The Wood-Fired Blog
Black Truffle Smashed Potatoes
Feb 01, 2016It’s not every day that I have a beautiful black truffle sitting in my refrigerator at home beckoning me to indulge in some form of “trufflie” deliciousness… Although it does happen now and then. Last time was a batch of simple but perfectly scrambled eggs smothered in shaved black truffle and a touch of creme fraiche for my beautiful bride “just because”. This time that truffle luck would fall upon... Read More
Salt Baked Chicken in a Wood Fired Oven
Jan 25, 2016Salt baking is an ancient technique that helps retain moisture and flavor. With the addition of wood smoke, this is chicken of the highest order. If you don’t eat it all immediately (most likely!), it stays moist in the refrigerator for a couple of days. This method works well with fish, too. Naturally the cooking time will be much shorter, based on the size and thickness of the fish. Ci... Read More
Caramelized Garlic, Roasted Kale, and Tomato Salad Flatbread
Jan 15, 2016Correct. If followed from start to finish, this outrageously great flatbread requires a bit of time. But I like to caramelize LOTS of garlic at once (and why wouldn’t we?), so it’s always on hand for the many deserving dishes it can elevate from the mundane to the sublime. PLUS, why not roast some kale once every week or two, then hold it in an airtight container at room temperature,... Read More
Herb Roasted Chicken
Jan 04, 2016I have always found comfort in roasted chicken, both the process of making a roasted chicken and eating one. It always reminds me of a Sunday supper with the entire family around the table. If your family is anything like mine (7 of us,) you might need two birds. The cooking time will largely depend on the temperature of your wood burning oven — a 3 pound bird will take... Read More
Clams and Sausage in Fennel Broth
Dec 14, 2015In Italy, fasting on Christmas Eve (La Vigilia) has long been traditional. But, in an Italian-American-inspired shift, the definition of “fasting” has been changed to “no meat.” Thus, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is now the traditional meal for Christmas Eve in Italian-American households across the U.S.A. And who are we to argue? With our Bella oven quickly up and running (and warming our souls for the holidays), we... Read More
Turkey Dressing in a Wood Fired Oven
Nov 16, 2015Fiery cooks! Now that you’ve decided to roast the bird in the oven, it’s time to start using it for everything else. Start collecting your aging bread for the dressing and make sure it’s nice and dry. In addition to the turkey and dressing, I blanch my Brussels sprouts, season them and then roast ‘em in our Toscana wfo, too. The recipe for cooking a turkey in a wood fired... Read More
Thanksgiving Turkey in a Wood Fired Oven
Nov 16, 2015Do not be afraid! If you’ve already been making pizza or roasting chickens in the wood fired oven, roasting a turkey is as easy as (pumpkin) pie. Be patient about getting the oven down to roasting temperature of about 500°F – 600°F. Because if you’re rushed and you throw Henny Penny in when the oven’s too hot, you’ll lose the crispy crust. And DO remember to make a strong foil... Read More
Instant Pickled Wood Fired Roasted Chilies
Nov 09, 2015As a topping, Instant Pickled Wood Fired Chilies is the hot new thing here at Casa Ingles Pizzeria. Each batch has a slightly different flavor. The last round I did with Fresno chilies were sitting on top of a fresh mozzarella pizza with La Quercia prosciutto and a little of their Nduja (prosciutto spread), and finished with dressed baby arugula, and the chilies added a nice spicy sweetness, but also hinted at a lemony note... Read More
A Few of My Pizza Oven Favorites
Oct 26, 2015A little more than a year has taught me a few things about pizza out of a Forno Bravo pizza oven. To name just a few: the woods and the flavor of smoke, the fire and how to trust in the dome-licking flames, the illusion of controlling the dough, yeast, humidity and time, and of course the toppings–spicy, sweet, tart, bold, creamy, sharp and all delicious. The most important lesson... Read More
