Panuozzo mortadella and potatoes

Filled with mortadella and potatoes, and topped with an awesome pistachio pesto, it’s the ultimate snack for any day.

For the pistachio pesto;

First blend the pistachios and oil into a creamy consistency, then add the garlic and blend together. Add in Pecorino Romano last and blend until it’s a golden-brown color.

For the dough;

Add the flour and yeast into a mixer bowl and mix on low for 2 minutes. Gradually add 80% of the total water volume to the mixer, continue to mix on low until it begins to combine. Once a mass is formed (after about 4-5 minutes of mixing) increase the mixer speed to 50% and begin to slowly add the 5% of remaining water to collect any unmixed flour in the bowl. Once the 5% of water collects all unmixed flour, increase speed to 100% and add salt and mix until it is incorporated with the mass. When the salt is no longer visible, increase the speed and gradually add in the final 15% of water. Stop the mixer when the water has absorbed and the dough is smooth. Allow the dough to rest 5 minutes before removing from the mixer. When you remove it from the mixer you can either divide into desired portions and ferment 24-48 hours or you can leave it as one large mass and cold bulk ferment for 24 hours then divide into portions and continue to refrigerate for another 12-24 hours (bulk fermentation is recommended for best results). Luis likes to do a 36 hour total cold ferment (24 hours bulk and then 12 hours balled).

For the panuozzo;

Pull your dough out and allow it to proof at room temperature anywhere from 2-4 total hours. Proof temperatures will vary depending on the ambient temperature of the room it is proofing at. Luis likes to proof his dough at about 70°F. Once the dough has completed its proof and the oven’s floor temperature has reached 800-850°F, remove a dough ball and divide it in half. Once divided, place over a generous pile of flour and dimple the dough working from top to bottom. Bake the panuozzo using a low flame setting while making sure to rotate 90 degrees every 15-20 seconds or so. The panuozzo should be done in about 60-80 seconds. When the panuozzo has nice leopard spotting and puffed up in volume, it’s completed its bake. Allow the panuozzo to rest for about 1-2 minutes then cut it open with scissors to open it, keeping one of the long sides uncut. From there, layer with mortadella, top with potatoes, and drizzle over the pistachio pesto. To finish, garnish with basil leaves, Pecorino Romano and chopped Pistachios.