Starters

SPICY SHRIMP PIZZA

Imagine, large tasty shrimp on a great pizza with jalapeños, garlic and a squeeze of fresh lemon, now your talkin' dinner. Pizzas can be quite exciting and the pizza crust offers itself up as a cook’s canvas. Always try to keep your cooking simple and the presentation pleasing.

You will learn in a short amount of time that cheese can be your friend when placing delicate items on a pizza. For instance on this pizza it is not necessary to pre-cook the shrimp as long as they are split in half and the last piece placed on your pizza, they will have plenty of time to cook all the way through. On the other hand if I pre-cook the shrimp I like to put the cheese on after the shrimp to protect them from the intense heat of the flame, this helps keep them from getting over cooked and dry.

10 oz Wood Stone dough ball
2 oz simple sauce – see pizza sauce recipes
2 oz cheese fresh or grated mozzarella / provolone blend
1 LB 16/20 shrimp, peeled, de-veined and butter flied (split lengthwise in half)
2 ea. jalapeño, core, seed and mince
2 oz chicken stock
½ t searing seasonings – see seasonings
2 oz olive oil
Lemon wedge ¼ per pizza

Important Note: This recipe features enough shrimp to complete 4 Spicy Shrimp Pizzas. For each pizza we recommend 8 split pieces of shrimp. As well this recipe starting at the shrimp represents a great sautéed appetizer all by itself.

1. Preheat your Wood Stone oven with the flame all the way up until you reach 500 degrees. As the oven reaches this temperature reduce the flame to about half height, approximately 7-8 inches.
   
2. In medium mixing bowl add shrimp, jalapeños, garlic and chicken stock, let stand in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
   
3. To sauté shrimp place large sauté pan with oil close to oven flame, let oil heat until it just begins to smoke. Carefully place marinated shrimp in hot oil, sauté shrimp until just done.
   
4. Gently open dough ball to desired size and thickness.
   
5. Place sauce in the center of stretched shell, then using a circular motion spread sauce to within ½ inch of shell edge.
   
6. If using raw shrimp place cheese on first, if using sautéed shrimp put shrimp on first and then the cheese. Arrange 8 pieces of shrimp so each piece of pizza will feature a shrimp.
   
7. Place pizza in oven away from flame. As the pizza develops a nice golden brown color (4 minutes) rotate pizza ½ turn and move closer to the flame. For pizza loading and moving see; Tools of the Trade.
   
8. Remove pizza when golden brown on top and bottom approx. 6 minutes total time at 500 degrees.
   
9. Finish with a generous squeeze of fresh lemon.
   
10. Call your neighbors!