Things that are like pizza and empanadas
January 2, 2022 10:48 AM Subscribe
My husband has a birthday coming up and I'd like to introduce him to a food he can add to his cooking repertoire. I'm envisioning a related cookbook plus relevant cooking accessory/ies. (Note: he'll very likely appreciate this and not think I'm criticizing his kitchen prowess or assigning him work.) He's pretty anchored in cooking pizza and empanadas so I'm wondering if there's another food that fits the same criteria...
While pizza and empanadas are very different, they (a) involve dough, (b) promote creativity with toppings/fillings, and (c) enable future gift-giving since there are associated non-essential tools I could purchase and wrap (e.g., fancy pizza cutter, empanada dough press).
Any ideas?
While pizza and empanadas are very different, they (a) involve dough, (b) promote creativity with toppings/fillings, and (c) enable future gift-giving since there are associated non-essential tools I could purchase and wrap (e.g., fancy pizza cutter, empanada dough press).
Any ideas?
Almost every culture that has had access to flour have their own versions of flatbread and bread stuffed with something, so I feel like there are a lot of good possibilities here.
Pizza-esque? How about pita, or naan, or frybread?
Empanad-ish? Try dumplings, or pierogi, or a nice stuffed challah.
posted by box at 10:56 AM on January 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Pizza-esque? How about pita, or naan, or frybread?
Empanad-ish? Try dumplings, or pierogi, or a nice stuffed challah.
posted by box at 10:56 AM on January 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
(There are, of course, more uncommon options.)
posted by box at 11:01 AM on January 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by box at 11:01 AM on January 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
Ravioli and other filled pasta. Lots of possibilities for equipment (pasta roller, fluted cutter, ravioli press) and room for creativity with fillings and form. This could be fresh pasta in general as well.
Chinese dumplings and buns. Huge variety of doughs, fillings and techniques. Bamboo steamer is the obvious equipment gift.
Mexican corn-based dishes. Tacos, tamales, quesadillas, huaraches, tlayudas, memelas, tlacoyos, gorditas, sopes, tetelas, and many more. Tortilla press to start, but later there's a steamer for tamales, a grinder to make his own masa from corn, and a huge variety of dried chiles.
posted by ssg at 11:12 AM on January 2, 2022 [6 favorites]
Chinese dumplings and buns. Huge variety of doughs, fillings and techniques. Bamboo steamer is the obvious equipment gift.
Mexican corn-based dishes. Tacos, tamales, quesadillas, huaraches, tlayudas, memelas, tlacoyos, gorditas, sopes, tetelas, and many more. Tortilla press to start, but later there's a steamer for tamales, a grinder to make his own masa from corn, and a huge variety of dried chiles.
posted by ssg at 11:12 AM on January 2, 2022 [6 favorites]
I love cookies for all these reasons, most especially the gifting and presentation.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 11:12 AM on January 2, 2022
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 11:12 AM on January 2, 2022
Crepes are filled with sweet or savory yummies, and need a specific pan but I cannot think of any add-ons.
posted by mightshould at 11:13 AM on January 2, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by mightshould at 11:13 AM on January 2, 2022 [4 favorites]
Doughnuts and eclairs and creampuffs, oh my!
posted by mochapickle at 11:25 AM on January 2, 2022
posted by mochapickle at 11:25 AM on January 2, 2022
Samosas (Indian) or Sambusas (Ethiopian).
Pupusas (Salvadoran) or Arepas (Columbian / Venezuelan).
[Cornish] Pasties (British).
And if you want something sweet, turnovers or hand pies, wherever they're from.
posted by fedward at 11:27 AM on January 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
Pupusas (Salvadoran) or Arepas (Columbian / Venezuelan).
[Cornish] Pasties (British).
And if you want something sweet, turnovers or hand pies, wherever they're from.
posted by fedward at 11:27 AM on January 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
I have the Nordic Ware Ebelskiver pan, flipping tongs, and cookbook from Williams Sonoma, it looks like the cookbook is now sold out but I’m sure there are others. I’ve had a lot at fun with it!
I second the crepe idea, you technically can make them without any special equipment, but the equipment is nice to have.
Bread making can also be very creative!!
posted by sillysally at 11:35 AM on January 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
I second the crepe idea, you technically can make them without any special equipment, but the equipment is nice to have.
Bread making can also be very creative!!
posted by sillysally at 11:35 AM on January 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Pasta is pretty different, but at the same time, also not? Dough, lots of potential varieties, lots of potential accompaniments, and lots of potential for cool tools.
posted by trig at 11:41 AM on January 2, 2022
posted by trig at 11:41 AM on January 2, 2022
Tacos (tortilla press and masa harina). And good Rancho Gordo beans.
posted by vunder at 12:07 PM on January 2, 2022
posted by vunder at 12:07 PM on January 2, 2022
The whole universe of plain and filled breads from the Indian subcontinent. Gift: a belan (a rolling pin; there are two types, a short one and a long, thin one), chakla (the round wooden platform you roll on), tava (griddle), and a papad jali (a roasting grid with a handle that holds the bread a little off the flame to balloon it).
If he gets good at those breads there are a lot of Indian snacks that come under the general heading of chaat that require forming skills - besides the samosas already mentioned by fedward, there's bhaji (fritters, loosely), aloo bonda (battered mashed potato balls), aloo tikki (griddled mashed potato cakes sometimes stuffed with peas), vadas (savory doughnuts, approximately), etc.
posted by jocelmeow at 12:20 PM on January 2, 2022 [4 favorites]
If he gets good at those breads there are a lot of Indian snacks that come under the general heading of chaat that require forming skills - besides the samosas already mentioned by fedward, there's bhaji (fritters, loosely), aloo bonda (battered mashed potato balls), aloo tikki (griddled mashed potato cakes sometimes stuffed with peas), vadas (savory doughnuts, approximately), etc.
posted by jocelmeow at 12:20 PM on January 2, 2022 [4 favorites]
Lumpia, egg rolls, spring rolls
posted by gt2 at 12:21 PM on January 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by gt2 at 12:21 PM on January 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Might be too obvious, but https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calzone
posted by the Real Dan at 12:24 PM on January 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by the Real Dan at 12:24 PM on January 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
Pelmenis! They do not require one, but you can use a pelmenitsa mold, which is just a high capacity soviet style ravioli maker. You can make a lot of pelminis or raviolis with one (we freeze them when we make them). They're adorable little hexagons of delight.
I have great difficulty making pastas generally, but! the recipe within the Kachka cookbook for pelmeni dough is superb, forgiving and the rest of the cookbook is great to boot.
posted by furnace.heart at 12:43 PM on January 2, 2022
I have great difficulty making pastas generally, but! the recipe within the Kachka cookbook for pelmeni dough is superb, forgiving and the rest of the cookbook is great to boot.
posted by furnace.heart at 12:43 PM on January 2, 2022
Pasta crank machine is good for making all kinds of things with and without fillings. Rough puff pastry is not hard to make and can be frozen and used for versatile things both sweet and savory.
posted by rikschell at 1:28 PM on January 2, 2022
posted by rikschell at 1:28 PM on January 2, 2022
Pierogi!
posted by Sassyfras at 2:00 PM on January 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Sassyfras at 2:00 PM on January 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Meat Pies. There are a tonne of recipes out there, Australian bakeries sell everything from basic beef pie to thai chicken pies with a range including things like fetta and spinach pies or even a nice breakfast pie. Think a small hand pie not a huge pie. Hot water pie crust/Pastry/dough is super easy to work with and very forgiving and no resting like a fruit pie dough.
posted by wwax at 2:06 PM on January 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by wwax at 2:06 PM on January 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
Emphatically seconding nicolin on the khachapuri suggestion! This teeny book by Gloria Capalbo provides a surprisingly thorough introduction to the rich and varied world of khachapuri and other Georgian flatbreads.
The book Lavash is another great option. In addition to the flatbread referenced in the title, it explores many aspects of Armenian cuisine and culture. Don't miss the Jingalov Hats recipe (flatbreads stuffed with greens).
For either of these books, a cast-iron griddle that covers a couple of stove burners would be a good accompanying gift.
posted by la glaneuse at 2:23 PM on January 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
The book Lavash is another great option. In addition to the flatbread referenced in the title, it explores many aspects of Armenian cuisine and culture. Don't miss the Jingalov Hats recipe (flatbreads stuffed with greens).
For either of these books, a cast-iron griddle that covers a couple of stove burners would be a good accompanying gift.
posted by la glaneuse at 2:23 PM on January 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Thirding Khachapuri. They're delicious, with many established variations, but also plenty of room for improvising.
posted by Tabitha Someday at 3:01 PM on January 2, 2022
posted by Tabitha Someday at 3:01 PM on January 2, 2022
Came here to suggest dumplings; mumimor beat me to it, but here's another dumpling book. (I got it as a Christmas gift; don't know if it's any good yet.)
posted by madcaptenor at 3:29 PM on January 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by madcaptenor at 3:29 PM on January 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Hand Pies! Savory recipe. Another savory one. And another. And a bunch more.
posted by mareli at 4:11 PM on January 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by mareli at 4:11 PM on January 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Pasties are basically Cornish empanadas. Not sure if it's a bit too similar, but the fillings are certainly quite different. They don't need tools beyond a rolling pin, but they benefit from a solid herb selection (sage, thyme, bay leaf, etc.) that might make a future gift in a spice rack that you can build out for everything else they cook.
(Also, treat him to a block of Stilton and tell him to cook with it rather than eat it. Steak and Stilton cheese pasties are a revelation if you happen to like blue cheeses.)
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 11:04 PM on January 2, 2022
(Also, treat him to a block of Stilton and tell him to cook with it rather than eat it. Steak and Stilton cheese pasties are a revelation if you happen to like blue cheeses.)
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 11:04 PM on January 2, 2022
Oh, Flammkuchen, aka Tarte Flambée, is like pizza but as purists will remind you, not pizza. I think I ate at least one a week the year I spent in Germany.
posted by fedward at 8:00 AM on January 3, 2022
posted by fedward at 8:00 AM on January 3, 2022
Stromboli.
posted by porpoise at 9:49 AM on January 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by porpoise at 9:49 AM on January 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by mumimor at 10:51 AM on January 2, 2022 [3 favorites]