cast iron pan | the petite beet

Guys. Making a pizza in a cast iron skillet is amazing. I’ve never done it before and absolutely loved it. And the best part is that the whole thing takes about 3-4 minutes to cook! Normally I like a thin pizza, but there’s something about this pillowly crust that is heavenly. I didn’t even make it to the table, or to a chair for that matter, I ate half of it just standing in my kitchen like a PRO!

Ingredients:
Pizza dough (you only need half)
1 cup Brussels sprouts, trimmed and washed
1/2 leek, trimmed and washed
2 small garlic cloves, chopped
Smoked mozzarella, sliced
Soppressata, thinly sliced
All-purpose
Olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Honey, for topping (optional)

I purchased my dough from Whole Foods, as I was feeling lazy, but you can make your own if you like! I simply cut the ball in half and froze the other half for future pizza making.

To start, saute the garlic, leeks, and Brussels sprouts in a little olive oil until the greens have softened a bit. Salt and pepper to taste then set aside. Next, heat the cast iron pan on your stovetop over medium heat for 10 minutes.

Get your broiler going in the oven. Roll your dough out on a floured surface, making it about the size of your skillet. Have your toppings ready and on stand by, because once you place that dough in the skillet you need to add those toppings fast! Gently place your dough into the hot pan. It might not come out perfect, but that is OK. Top with the mozzarella, veggie mixture, and soppressata. Turn off the burner, and place the pan directly into the oven underneath the broiler. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, rotating the pan occasionally, until the crust is bubbling and has a nice golden color with few burnt bits. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before eating.

Serve with some fresh grated Parmesan cheese, and a drizzle of honey! I used Mikes Hot Honey which I LOVE and totally recommend. You could probably make your own version by mixing in some cayenne pepper with your regular honey if you like. ENJOY!

Hash is one of my all time favorite breakfast foods! Using a cast iron pan is key, and letting it cook for a while so that the ingredients almost melt together and get crispy is also important. Top the hash with some runny poached eggs and you have the best breakfast ever (or dinner in my case tonight!) It is incredibly easy- you just have to have a little patience while it cooks down and does its thaang.

Ingredients: (makes about 2-3 servings)
2 large Yukon gold potatoes, cut into small cubes
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 yellow onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 cup rainbow chard, chopped
6 oz sliced ham, chopped (I used Applegate organic ham)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Eggs, for poaching
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or white vinegar, for poaching eggs (optional)
Olive oil

Add some olive oil to a cast iron pan over medium heat. Add the potatoes, stirring every minute or so to avoid them sticking to the pan too much. Once they start browning a little, add the smoked paprika. In a separate pan, saute the garlic in some olive oil for about 30 seconds, then add the onions and cook until translucent. Next add the bell pepper, then salt and pepper to taste. Lower the heat and let the onion/pepper mixture cook down until the potatoes are ready. You want the potatoes to be fork tender with a little brown on them. I cooked my potatoes for about 15-20 minutes before adding the onion and pepper mixture. After you add the mixture to the potatoes, continue to cook down for another 5 minutes or so, then add the rainbow chard, followed by the ham. Continue to stir the hash every couple of minutes, and in between mixing push everything down with a wooden spoon so that the nice cast iron pan can do its job and brown everything. In my opinion, the more you cook it the better it gets. Just taste it as you go and turn off the heat when you think it has reached its hash potential!

When the hash is about done, get a pot of boiling water going. Time for perfect poached eggs! Add the apple cider or white vinegar to the boiling water, this will help keep the egg fluffy. Crack the egg into a small ramekin and have it ready to go. Take a spoon and swirl the water to create a little whirlpool, then gently pour the egg into the center. This will help the egg keep its shape. Cook for about 1 1/2-2 minutes then remove with a slotted spoon. I usually pull it out and gently feel the center of the egg to make sure it is as soft as I like it. I get my local eggs from my CSA and I swear they taste so better then supermarket eggs. They seem to be creamier or something, I love them. Anyway, plate the hash and top with the poached eggs!