Food Network: Fried Bread with Anchovies: Cuddura Patedda

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Fried Bread with Anchovies: Cuddura Patedda
Recipe courtesy Mario Batali

Ingredients
Dough:
2 packages dry active yeast
4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the work surface
Salt
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for frying

Toppings:
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 scallions, thinly sliced
4 anchovy fillets, rinsed, drained and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon sugar
4 medium onions, thinly sliced
3 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded and minced (or 3 cups canned crushed Italian plum tomatoes, finely
chopped)
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes

Salt and freshly ground freshly ground black pepper
Freshly grated caciocavallo

Instructions
Combine the yeast with 1/2 cup warm water in a bowl. Let rest for 10
minutes so the yeast dissolves.

Put the flour into a large bowl with the salt. Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in
the dissolved yeast and water mixture. Add 1 cup cool water and the 3 tablespoons of the olive oil.
Using a wooden spoon, combine the ingredients until they form one mass of dough. You may need to add
some more cool water. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead it for about 10
minutes, until it is silky smooth.

Place the dough into a large, lightly floured bowl and turn it so that the entire surface of the
dough is lightly coated with the flour. Cover the bowl with a kitchen cloth and place in a warm area
of your kitchen (the top of the refrigerator is ideal), and let rest until it has doubled in size,

about 1 1/2 hours.

In the meantime, prepare the topping. In a 12-inch saucepan over low heat, combine the 1/2 cup of
the olive oil. Add the scallions, anchovies, sugar and onions and continue carmelizing over low heat
until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Add the tomatoes and chili flakes. Stir to combine.
Season to taste with salt and pepper, being aware that the anchovies themselves are salty. Continue
simmering over low heat, stirring often, for about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer
mixture to a mixing bowl to cool. Allow the mixture to come to room temperature.

When the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and knead for 1 minute in the bowl. On a lightly
floured work surface, and using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a large rectangle, about 1/4
inch thick. Using a sharp knife, cut the rectangle into squares, 3 by 5 inches large.

Fill a deep pot no more than halfway with extra-virgin olive oil. Heat oil over medium-high heat
until it reaches a temperature of 350 degrees. The oil should remain at or around this temperature
throughout the cooking process. Working in batches of 6, fry the dough until golden brown. Use a
slotted spoon or spider to gently drop the dough into the water, being careful not to splatter the
hot oil. Using the same spoon or spider, remove the finished bread to a plate lined with paper

towels.

As the bread is draining, reheat the tomato mixture, stirring well top recombine the ingredients.

Placed the fried dough pieces on a warm serving platter and spoon about 2 tablespoons tomato mixture
over the top of each piece. Sprinkle with caciocavallo cheese, to taste, and serve immediately.