Sarika's Home Recipes: Pizza

Pizza' is one of the most popular dish from the Italian cuisine. It is essentially a flatbread made using various types or combinations of flours. Topped with meat or vegetarian toppings of one's choice and cheese and then baked in an oven. It is a very filling dish and can often be an entire meal by itself. Very popular among children and youngsters as it has a lot of variety can be made bland or spicy and lists as a fast food.

INGREDIENTS :

FOR THE BASE : (Will yield around 2 med size pizzas 10 inch)

250 GMS Maida (refined flour) or All purpose flour

1tsp salt

Fresh yeast 50 gms

If you are using instant yeast/dry yeast then 25 gms

sugar 1 Tbsp

Milk 150 ml

water 50 ml

butter 100 gms

Oil 1 Tbsp

METHOD :

FOR THE BASE :

1. In a large bowl, take the refined flour add the salt and mix.

2. If using dry yeast, then in another small bowl, take around 3 Tbsp of warm water and add sugar and dissolve. Then add the yeast and keep it aside to froth . If it froths well then it means that the yeast has activated well and is ready to use.

3. In a saucepan, Boil together Milk, butter and Fresh yeast (If you are using it)

4. Add this to the flour . Add the activated yeast (If using it) and mix well to form a soft dough .

5. Add oil in the end so the dough does not become sticky.

6. We need to 'Prove' this dough ..which means let the dough ferment and rise.

7. Tuck the dough, keep covered and keep aside for a good 4 to 6 hrs.

8. After 4 to 6 hrs. the dough would have risen and almost doubled in size.

9. Gently mix it again to a soft dough .. It is now ready for use.

10 This can also be stored in the refrigerator for a day or two but remember to bring it to room temperature before using again.

INGREDIENTS : For the toppings

Here I am sharing a simple vegetarian recipe with vegetarian pizza toppings but you can use any meat , seafood , cold cuts etc. as per your liking to make a Non- vegetarian version.

2 Med sized green bell peppers (You can add or edit veggies of your choice)

2 Med sized onions

both finely chopped

Cheddar cheese or Processed cheese Grated around 400 gms

Traditionally Mozerella Cheese is used on the Italian Pizzas, but we prefer Cheddar or Processed as it turns nice and crispy.

ASSEMBLING THE PIZZA :

1. Take an oven proof dish, Brush a little butter on it.

2. Take the required amount of dough and spread it on the dish beating with your palms. I prefer this method although you can roll it out with a rolling pin also .

3. Using a fork prick holes the the base as shown below.

4. Spread some Pizza sauce on this base (I use store bought as it gives exact flavors but you can simply mix tomato ketchup, green chilly sauce, Oregano, Basil and use it.That also works)