Homemade Panuozzo
Imported from Instagram
1 hour 40 minutesMedium4 servings

Homemade Panuozzo

Make delicious Neapolitan panuozzo at home using a simple pizza dough. These sandwiches are perfectly soft on the inside with a beautifully baked crust, ready to be filled with your favorite Italian ingredients.

Mise turned a cooking video on Instagram into this written step-by-step recipe — 13 ingredients, 7 steps, 1 hour 40 minutes, with a generated photo for every step.

Time100min
LevelMedium
Servings4
Method 7 steps
01

In a bowl, dilute the baker's yeast in the warm water along with the sugar.

02

Add the flour, fine semolina, salt, and olive oil. Mix until a homogeneous dough is formed; there is no need to knead it heavily.

03

Cover the dough and let it rest in a warm place for 1 hour, or until it has doubled in volume.

04

Punch down the dough and transfer it to a work surface. Cut it into 4 equal portions of about 160g each. Shape them into balls, cover, and let them rest for another 20 minutes.

05

Dust the dough balls with extra semolina or flour and press them out gently to form elongated sandwich shapes. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

06

Bake in a preheated oven at 300°C (570°F) for 7 to 8 minutes until the breads are puffed and slightly charred.

07

Let the panuozzo cool slightly. Slice them open and fill with stracciatella cheese, arugula, prosciutto, parmesan shavings, and a drizzle of olive oil before serving.

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Notes

Originating from the Gragnano region near Naples, the panuozzo is a hybrid of pizza and a sandwich. This version utilizes a high-temperature quick bake to create a hollow center and a charred exterior, mimicking a traditional wood-fired oven. The dough relies on a blend of flour and semolina to achieve a specific texture that is both chewy and supportive of heavy fillings. It is an ideal weekend lunch option when you want the flavor profile of a Neapolitan pizza in a portable, structured format.

The final result on the plate features a crust that is crisp and slightly blistered, contrasted by a soft, steam-puffed interior. Because the bread is baked twice in many traditional settings, this single-bake home adaptation ensures the crumb remains moist. Expect a light, airy bite that yields easily to the creamy stracciatella and salty prosciutto, making it feel substantial without being overly dense or heavy.

Before you start

  • When diluting the yeast in step one, ensure the water temperature is between 32 and 38 degrees Celsius to prevent killing the yeast culture.
  • During the first rest, the dough is ready when a finger pressed into the surface leaves an indentation that does not immediately spring back.
  • Avoid over-handling the dough during the shaping phase in step five; preserving the gas bubbles inside ensures the bread puffs up in the oven.
  • Monitor the bake closely at 300 degrees Celsius as the transition from charred to burnt happens within seconds during the final minute.

Swaps that work

  • Replace stracciatella cheese with 50g of drained buffalo mozzarella pearls for a firmer texture and less moisture in the bread.
  • Substitute prosciutto with two slices of bresaola if you prefer a leaner, airier saltiness that complements the peppery arugula.
  • Swap fine semolina with an equal weight of cornmeal to provide a coarser, crunchier exterior texture on the bottom of the crust.

Keeping it

Panuozzo is best consumed immediately after baking to enjoy the contrast between the hot bread and cold fillings. If you must store the bread, wrap the unfilled loaves in foil for up to twenty-four hours at room temperature. Reheat in a 180 degree Celsius oven for five minutes before slicing and adding fresh ingredients. Freezing is possible for up to one month; thaw completely before following the reheating instructions.

Questions

Why did my panuozzo come out dense rather than hollow?

This usually happens if the oven temperature was too low or the dough was rolled too thin. High heat causes the rapid steam expansion necessary for the bread to puff. Additionally, if you pressed out all the air during shaping, the structure will remain flat and heavy.

Can I prepare the dough several hours ahead of time?

You can prolong the first rise by placing the dough in the refrigerator for up to twenty-four hours. This cold fermentation develops more complex flavors and a better crust color. Bring the dough back to room temperature for thirty minutes before proceeding with the shaping and second rest.

What should I do if my oven does not reach 300 degrees Celsius?

Set your oven to its highest possible setting and use a preheated pizza stone or an inverted heavy baking tray. These tools retain heat and help mimic the thermal mass of a professional oven, ensuring the bottom of the bread cooks as quickly as the top.

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