Kitchen Recipe Collection
Italian Pizza a Portafoglio
The original Neapolitan fast food. A smaller, softer Margherita pizza, folded into quarters like a wallet ('portafoglio') to be eaten while walking.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 2
- Difficulty
- medium
- Cuisine
- italian
Ingredients
Scaled for 2 servings
- neapolitan pizza dough (high hydration)
- san marzano tomatoes (crushed)
- fior di latte mozzarella (diced small)
- fresh basil
- extra virgin olive oil
- parmesan cheese
- fine salt
Equipment
- Pizza stone or high-heat pizza oven
- Pizza peel
Instructions
- 1
Prepare Dough
Use slightly smaller dough balls than a standard pizza (about 180g-200g). Let them come to room temperature so they stretch easily.
- 2
Stretch
Stretch the dough into a circle, leaving a slightly thicker edge (cornicione) and a very thin center.
- 3
Sauce
Spread a light layer of crushed San Marzano tomatoes over the dough. Do not over-sauce, or the pizza will be too messy to fold.
- 4
Cheese
Add a modest amount of diced mozzarella and a sprinkle of parmesan. (Again, restraint is key for a foldable pizza).
- 5
Garnish
Add a few torn basil leaves and a quick drizzle of olive oil.
- 6
Bake
Bake in a very hot oven (ideally on a pizza stone at 500°F/260°C or higher) until the crust is blistered and the cheese is melted (about 5-7 minutes in a home oven, 90 seconds in a wood-fired oven).
- 7
First Fold
Remove the pizza from the oven. While it is still piping hot, immediately fold it in half to create a half-moon shape.
- 8
Second Fold
Fold it in half again (into a quarter-circle), creating the 'wallet' shape.
- 9
Wrap
Traditionally, it is handed to the customer wrapped in a sheet of thick parchment or butcher paper.
- 10
Eat
Eat immediately while walking, being careful of the hot tomato sauce near the bottom point.
Cooking Tips
- The dough must be incredibly soft and pliable. If the crust is too crispy or hard, it will crack and break when folded.
- Less is more with the toppings; a heavily loaded pizza cannot be folded successfully.
Variations
- Pizza Fritta: Sometimes the term 'wallet pizza' is also used for deep-fried dough folded in the same manner.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- The most authentic way to consume pizza on the bustling streets of Naples.
Nutrition Estimate
380 calories · 14g protein · 55g carbs · 12g fat · 3g fiber per serving
