Last night at 7pm, Hubby decided that the best way to watch an action movie is if we have pizza! The normal pizza I always make is usually a part of my bread dough. I simply make a bit extra, and set it aside for the pizza after proofing. At that hour, there isn’t any way I can get proofed dough ready for the 9pm show. Also, we’ve stopped keeping ready-made pizza bases at home, in a drive to lead a healthier lifestyle.
So we got hunting for a recipe I could work with. A few blogs and sites later, I figured out what I wanted to do! The one I made has been inspired by all those blogs, but I made my changes to accommodate our tastes. The end result was definitely a perfect accompaniment to an action movie!!
Pizza!
This particular recipe is bound to be a favorite for all those who love thin crusts. For thicker crusts, you need to go through the proofing method before baking. 🙂
Ingredients:
Pizza Base:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour / maida
- 1 tsp instant yeast (or active dry yeast)
- be sure to proof the active-dry yeast before using. Use water from the 1 cup mentioned below.
- 1 cup water
- 1.5 tsp salt
Sauce:
- 5 ripe medium-size tomatoes
- few fresh basil leaves
- Can use 1/2 tsp of dried basil also
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 3/4th tsp salt
- 2 garlic pods (optional; I did not use)
Toppings:
- caramelized onions
- sweet corn
- chillies
- chilli flakes
- diced capsicum
- cheese of your choice
Method:
Sauce:
- Blanch the tomatoes by dropping them in boiling water. After 2 mins take them out and drop in a bowl of cold water.
- Peel the tomatoes and roughly chop them.
- In a mixer jar, add all the ingredients except salt and grind into a fine puree.
- Add salt at the end and set aside.
Ready to be used sauce
Pizza:
- Preheat the oven at the highest temperature for 30 minutes
- My oven goes up to 250 deg C. Please make sure you are able to achieve a good amount of heat within the oven. if your highest temperature is lower, then you may keep it for a few minutes longer.
- In a bowl, add the yeast and water and mix well.
- Add the flour and salt and mix well by hand till it becomes a sticky dough.
Basic dough, ready to be kneaded
- Sprinkle a little flour on your work surface and drop the dough on it.
- Knead the dough thoroughly until it becomes smooth. This may take about 5-8 minutes of kneading. The dough at this point will not stick to the hand.
And now we’re ready to make Pizza!
- You may add a little flour if needed.
- Cover the dough while you prepare the toppings for the pizza.
Note:To actually bake the pizza, I use the tray that I got with my oven. It is rectangular, but I’m ok with that! 🙂 - Spread some olive oil on the tray to prevent the base from sticking.
- Slowly, by hand, spread the base on the tray while keeping the base at least 1/4″ thick.
- Any thicker, the base will not cook properly and may remain soggy.
- This step needs a lot of patience. Do not rush this as the base may become too thin and burn or be too thick and raw.
- Spread the tomato sauce over the base evenly with a bit extra at the edges.
- Top the sauce with grated cheese.
- Over the cheese, add all the toppings of choice. You may add a bit of cheese over the toppings also.
Ready to bake
- Bake the pizza for 15 minutes.
- Make sure to the keep checking as the amount of time varies of the temperature used and the size of the oven.
- Pull out of the over, cut and serve!!
These were almost gone before I remembered to take a pic! 😉
Vegetarian Cuisine from South India 