The tiella, typical to the Gulf of Gaeta, is something in between a pizza and a calzone. It's the shape of a pizza with a softer dough, and filled, like a calzone. Like so many southern Lazio gastronomical specialties, the tiella was born a poor man's food and a way to use up leftovers. The local favorite is filled with calamari, tomato, olive oil, parsley and a touch of peperoncino. The tiella alla parmigiana is filled with eggplant, cheese, tomato and fresh basil. Another popular filling is potatoes and zucchini.
Course Appetizer, Snack, street food
Cuisine Italian
Keyword stuffed pizza, tiella
Cook Time 35 minutesminutes
Rising time 1 hourhour
Total Time 1 hourhour35 minutesminutes
Servings 8
Calories 3906kcal
Ingredients
1kilogramFlour
300milliliterswater
1cakeyeast
1teaspoonsugar
2tablespoonsolive oil1 for the dough, 1 to coat the bowl where the dough will rise
Prepare your desired tiella filling; the filling can be almost anything, including leftovers! Think Chicken Pot Pie! My favorites are a tomato seafood filling, or eggplant parmesan.
Combine 300 ml of tepid water with the yeast and sugar.
Gradually combine the yeast mixture & flour.
As needed, add the additional 200 ml water bit by bit so that you have a soft, kneadable dough.
Add the salt and 1 tbsp oil to the dough.
Knead the dough until it is smooth & elastic, about 5 minutes.
Put the remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil into a large bowl with the dough, and cover it with the oil.
Cover the bowl with a damp dishcloth and allow the dough to rise until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 200ºC.
Punch dough down & make into 6 to 10 dough balls.
Roll each ball into a disc (or rectangle) that will just fit into a pie or tart pan, or a wide-rimmed baking sheet.
Place one disk into a pie or tart pan and add the desired filling.
Top with a second disk and pinch the edges to seal.
Bake in a 200ºC oven until golden, about 35 minutes.