Fried Pizza?

I am posting regarding my husband, who has been driving me nuts with a quest for this for about 20+ years. This type of pizza is made out of regular pizza dough but instead of being baked, is fried in a big skillet of oil, flipped over, and when done, topped with crushed tomatoes instead of pizza sauce and some grated Parmesan cheese. His Italian NJ neighbors used to make it this way when he was growing up and he says there used to be a booth in the Iselin NJ fair that used to make them this way. Many years ago, he found them a couple of times in Trenton, usually in a place that had a sign out front that said “Tomato Pies” but since then, they have had the same kind of sauce but are baked, not fried.

I know they exist because my Italian neighbors used to invite us (along with lots of their other family members) over for pizza on a Sunday afternoon and it was also fried in giant skillets of olive oil and then topped with the smooshed tomatoes and grated mozzarella and Parmesan and baked in the oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese.

It would be a Roadfood victory if you know of a place that still makes them this way and I could take him there for our anniversary in October. Do fried pizzas still exist?

This is a popular fair food around here, as well as Deepfried burgers.

We also have the number 1 heart attack rate in the country, go figure.

Can you recall any of the fairs where you've seen them, Kodachrome? We're not that far away - between Allentown & Reading.

Ruby,
So sorry I'm just getting to this thread now. I've been going to the Iselin Fair forever and always get the pizza. This past summer was the last year for the Iselin Fair, and the last time I'll eat that unique pizza. It's been there every year.

There's a fried pizza recipe in the latest Gourmet - the Movies edition - from Sophia Loren no less!

quote:

Originally posted by John Fox

Ruby,
So sorry I'm just getting to this thread now. I've been going to the Iselin Fair forever and always get the pizza. This past summer was the last year for the Iselin Fair, and the last time I'll eat that unique pizza. It's been there every year.

Correction. I just read in today's Star Ledger that while St. Cecilia's sold the land that they held the Iselin Fair on, they will be continuing the fair in their parking lot. Deep fried pizza lives in Iselin!

from what I think you are talking about.... are you talking about "fried dough"? I am from connecticut and just about any little place at a public beach or ANY local fair has fried dough... Most people either put pasta sauce and cheese on the dough, or powdered sugar and cinnimon..... or I actually have friends that put pasta sause and powdered sugar.. doesnt taste too bad actually

quote:

Originally posted by steedoww3

from what I think you are talking about.... are you talking about "fried dough"? I am from connecticut and just about any little place at a public beach or ANY local fair has fried dough... Most people either put pasta sauce and cheese on the dough, or powdered sugar and cinnimon..... or I actually have friends that put pasta sause and powdered sugar.. doesnt taste too bad actually

Sounds like what I grew up eating at Italian religious festivals in the New Haven area.

Hi Ruby!
I grew up at the Iselin Fair with that delicious pizza! Instead of searching for a place to go order it, make it yourself!
 I do it all the time! You just have to buy some dough from the store or any pizzaria. Break off a small piece, stretch it out or roll it out... shape doesn't matter, that's how it was at the fair, and then throw it in a deep fryer or pan with hot oil. Cook a few mins, turn over cook a few more then take it out and place on a paper towel. Use any sauce.... homemade is best if your Italian, and then sprinkle on some grated Romano cheese, cut in half and you have the St. Cecelia's Iselin Fair pizza in your own home anytime you like. My family loves it. As a matter of fact, my husbands family is from RI and up there it's Fried dough but instead of sauce and cheese, they put butter and powder sugar. So I cook the dough and they dress it their favorite way either pizza or fried dough and everypne is happy!
Try it and your husband will love you for it.
Jmm

PS. my family used to work at the fair every year!

It's great fun to make and even more to eat, and as jmm10257 said,,,so easy...we call it pizza fritte(spelling??) or fried pizza....simple marinara tomato sauce works best, or dressed up crushed tomatoes....enjoy!!!!

my mom use to make something like this out of bread dough all the time. She would fry it. then depending on what time of day it was. you would either get. butter and syrup on it. OR tomatoes and cheese.
  Wow that brings back memories. I havent had it in years. People always look at me funny when I talk about fried bread dough.

heidijackh

leethebard


It's great fun to make and even more to eat, and as jmm10257 said,,,so easy...we call it pizza fritte(spelling??) or fried pizza....simple marinara tomato sauce works best, or dressed up crushed tomatoes....enjoy!!!!

I'd like to have a pizza right now, but the place I'm now doesn't have any sign of pizza. But eating a vegetable dish thats so delicious. yummiee....
merirasoi.com/recipe-categories/vegetables.aspx gives you the recipies of the delicious dishes..

Huh??? What do you mean??

Spammer

We always go the Indiana State Fair with children & grandchildren.  As for food we do not stray from our favorites:
 
Grilled beef ribeye sandwices from the Indiana Beef Cattle Association , grilled pork tenderloin or pork barbecue sandwiches from Indiana Pork Producers Association, grilled chicken from the Indiana State Poultry Association.   Fresh corn on the cob from the Lions Club or Jaycees, fresh ribbon cut french fries, corn dogs, lemon shake-ups, elephant ears,funnel cakes.
 
Wow, I need to go on  fast just to get ready for this year's visit.
 
 

We've a restaurant in nearby Waukesha that's been serving a variation of this since 1946.
 
Jimmy's Grotto calls it a Ponza Rotta and it is pretty tasty.
 
http://jimmysgrottopizza.com/
 
You can have it filled with a number of different ingredients.
 
 

pizza fritte aka fried dough Personally never heard of putting sauce and cheese but we sprinkle powdered sugar and cinammon on it. take a trip to the great new york state fair every other booth will have it

I was in Scotland back in 1994. We were at a fish and chip shop and apparently the Scots love things deep friend. They had deep friend pizza. The pizza slices were slightly frozen first, then dipped in batter and then deep fried and apparently loved by all.  I tried deep fried haggis. It was good. 

This "fried pizza" concept sounds incredible. Anyone know of any CT establishments that serve this type of dish?