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The companion to French Comfort Food, Le French Oven showcases authentic, tantalizing French recipes that can be created in the cocotte―the French version of a Dutch oven―in all of its sizes and shapes, from mini to large.
Using various techniques such as braising, stewing, roasting, baking, stovetop, and frying, Le French Oven will teach how to create appetizers, soups, main courses, desserts, and more.
It includes information about the major French made cocotte brands, and how to use them to create fabulous recipes such as Warm Mushroom Custards with Garlic Toast, French Carrot Rice Soup, Basque-Style Paella, Two-Hands Praying Rack of Lamb Roast, Lemony Braised Chicken with Green Olives, and Beef Pot-au-Feu. The sweet recipes include fabulous fare such as Raspberry Clafoutis and Hot Brandied Peaches Over Ice Cream.
Le French Oven fills a need for the coterie of French cookbook fans and lovers of French food. It is an amazing collection of recipes with stunning photography.
HILLARY DAVIS, food journalist, cooking instructor, and writer and creator of the popular food blog Marche Dimanche, is a long-time food columnist and restaurant critic for New Hampshire Magazine. Her work has been featured in many national and international magazine and website articles. She is also the author of French Comfort Food and Cuisine Niçoise and has been a food and travel lecturer on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruise lines. She lives in New Hampshire.
So come join me on this journey to discover the French ovens of France, who creates them, what makes them so special, and why they are the most valuable pot you can have in your kitchen. I have developed recipes for them to show you how versatile they are and to illustrate the many ways they can be used. Try them then come join me at the table. À table!
EASY PIZZA FOR TWO
Pizza Facile pour Deux SERVES 2
French ovens make the best pizza ever, giving them a marvelous crust. I make this pizza recipe for two, but you can also slice it into 6 pieces to serve with wine for a snack before dinner.
It couldn’t be easier. First, buy a ball of dough from your local pizza shop and tell them you want one for a small-size pizza. Take it home, cover it, and leave it on the counter until ready to use. Once you see how quick and easy this pizza is to make, you’ll want to make it again and again with whatever toppings you are in the mood for. I often make this with anchovies and oil-cured black olives, and after it comes out of the oven, I grate sharp Parmigiano-Reggiano all over the top.
In fact, pulling this together goes so quickly that you can remove the pizza to a cutting board, leave the oven on, fit in another disk of pizza dough, arrange toppings, cook it for 3 minutes on top of the stove, and pop it in the oven for another round that will be ready in 14 minutes.
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT BOX GRATER; 5-QUART (5-L) OR LARGER FRENCH OVEN
8 ounces (225 g) fresh mozzarella
3 tablespoons (45 ml) extra virgin olive oil
1/4 small onion, sliced very thinly
2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
1/ 2 teaspoon salt
1 ball pizza dough for a small pizza purchased from your local pizza shop
4 tablespoons (60 ml) canned or bottled pizza sauce
1 heaping tablespoon herbes de Provence
8 fresh basil leaves, torn
3 ounces (90 g) prosciutto
3 ounces (90 g) Parmesan cheese
PREP
Preheat oven to 425° F (220° C). Grate half the mozzarella on the large holes of a box grater. Slice the rest into big pieces.
COOK
Heat the oil in the French oven over medium heat, toss in the onion, garlic, and salt, and cook until the onion slices are tender, about 6 minutes.
With a slotted spoon, scoop out the onion mixture to a plate and reserve, leaving the oil at the bottom. The onions and garlic will have flavored the oil and will flavor the underside of the pizza.
When the French oven is cooler and can be touched, place the pizza dough into the bottom over the oil, and stretch it out to fit, bringing up a slight rim around the sides.
Spread the pizza sauce over the dough and spoon on the cooked onions and garlic. Sprinkle with the herbes de Provence and basil, arrange slices of mozzarella and prosciutto all over, distribute the grated mozzarella, and then grate the Parmesan to finish.
Place the French oven on the stovetop, cover with its lid, and cook over medium high heat for 3 minutes.
Remove the lid, place in the oven, and bake for 14 minutes, until crisp and golden.
Remove the pizza from the oven. With a fork, gently coax up the edges then, with a spatula, lift the whole pizza to a cutting board. Slice and serve.
IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS
Fry pepperoni slices in the oil, remove to a plate, and fit the pizza dough over the pepperoni-flavored oil in the French oven for an incredibly delicious crust. Use the pepperoni slices for the top of the pie.