Creating a blog was out of the question for a long time for me, as measuring everything in the kitchen was like biting into an eggshell. I enjoy cooking and don’t want to waste even a slightest bit of enjoyment in that small world of mine. But little did I know that everything will change, when my husband came home with the Oscar nominated film ‘Julie and Julia’( a real life story) where Julie Powell (part played by Amy Adams) challenged herself to make all the 524 recipes from Julia Child's cook book ‘Mastering the Art of French Cooking’ and blogging all her experiences (The Julie/Julia Project). It was an inspiring movie. A few days later when we were discussing this casually with a friend of ours over tea…everything changed dramatically…..” How about you making at least half of it in one year? Not French but your own. 262 recipes that will inspire others and present it as a blog?” For a minute my mind traveled faster than light… With an experience as a helper in my mother in laws kitchen for 6 years followed by a three year everyday struggle to satisfy the palate of my foodie husband, if I cannot do it then why should I cook? But on the other side with an experience in English literature extending no more than expanding outline stories in English grammar class when I was 18 and two small kids that come in handy at times, will a commitment for the next one year work? Anyway my ‘cook's ego’ didn’t allow me to say no...

So my friends …here I am opening my recipe book, trying to perfect and present 262 recipes in the coming 365 days….A Challenge that will of course tastes good. Come.. Have a walk with me along my journey.. Cheering and inspiring….Forgiving and tolerating…Testing and tasting….for ‘A Tasty Challenge’

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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Pizza

Recipe No: 40
Ingredients                                                                 Makes 6 individual pizzas/ 2 large pizzas
For the Crust
  • All Purpose Flour/ Maida…………….3 cup
  • Yeast………………………………………...2 ½ Teaspoons
  • Sugar………………………………………...2 Tablespoons
  • Warm Water……………………………...1 cup
  • Salt…………………………………………...1 ¼ Teaspoons
  • Olive Oil…………………………………….2 Tablespoons
  • Olive Oil to coat the dough
To make the Pizza
  • Tomato Sauce……………………………As needed
  • Shredded Mozzarella Cheese………As needed
  • Olive Oil…………………………………...1 Teaspoon
  • Other toppings of your choice…As needed (I usually use Pepperoni, Cooked  and shredded Chicken, Sliced Onion, Bell Peppers, Mushrooms etc :-)
  • Shredded Parmesan Cheese, Chilly flakes and Pizza seasoning as needed (optional)
Method of Preparation
To make the dough for the crust
  1. Dissolve Yeast and Sugar in warm water and keep aside after covering for 5 minutes.  With in this time the yeast will be frothy. Once frothy proceed to the next step. (If not frothy then either your yeast is old or you have killed the yeast by putting it in hot water. Start over with fresh Yeast.)
  2. Combine Flour, Salt, Olive Oil and the yeast mixture and knead into soft smooth dough. If you are using a stand mixer knead on speed 1 or 2 for 4-5 minutes. If you are kneading by hand, then knead for 8-10 minutes.
  3. Add 2 Tablespoons of Olive oil in a big bowl and spread it. Place the dough inside and rotate it once so that the whole surface of the dough is coated with the oil.
  4. Cover this bowl with a damp kitchen towel and keep it in a warm place till it doubles in size for around 21/2 – 3 hours.
  5. After the first rise, punch it down and let it rise once more for 1 more hour.
To make the Pizza
  1. Preheat oven to 450˚F/230˚C.
  2. Divide the dough into portions. The size depends on how big you want your Pizza to be.
  3. Roll it into flat rounds. (Thick or thin crust you can decide)
  4. Apply a thin layer of Tomato Sauce on top of the flattened dough and cover it with shredded Mozzarella Cheese.
  5. On top of the Cheese place whatever toppings you want.
  6. Once that is done sprinkle grated Parmesan, Chilly flakes and Pizza Seasoning if you are using.
  7. Drizzle some Olive oil on top and bake on the lowest rack of the oven for 6 minutes and on the middle rack for 6 minutes or till your Pizza gets a nice color on top.
  • Notes: High Temperature is essential for this type of Pizza. As we are not precooking the crust, there are chances that moisture from the sauce penetrates the dough making it soggy. In order to prevent this you have to bake the Pizza at high temperature and have to start baking it at the lowest possible rack in the oven. This will bake the crust faster without giving enough time for the moisture to sink in. But after the first few minutes you have to move the Pizza to an upper rack. Otherwise, the bottom of your Pizza with become dark.
  • Tomato sauce is different from usual Ketchup, as it is not sweet. Use Tomato Sauce if it is available. If not, you can make your own. Blend 3 large tomatoes, half of a small onion and a large Garlic clove together and heat this mixture until it thickens. Add some Basil or Thulsi at the end of the cooking.
  • Pizza Seasoning usually contains dried Oregano, Basil, Marjoram and Garlic. This is strictly optional.
  • If your family is not using the entire quantity of dough, then freeze the rest for future use. Let it come to room temperature and rise for at least  one hour before using. If you are planning to use the dough later the same day or the next day, then refrigerate it (don't have to freeze) and let it sit at room temperature for at least one hour before using.







Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and
serve it to your family with love….

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow!!! Pizza.Looks Yummy.Good Job Asha...

Liz said...

Thanks, Asha. I made this yesterday; it turned out really well, although I'd like to have it a little more crispier. May be a more flattened/thinner base? Or may be the oven temp.? hmm, next time!

Asha said...

Make the base thinner.... I am a big fan of the crust... But my husband like the thinner ones.... Put it in the lowest rack of the oven for some more time...

Unknown said...

This time my pizza came out really good...Ammu n me was fighting for the last slice.. :) Thanks Asha.

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