562. Homemade Veggie Pizza

Sunday is Pizza Day

     I've made pizzas when my kids were at home, when we've invited guests, to celebrate special occasions. Years back we didn't get frozen pizzas, or ready made pizza base. There were not many places making pizzas back then, so the only option was to make them at home.Made them quite often but never ever thought of posting my pizza recipe. Actually don't know why I haven't done so till now. Well, as they say its never too late. I must thank my #FoodieMonday #Bloghop friends for choosing the 41st theme as #Pizzamania.         Normally on a Sunday hubby and I go to our favourite restaurant IL Covo to have either a pizza or lasagna. We usually land up with a pizza as they are baked in a brick oven using wood. The pizzas are simply amazing. Homemade ones don't give the same result. However, pizzas whether home made or ready made are mostly everyone's favourite. I still have to come across someone who hates pizzas. When the group decided that we make pizzas, I was excited. Whenever I make pizzas at home besides having a measurement for the dough, I don't measure any of the other ingredients. So this time round, I actually had to measure everything to write this recipe and my kitchen was like a war zone. Paper, pen, ingredients, measuring cups, bowls, all over the place. 
     We prefer thin based pizza.I prefer making the base from wholewheat flour and add some all purpose flour to it. I usually keep all the toppings ready and guests can 'order' whatever topping they prefer. Some love mushrooms, some don't. Hubby doesn't like sweet pepper, some like it without garlic and onion, some don't want pineapple, some want extra olives. 
     So without any more delay here's my home made pizza recipe.

Pizza
Serves 3-4

For the pizza dough:
2 cups wholewheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour (plain flour)
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp instant dry active yeast
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
½ tsp dried mixed herbs
1-1¼ cup warm water

extra oil for greasing
extra flour for dusting

For the sauce:
1½ cup fresh thick tomato puree*
½ cup finely chopped onion
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp garlic paste
1 tsp salt
½ tsp sugar
½ tsp black pepper powder
½ tsp mixed dried herbs or 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil

For the topping:
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1 cup sweet corn
½ cup chopped onion
½ - ¾ cup chopped sweet pepper (any colour)
2 cups (approx. 125g) sliced mushrooms
½ cup sliced olives
½ - ¾ cup pineapple chunks
2 tsp dried oregano 
2-3 green chillis cut into rings
1-2 tsp chilli flakes

Preparation of pizza dough:

1. Sift both the flours together into a big bowl.
2. Add salt,yeast and sugar. Mix well.
3. Add oil and rub it into the flour.
4. Add 1 cup warm water and form a dough.
5. Dust the worktop with little flour and knead the dough for 7-10 minutes till its soft, elastic and smooth.
6. Grease the bowl with oil.
7. Form the dough into a ball shape. Apply oil over it. Put in the greased bowl.
8. Cover the bowl with a tea towel or cling film and let the dough rise till its double the size.This may take about 1½ hours.

Preparation of the sauce:

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
2. Add onion and stir fry till it becomes soft.
3. Add garlic paste and stir fry for a few seconds.
4. Add the tomato puree, salt and sugar.
5. Cover the pan and let the sauce simmer till it becomes thick.
6. Remember to stir occasionally so that the sauce does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
7. Take the pan off the heat and remove the cover when the sauce becomes thick.
8. Add pepper and mixed herbs.Mix well.
9. Let the sauce cool.

Chop and prepare the required toppings.

Preparation of the pizza:

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Gently knead the risen dough.
3. Divide it into 4 parts. Roll each part into a ball.
4. Grease baking trays.
5. Using some flour, roll each part into a pizza base about 7"- 8" in diameter.
6. Place the rolled base on the baking tray.
7. Spread some sauce over the base.
8. Add the topping of your choice.
9. Sprinkle cheese over it.
10. Add chillis, red chilli flakes and herbs.
11. Bake the pizzas for 10-15 minutes or till the edges become light golden brown.
12. Serve immediately.

Tips:

• * To prepare a thick tomato puree, I wash and cut the tomatoes into 4 pieces.Then I put in a pan, cover it let the tomatoes cook over low heat till they becomes soft. I let it cool for a while and then liquidize the tomatoes.
• If you prepare thick base pizzas, then divide the dough into 3. 
• The amount and types of topping is just a rough guideline. Use toppings of your choice. The amount you add to your pizza is also your choice.
• The amount of water required to form the dough depends on the type of flour. I used only 1 cup water.
• If I am preparing more than 2 pizzas, I change the positions of the trays halfway.This will ensure that the base becomes a bit crispy.
• If you have a pizza stone, use it as it will give you better results.

You may want to check out the following:

veggie pizza rolls

 savoury pizza muffins

Eggplant mini pizza

apple dessert pizza

Sending this recipe to the following events:

Sharing with the Bread Box, hosted by Karen's Kitchen Stories and An Italian in my Kitchen."  

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