Sfinciuni, or Sfincione, is a traditional Sicilian pizza-like bread, often made in Palermo during the holidays. It’s a thick, spongy dough topped with tomatoes, anchovies, onions, breadcrumbs, and cheese. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make Sfincione:
Ingredients:
For the Dough:
- 500g (about 4 cups) bread flour
- 300ml (1 ¼ cups) warm water
- 10g (2 tsp) salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 7g (1 packet) dry yeast
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Topping:
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- Crushed tomatoes 400g or tomato sauce
- 100g (3.5 oz) grated Pecorino or Caciocavallo cheese
- 5-6 anchovy fillets (optional)
- 100g (1 cup) breadcrumbs
- Pepper, Salt, oregano, and fresh basil to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil (for drizzling)
Instructions:
Prepare the Dough:
- In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water along with the sugar. About 10 minutes need to sit, until frothy.
- In a large bowl, need to mix the flour and salt. Make a well in the center, pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil, and start kneading the dough until it’s smooth and elastic. This should take about 10-15 minutes.
- Shape the dough into a ball, place it in a greased bowl, cover with a cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
Cook the Onions:
- While the dough is rising, heat the olive oil in a large pan. Add the sliced onions and cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes until they are soft and golden.
- Add the tomatoes to the onions and cook for another 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt, pepper, oregano, and basil. Let it cool slightly after remove from heat.
Assemble the Sfincione:
- Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F).
- Once the dough has risen, punch it down and roll it out into a rectangular or round shape about 1.5-2 cm (½-¾ inch) thick.
- Need to transfer the dough to a greased baking sheet or a pizza stone.
- Spread the tomato-onion mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Add the anchovy fillets over the tomato sauce (if using).
- Need to sprinkle the grated cheese over the top.
- Finish with a layer of breadcrumbs and a drizzle of olive oil.
Bake:
- Bake the Sfincione in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until the crust is golden and the topping is bubbly.
- Before cutting into squares or slices, let it cool slightly.
Serve:
- Sfincione is traditionally served warm or at room temperature. You can garnish it with extra fresh basil or a sprinkle of oregano before serving.
Enjoy your homemade Sicilian sfincione!
