Friday 23 May 2008

Pizza (Serves 3)

I have always wanted to make pizza, but never dared to. Thought it was just for the expert cooks and I had a strong feeling that it might not come out good if I make it. Infact I used to like only the 'Pizza Hut' pizza and dint like any other pizza that I tried else where. But this one is real good. I really liked it. My family too. Give it a try and you wont be disappointed. Best part is that,it doesnt take much effort, the ingredients are readily available everywhere and its not messy. Easy to make for a lazy day!

Update: 18.05.2010
Note: I did not use measuring spoon for this recipe and it tasted different when I made it using measuring spoon. Please bear with me until I get the standard measurements sorted.


For the base
Plain flour – 200 grams or 2 cups
Sugar – 1 tbs
Salt – as required
Yeast – 1 tsp
Butter/oil – 4 tbs
Luke warm milk – half cup
Water – as required

For the topping
Tomato puree – 4 tbs
Soya sauce – 2 tbs
Brown sugar – almost 2 tbs
Salt- as required
Oregano – ½ + ½ tsp
Olive oil – 2 tbs
Paprika powder/chilli powder– ½ tsp
Sausages – 1 cup (thinly sliced and sautéed in oil)
Mushrooms – ½ cup (thinly sliced and sautéed in oil)
Boneless Chicken – 1 cup (Cut into small pieces, stir fried by adding salt and pepper) or 1chicken fillet
Corn – as required.
Capsicum – 1
Black olives – ½ cup (sliced thinly)
Cheddar cheese – 200 gms (May use less)
Mozzarella – 200 gms (May use less)

Preparation

For the base of pizza:
Mix sugar and yeast in lukewarm water and allow to bubble. This indicates the activation of yeast. This may take few minutes. If small bubbles doesnt occur,it shows that the yeast is not activated and you will not get a good dough. So make sure the yeast is good before making. Also take care not to use boiling or hot water because the yeast will not be activated too and again, the dough will not rise.
In another bowl mix salt with flour and add butter. Mix well until the dough looks like bread crumbs. Then slowly add the milk and knead the dough until it reaches the consistency of chapatti dough. Add water if required. Cover the dough with a wet towel in order to avoid drying out and leave in a warm place to rise to almost double the size. The dough should be soft and springy to touch at this stage.

For the topping and assembling of pizza:

1. Heat a sauce pan and add olive oil. Add tomato puree, soya sauce, half teaspoon oregano, brown sugar, salt and paprika powder/chilli powder and cook for few minutes on medium heat (around 4-5 mins).
2. Now, for assembling, divide the dough into two equal size balls. this is to make two 9" pizzas. Take one part of dough; roll it into less than half centimetre thickness. Spread half of tomato sauce very thinly on the dough making sure you leave 1 cms around the edge.


3. Shred some cheese (mixture of both the cheeses) on top of the sauce. Place a layer of sausage on top of cheese, then sprinkle some sliced olives, corn, shredded chicken, mushroom and capsicum all over. Top again with plenty of shredded cheese (Mozzarella and cheddar mix) and sprinkle the rest of oregano.


4. Preheat the oven to 180° C. And bake the pizza for about 20 – 25 minutes or until the base is raised, has a golden brown colour and the cheese is completely melted. Can omit the non vegetarian part if u need a vegetarian pizza.
5. Repeat the same process with the other half of the dough. You can create your own topping with ingredients of your choice!

8 comments:

Palmiro Poltronieri said...

Hi, Shaby,
congratulations!
good, it looks great.
you know, pizza can be made in all kind of adverse conditions (like coffee has been made by war prisoners
even with cans and bins) I did it even in electric toast machines, (not to mention that I baked also fish in the toaster)
and what about the size (height) of the dough?
do you know, neapolitan pizza lovers like it more higher, the rest eats it very flat and craunchy...
ciao
zavorka

Shabs.. said...

Hi,
Thanks for the comments. Height of the dough depends on whether the person wants the pizza with thin crust or a thick one. For a thick crust, I would make the dough with a thickness of about 1/2cm and for thin crust, a 1/4 cm.
Cheers.

Devarenjini... said...

hi..
i too thought of making my own pizza always...but was scared..after seeing this, i think i will give a try...:)
Thankss for sharing...
By the way, i had one doubt, for baking the pizza, what should you use, a flat baking pan or the one with edges,like a big tray..??When it get cooked,does its size in width increases..??

Thankss n Regards..

Shabs.. said...

Hi deva ranjiri,
thanks for stopping by. For baking you can use any tray. But you can get pizza pans in market. The size doesnot increase noticeably.If it does,may be slightly.But,if you want the crust thick, roll it as thick as you want.
thanks.

Rich said...

Dr. Oetker Ristorante has teamed up with wine guru Jilly Goolden to find the perfect wine matches for their delicious pizza range!

The wine guide is available for download on the new www.pizzaforpassione.com microsite along with a new blog exploring the brands passion for pizza, ingredients and Italy.

If you need anymore information or images, just contact ristorante@brazenpr.com.

fathima said...

hello it was only yesterday that i discovered ur blog and believe i m a great fan of urs now.i have found out many recipes which i have been searching for.i ve a doubt can i make pizza in a microwave oven.

fathima said...

HELLO,IT WAS ONLY YESTERDAY THAT I DISCOVERED UR BLOG BUT BELIEVE ME I M AGREAT FAN OF URS NOW.I HAVE FOUND OUT MANY RECIPES WHICH I VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR. CAN I MAKE PIZZA IN A MICROWAVE.

Shabs.. said...

Hi Fathima,
Sorry for the delayed response. Thanks for stopping by and ur kind words. Regarding making pizza in microwave oven,There are different types of microwave ovens. You should be able to bake them if they have convectional heating. But there are microwave ovens which r just 4 reheating and defrosting and where baking cannot be done. Please read instruction manual and see if you model can be used for baking cakes and stuffs like that. If it can, then I guess making pizza shud also be possible. I bake in a regular oven.Hope this helps.

Regards,
shabs.

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