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    Home » Lunch

    Catalan coca (Spanish pizza)

    January 30, 2018 by Caroline's Cooking

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    Catalan coca Spanish pizza

    When I lived in Catalunya, one of my favorite things to buy in a few local bakeries was a slice of coca. It's kind of a Spanish pizza or flatbread, but with some key differences - while toppings vary, most have no sauce and no cheese. But don't let that put you off, this is one delicious slice.

    Jump to Recipe
    bottom part of Catalan coca Spanish pizza

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    I've mentioned before that I often think Spanish food is under-appreciated and less well known. True, most people know of paella, although probably not variations like black rice paella or fideua. Familiar tapas include Spanish tortilla and gazpacho, but probably not salt cod stuffed piquillo peppers and white wine marinated steak with blue cheese.

    Part of that is many dishes are regional and so you won't even find them across all of Spain. Catalan coca is a case in point. While it's becoming more well known, it's really only popular in the Northeast and Mallorca. Which is a shame as it's a true treat.

    close up of corner of Catalan coca

    Just as with Italian pizza, you'll find a few different toppings for Spanish pizza/flatbread. One that I saw regularly where I lived there is topped with caramelized onions, peppers and a little paprika.

    It's incredibly simple, but works so well. Plus, it's vegan so lets more people enjoy a tasty slice.

    whole Catalan coca Spanish pizza

    How to make Catalan coca/ Spanish pizza

    The coca base is pretty similar to any other pizza, and you can indeed use your favorite dough. If you make from scratch then make it with more olive oil and less water than you might be used to, as below.

    It's a yeasted dough, so does need time to rise (though just once), but you can use this time to prepare the topping.

    I've pre-cooked the topping to make sure the onions have that lovely caramelized flavor and the peppers are tender and soft. Yes, you might get some slightly burnt-looking bits as it cooks, but trim them off and it will taste absolutely fine.

    softening peppers and onions, adding them to dough base and sprinkling with paprika

    Catalan coca might not be quite like most pizza's you've had before, but believe me, you won't be missing the sauce and cheese. Well, maybe the cheese in our house, but this is still one incredibly tasty slice, perfect for lunch, parties or any excuse.

    piece of Spanish pizza with a bite taken out

    Enjoy pizza? Try these other tasty takes on the theme:

    • Lahmacun (Turkish lamb flatbread/pizza)
    • Flammekueche (pizza/flatbread from Alsace with bacon and onion)
    • Caramelized onion and gorgonzola pizza
    • Green pizza (all the green veg!)
    • Plus get more Spanish recipes in the archives.
    overhead view of Catalan coca - Spanish pizza
    Print Recipe
    5 from 3 votes

    Catalan coca (Spanish pizza)

    There may not be tomatoes or cheese, but this Catalan coca (Spanish pizza) is one tasty slice.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time35 mins
    Total Time50 mins
    Course: Lunch, Snack
    Cuisine: Spanish
    Servings: 2 (or 4 as more of appetizer)
    Calories: 812kcal
    Author: Caroline's Cooking
    SaveSaved!

    Ingredients

    For the pizza base

    • 1 cup white bread flour 135g
    • ½ cup whole wheat flour 70g
    • ½ cup all purpose flour 70g plain flour
    • ¾ teaspoon fast-acting dried yeast
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon sugar
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 ½ tablespoon plain yogurt eg Greek-style
    • ¾ cups water 180ml, warm

    For the topping

    • 1 onion
    • 1 red pepper
    • 4 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon paprika

    Instructions

    Ahead of time

    • To make the pizza dough, put the flours, yeast, salt and sugar in a large bowl and mix together. Make a slight well in the middle and add the oil, yogurt and water and carefully mix together into a dough. It will be slightly wet and sticky. Tip the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes, stretching the dough away from you with the back of your hand, folding the stretched part over on top of the rest of the dough, turning 90 degrees then repeating. Add a little more flour as you go, if needed. After around 5min it should stop feeling sticky. Clean out the mixing bowl, lightly oil it then form the dough into a ball and put it in the bowl. Cover with cling film/plastic wrap and leave it to rest somewhere warm for about an hour, possibly more, until it doubles in size.
    • While the dough is rising, prepare the topping. Thinly slice the onions and peppers. Warm the oil in a medium skillet/frying pan and cook the onions, stirring regularly, over a medium heat until softening. Add the peppers then continue to cook until the onions are starting to caramelize (becoming very soft and going slightly brown but not burning). Set aside. 

    As ready to cook

    • When ready to make the pizzas, preheat oven to 425F/220C. Put baking sheets in the oven to allow them to pre-heat.
    • Knock back the pizza dough (prod with your fingers after turning it out of the bowl) and divide into 2 (alternatively, you can make one large pizza or more smaller). Keep the piece(s) you are not working with to one side, covered, while you work on the one pizza.
    • Roll out the pizza dough into a circle or rectangle, as you prefer, and as suits your baking sheet/tray. Roll it about as thin as you can and transfer to a piece of parchment paper. Repeat with the remaining dough.
    • Top the pizzas with the onion-pepper mixture then sprinkle over the paprika. Bake for approx 10-12 minutes until the base is lightly brown. Trim off any burnt pieces of onion and serve.

    Notes

    Note: timings do not include rise time.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 812kcal | Carbohydrates: 102g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 602mg | Potassium: 460mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2430IU | Vitamin C: 80mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 3.9mg

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    Catalan coca is a kind of a Spanish pizza or flatbread, but with some key differences - while toppings vary, most have no sauce and no cheese. But don't let that put you off, this is one delicious slice, and this simple pepper and onion version is a favorite. #Spanishfood #vegan #pizza
    « Caramelized onion and gorgonzola pizza
    Beef carpaccio with truffle vinaigrette »
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    1. Jotaro Kujo

      January 17, 2021 at 4:22 am

      Is it possible to use only whole wheat all-purpose flour for this recipe instead of the white flour and all-purpose flour?

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        January 17, 2021 at 5:21 am

        I think this should work fine with whole wheat pastry flour (regular whole wheat may be a bit too coarse and dense but the pastry flour is a nice texture). You may just need a little more or less flour than in the recipe as different flours absorb liquid slightly differently.

        Reply
    2. Amanda Wren-Grimwood

      February 20, 2018 at 6:58 am

      5 stars
      I love your Spanish pizza as it looks like a perfect snack and the pepper and onion topping looks simple but juicy.

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        February 20, 2018 at 4:39 pm

        Thanks, yes it's great to snack on, for sure!

        Reply
    3. Corina Blum

      February 20, 2018 at 6:45 am

      5 stars
      I am so pleased to read this recipe! I love pizza but my daughter doesn't as she doesn't like the tomato and cheese on it.If we're having pizza she just wants to eat everyone's crusts but none of the middle bit with the toppings on. I definitely need to try something like to see if it's a way to tempt her to eat it!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        February 20, 2018 at 4:38 pm

        I hope this could be a great solution for you! It has great flavor.

        Reply
    4. Jacqueline Debono

      February 20, 2018 at 4:21 am

      5 stars
      I love the sound of this Spanish pizza! I live in Italy so we eat Italian pizza pretty frequently, but this sounds lighter. Plus I love caramelized onions and peppers!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        February 20, 2018 at 4:38 pm

        Thanks, yes it is that bit lighter, but the flavors are great.

        Reply

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