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Easy Pull-Apart Pepperoni Garlic Knots

Course Appetizers, Pizza
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 tbs unsalted butter
  • 2 tbs olive oil extra-virgin, plus more for drizzling
  • 4 oz pepperoni cut into 1/4-inch squares
  • a pinch of red pepper flakes
  • 6 medium cloves garlic minced (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 1/4 cup parsley fresh, chopped leaves
  • 2 tbs chives minced, fresh (optional)
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated, plus more for sprinkling
  • all-purpose flour for dusting
  • 1 lb pizza dough homemade or store-bought, (see note
  • 1/4 cup pecorino romano cheese, grated
  • pizza sauce homemade or store-bought, for serving

Basic New York-Style Pizza Dough, makes enough dough for three 12-inch pies

  • 22.5 oz (about 4 1/2 cups) bread flour plus more for dusting
  • .5 oz (about 1 1/2 tbs) sugar
  • .35 oz (about 1 tbs) kosher salt
  • .35 oz (about 2 tsp) instant yeast
  • 1.125 oz (about 3 tbs) olive oil extra-virgin
  • 15 oz lukewarm water

New York-Style Pizza Sauce, Makes enough for 2 to 4 (12-inch) pies, depending on how much sauce you like

  • 1 can (28-oz) whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1 tbs olive oil extra-virgin
  • 1 tbs unsalted butter
  • 2 medium cloves garlic grated on microplane grater (about 2 teaspoons)
  • 1 tsp oregano dried
  • a pinch of red pepper flakes
  • kosher salt
  • 2 (6-inch) sprigs basil fresh, with leaves attached
  • 1 medium yellow onion peeled and split in half
  • 1 tsp sugar

Instructions

  • Heat butter and oil in a 10-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat until butter melts and foaming subsides. Add pepperoni and cook, stirring, until pepperoni begins to crisp, about 2 minutes. Add pepper flakes and garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add parsley and chives and stir to combine. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and stir in Parmesan cheese. Do not wipe out skillet.
  • On a lightly floured surface, divide dough into two even pieces. Working one piece at a time, roll or stretch into an oblong about 8 inches long and 4 inches wide. With a bench scraper or knife, cut crosswise into 12 strips. Repeat with other half of dough.
  • Tie each strip into a knot and transfer to bowl with pepperoni/garlic mixture. Toss and fold with your hands until every knot is thoroughly coated in mixture. Transfer the knots to the skillet in a single layer. Drizzle with more olive oil, cover tightly with plastic, and set aside until doubled in size, about 4 hours. Alternatively, refrigerate until doubled in size, 12 to 16 hours.
  • When ready to bake, preheat oven to 425°F and adjust oven rack to center position. Unwrap garlic knots. Sprinkle with Romano cheese. Transfer to oven and bake until golden brown and crisp, 25 to 30 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and immediately brush with more extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle lightly with more Parmesan. Serve right away with warmed sauce on the side.

Basic New York-Style Pizza Dough, makes enough dough for three 12-inch pies

  • Combine flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in bowl of food processor. Pulse 3 to 4 times until incorporated. Add olive oil and water. Run food processor until mixture forms ball that rides around the bowl above the blade, about 15 seconds. Continue processing 15 seconds longer.
  • Transfer dough ball to lightly floured surface and knead once or twice by hand until smooth ball is formed. It should pass the windowpane test. Divide dough into three even parts and place each in a covered quart-sized deli container or in a zipper-lock freezer bag. Place in refrigerator and allow to rise at least 1 day, and up to 5. Remove from refrigerator, shape into balls, and allow to rest at room temperature for at least 2 hours before baking.
  • YIELD: makes enough dough for three 12-inch pies ACTIVE TIME: 30 minutes TOTAL TIME: 24 hours

New York-Style Pizza Sauce

  • This creates a slightly sweet, intense tomato sauce typical of New York-style slices. It's also good served with pasta.
  • Process tomatoes and their juice through food mill, pulse in food processor until pureed, or puree with hand blender. Puree should not be completely smooth, but should have no chunks larger than 1/16 of an inch. Set tomatoes aside.
  • Combine butter and oil in medium saucepan and heat over medium-low heat until butter is melted. Add garlic, oregano, pepper flakes, and large pinch salt and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant but not browned, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, basil sprigs, onion halves, and sugar. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to lowest setting (bubbles should barely be breaking the surface), and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by 1/2, about 1 hour. Discard onions and basil stems. Season to taste with salt. Allow to cool and store in covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
  • YIELD: Makes enough for 2 to 4 (12-inch) pies, depending on how much sauce you like ACTIVE TIME: 15 minutes TOTAL TIME: 2 hours

Notes

Easy Pull-Apart Pepperoni Garlic Knots Recipe

Easy Pull-Apart Pepperoni Garlic Knots Recipe
These super-simple pull-apart pepperoni garlic knots will kick your next party in the pants with flavor.
These pull-apart garlic knots are baked in a cast iron skillet for a crisp, golden brown bottom. They are intensely flavored with pepperoni, red pepper flakes, garlic, and two types of cheeses, and have a moist, buttery crumb. It's the kind of recipe that your guests will demand you make time and time again because they're that damn good. Good thing they're easy as well.
Note: Because of how intensely flavored these garlic knots are, this is one case where store-bought dough (which is often under-seasoned) works just as well as homemade. So feel free to take the easy road here and use pre-made pizza dough—you won't be sacrificing any flavor.
YIELD: Serves 4 to 6 as an appetizer or snack
ACTIVE TIME:30 minutes
TOTAL TIME:5 hours (or up to overnight)