose a smoked mozzarella to mimic the subtle smokiness of a wood-fired oven. Then, once the pizza came out of the oven, I topped the whole thing off with a handful of fresh peppery arugula to provide some much-needed contrast to all the rich flavours beneath.

    Oh, and did I mention that I just happened to have a container of shredded smoked duck left over from our Thanksgiving feast? A little sprinkling of duck certainly couldn't hurt, so onto the pizzas it went.

    (Obviously, I don't expect everyone to have leftover smoked duck kicking around in their fridge, but some chopped BBQ duck would be a dandy substitute if you've got a Chinese market nearby. Otherwise, smoked turkey or even plain ol' leftover turkey would do just fine.)

    Once I'd settled on toppings, the next step was to decide on the most important element of a good pizza... the crust. For this recipe, I've shamelessly borrowed from the patron saint of simple cooking, Mark Bittman, and adapted his recipe for a quick homemade pizza dough from How to Cook Everything. This lovely dough rolls out into the thin crispy crust that I adore, which in this case has been enhanced with flecks of finely chopped sage to go along with the toppings. Sure, you can buy pre-made pizza dough at the store, but homemade dough comes together in a few minutes and is ready to use after an hour or so of rising time. Besides, kneading dough by hand is a great de-stressing exercise after a frustrating day. :)

    Roasted GarlicThat said, even the most perfect dough recipe still needs a little help to achieve the perfect baked crust, which is where a baking stone comes in. Combined with a blazingly hot oven, a baking stone is what guarantees a beautifully crisp, slightly chewy crust instead of a limp and soggy one. If you don't have a baking stone, I highly recommend going out and buying one... they're not all that expensive, and make a world of difference.

    Lastly, because I think duck is a rather elegant sort of ingredient, I decided to divide the dough to make four individually-sized pizzas, which I find makes for a far more attractive presentation than a single large pie. It also provides maximum outer crust for each person, because this crust is delicious enough to be more than just a delivery mechanism for toppings.

    So, how did my little homage to autumn in pizza form turn out? Absolutely perfect. The flavours are a satisfying blend of smoky and sweet and rich, and the toasty brown of the crust and the cheese against the bright orange of the pumpkin and the vivid green of the arugula echoes the colours of fall leaves. There isn't anything I would change about this combination, except maybe to add a small crumbling of Gorgonzola, if you're a fan of blue cheeses (I am, but The Boy is not... so we left it out this time around).

    In fact, you could say it's a pretty ducking amazing pizza. :)

    //

    Pizza, Close-upSmoked Duck Pizza

    Crust:
    1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    ½ tsp instant yeast
    1 tsp kosher salt
    ½ cup water
    1 tbsp olive oil
    3 tbsp finely chopped fresh sage
    Roasted Garlic Sauce:
    1 head garlic
    3 tbsp olive oil, divided
    Toppings:
    2 cups diced smoked duck (or turkey)
    1 cup diced roasted pumpkin or squash
    2 cups shredded smoked mozzarella
    4 tbsp chopped fresh sage
    1 cup baby arugula

    Start by preparing the dough. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, yeast and salt. Stir to blend, then add water, oil and sage. Continue stirring until the dough starts to come together. (If the dough is too dry, add more water, a tablespoon at a time, until it comes together)
    Turn the dough out onto a clean, lightly floured working surface and knead until the dough is soft and elastic, adding more flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking. Shape the dough into a ball.
    Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, and place the dough in the bowl, turning the ball over to coat the entire surface with oil. Cover with a clean dishtowel and set aside in a warm, draft-free spot to rise until doubled in size, about 1-2 hours.
    While the dough is rising, prepare the roast garlic sauce. Using a sharp knife, cut away the top of the head of garlic to expose the individual cloves within. Place the garlic on a piece of aluminum foil, then drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil. Wrap tightly with the foil, and bake in a 400F oven for 45-50 minutes or until cloves are golden brown and buttery soft.
    Set the garlic aside to cool until it can be handled, then extract the roasted cloves from their skins. Place in a small bowl with the remaining oil and mash with the back of a spoon until you have a smooth paste. If desired, season with a pinch or two of kosher salt.
    By this point, the dough should be ready to use, so prepare the baking stone by placing it in the oven and preheating to 500F. (Always preheat your stone along with the oven, as the stone needs to warm up gradually - a cold stone put directly in a hot oven is likely to break)
    Punch the dough down, then divide into four equal-sized pieces. Roll out each piece into a 6" wide circle.
    Spoon a dollop of roasted garlic sauce onto each dough circle, and spread into a thin layer using the back of the spoon. Top with a scattering of roasted pumpkin and smoked duck pieces, leaving a half-inch border of uncovered dough around the edges. Sprinkle with shredded cheese, distributing evenly between the pizzas, then follow with a scattering of chopped sage.
    Using a pizza peel liberally dusted with flour, slide the pizzas onto the baking stone and bake until bubbly and browned, about 15-18 minutes. (If you don't have a pizza peel, I find a flat cookie sheet or even the back of a rimmed cookie sheet does the trick quite nicely)
    Garnish each pizza with a handful of arugula leaves as soon as it comes out of the oven, and serve immediately.

    « Leftovers Gone Wild: White Turkey Lasagna with Mushrooms
    PFB Challenge #6 - Taking it to the Streets »
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    Comments

    1. Isabelle says

      October 21, 2010 at 11:42 pm

      Thanks for all the support and good wishes, everyone. Keeping your fingers crossed for good news tomorrow when they announce the winners!

      Eliz, I mostly shoot with a Canon Rebel XTi and Canon 60mm macro or 17-85mm lenses. As much as skills count towards getting a good picture, a good lens is just as much a part of that as anything else... that 60mm macro makes everything look beautiful, even lumpy old squashes (or lumpy old me). :)

      Reply
    2. Eliz says

      October 21, 2010 at 9:49 pm

      Izz, another amazing post - sending good vibes your way!! Hafta ask - what kind of camera do you use? Your photos are really amazing (your skill, natch, but would also love to know about the equipment!)

      Eliz

      Reply
    3. Debs says

      October 21, 2010 at 12:04 pm

      Oh yes, smoked duck on pizza sounds amazing. Well done and good luck with the comp.

      Reply
    4. Liren says

      October 20, 2010 at 10:19 pm

      You had me at smoked duck, and everything else, well, is just bonus. what an amazing pizza - I love the combination of flavors you have going on here! And I think the sage in the crust is a subtle but beautiful addition, too :)

      Reply
    5. Oui, Chef says

      October 20, 2010 at 8:52 pm

      This is probably the tastiest sounding pizza I've seen so far in the competition. YUM! You get a vote from me! - S

      Reply
    6. Isabelle says

      October 20, 2010 at 2:39 pm

      Thanks for all the comment love, guys (and gals). Fingers crossed that your votes carry me through to Challenge #6!

      Marie: Merci de ta visite! Avec un nom comme le mien, c'est pas trop difficile a deviner, non? Je devrais dire que je suis Quebecoise seulement par naissance, puisque mes racines sont Acadiennes et j'ai ete elevee en Ontario... donc, je prefere dire Franco-Canadienne pour eviter toute confusion. :)

      Libby: We Canadians celebrate our Thanksgiving in early October, since our version of the holiday celebrates a successful harvest. By late November, when y'all celebrate south of the border, most of the country isn't harvesting anything but snow. :) On the bright side, at least we get a break from turkey leftovers before Christmas rolls around.

      Reply
    7. Libby says

      October 20, 2010 at 12:37 pm

      This sounds and looks so good....just one question. It's October 20th, did you guys do Thanksgiving early? :D :D :D

      Reply
    8. fortheloveofyum says

      October 19, 2010 at 4:45 pm

      I'm loving all your Project Food Blog posts, congrats on making it so far, I've been voting for you-hope you make it to the finish line!

      I am literally drooling over these pizzas-smoked duck..ahhhh! :)

      Reply
    9. Heidi C. Normand says

      October 19, 2010 at 1:05 pm

      I sometimes do have smoked duck breast and I have used it on "pizza" Mine had Brie and tarragon with caramelized onions...The BF and I called it Duck Bacon...anything that tastes like bacon and duck has to be the best thing in the world!

      Reply
    10. Reeni says

      October 19, 2010 at 12:52 pm

      Such lovely fall flavors. Comforting on so many levels. Love it! Good luck!

      Reply
    11. Artistta says

      October 19, 2010 at 8:07 am

      Great job and I'd want a bite! You have my vote! -Therese

      Reply
    12. The Cuisinerd says

      October 19, 2010 at 1:36 am

      You convinced me with smoked duck - nicely played.

      Reply
    13. Lawyer Loves Lunch says

      October 18, 2010 at 10:26 pm

      This post make me wish I had some duck to put on a pizza! Voted! :)

      Reply
    14. themanhattanfoodproject says

      October 18, 2010 at 9:36 pm

      I love duck on a pizza--the next time I make it I'll have to add some arugula to the party.

      Reply
    15. Marie (Food Nouveau) says

      October 18, 2010 at 8:43 pm

      Isabelle, j'ai vu dans un commentaire que tu as laissé sur un autre blog que tu étais Québécoise, je m'en doutais grâce à ton nom, mais je n'avais pas osé demander! J'aime beaucoup tes parutions et je suis contente d'avoir découvert ton blog grâce au concours. Bonne chance et tu as mon vote!

      Reply
    16. Megan says

      October 18, 2010 at 8:39 pm

      Duck! Yum. I've had duck "bacon" on pizza before and it is totally delish. This looks fantastic. Good luck!

      Reply
    17. Brie: Le Grand Fromage says

      October 18, 2010 at 4:27 pm

      yum, never had duck on pizza before, but this looks delectable! good luck!

      Reply
    18. Baking Barrister says

      October 18, 2010 at 2:27 pm

      <3

      Reply
    19. Anna says

      October 18, 2010 at 1:09 pm

      Wow...what a great combination, it looks fantastic and must taste fantastic too. Great job, you definitely get my vote.

      Reply
    20. ~Lisa~ says

      October 18, 2010 at 12:56 pm

      Lovely combinations for a pizza. I'd devour it (= Voted and best wishes.

      Reply
    21. Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot says

      October 18, 2010 at 12:16 pm

      Pretty ducking amazing indeed! Very creative pizza! You have my vote!

      Reply
    22. Barbara | VinoLuciStyleh says

      October 18, 2010 at 11:52 am

      In response to Greg's question...hell yeah I would. Now. For breakfast even!

      I love that I have found so many new pizza recipes that fit my palate...that is, not so much on the red sauce and pepperoni please.

      Great job.

      Reply
    23. Amelia PS says

      October 18, 2010 at 11:19 am

      ohhh! this is a pizza I would love to eat, right now, outside, next to a fire :)

      Reply
    24. Leah @ Beyer Beware says

      October 18, 2010 at 9:58 am

      I love duck. This looks amazing. Hope you win!

      Reply
    25. Winnie says

      October 18, 2010 at 8:07 am

      Your pizza looks and sounds absolutely heavenly. I love the photo with the leaves...perfection.

      Reply
    26. Sippity Sup says

      October 17, 2010 at 4:37 pm

      You and I think alike my friend. The true pizza test is "yeah, but would I eat it?" GREG

      Reply

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    Hello! I'm Isabelle, and this is my blog. I'm a 40-something coffee-chugging, booty-shaking, bargain-shopping, trucker-swearing self-taught cook with a major addiction to vintage cookbooks. Come for the recipes, stay for the terrible puns! Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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