Secret behind delicious pizza

We all love pizza’s whether it is thin crust or thick crust. Pizza is a dish where we can experiment various types of combination. Our Executive Sous Chef Rahul Dhavale gave a sneak peek into making delicious pizza. Try this at home and let us know your views.

How to knead the dough

Ingredients: (for 20 pizzas)

Refined Flour             18oo gm

Olive oil                      250 ml

Sugar                          5 gm

Dry Yeast                    10 gm

Salt                              30 gm

Water                          900 ml

Method of preparation:

1. In a small bowl take some water and dissolve the dry yeast and sugar together and keep it aside till froth is formed on the surface.
2. Now take refined flour in a mixing bowl, add salt and olive oil to it along with the yeast mixture.
3. Slowly add water and start kneading the dough either in a dough kneader or if it’s a small batch you can knead using your palm of hand.
4. If using a dough kneader keep on slow speed initially and gradually increase the speed so that all the ingredients are mixed thoroughly to form dough.
5. Dough is ready when it no longer sticks to the mixing bowl.
6. Keep the dough for resting for 30 minutes before use.

How to make the sauce

Ingredients:  (for 1 liter)

Fresh Tomatoes         2kg

Chopped garlic           100 gm

Chopped onion           80 gm

Chopped leeks            80 gm

Chopped celery          80 gm

Fresh basil                 30 gm

Fresh Oregano           30 gm

Olive oil                     100 ml

Salt                           10 gm

Crushed peppers       10 gm

Method of preparation:

1. Take a pan and heat olive oil over a medium heat.
2. Now sauté garlic, onion, leeks and celery.
3. Cut the tomatoes into quarters and add to the pan.
4. Allow the tomatoes to cook and stir it frequently to avoid it sticking at the bottom.
5. Season the tomato sauce as per your taste and let it cook till all the water evaporates.
6. Add sugar to cut the acidity in the sauce.
7. Cook the sauce till it becomes thick.
8. Add basil and oregano and blend to form a smooth paste.

Toppings for Pizza:

Vegetarian:

Onion, sliced olives, sliced bell peppers, Mushrooms, baby corn, broccoli

Non vegetarian:

Chicken cubes, prawns, pepperoni, salami, sausages, ham

Tip for Pizza toppings:

It is always advisable to cut the toppings in small size and cook the toppings before putting it over a pizza. This will avoid the pizza getting moist due to water content in the toppings.

How to make a pizza if you do not have an oven at home

If you don’t have an oven at home use a flat non stick pan instead. 

First half cook the pizza base on both the sides.

Then apply the sauce, cheese and the desired toppings on top of the pizza.

Place the pizza on non stick pan and cover it with a lid.

Keep it on medium heat and let the pizza cook slowly.

Remove it once the cheese melts. Cut it and enjoy.

How to make a pizza if you do not have an oven at home

If you don’t have an oven at home use a flat non stick pan instead. 

• First half cook the pizza base on both the sides.
• Then apply the sauce, cheese and the desired toppings on top of the pizza.
• Place the pizza on non stick pan and cover it with a lid.
• Keep it on medium heat and let the pizza cook slowly.
• Remove it once the cheese melts. Cut it and enjoy.

A few tips for making pizzas at home

To make pizza at home you can either use a microwave oven or you can even cook it on a flat non stick pan.

Keep it simple and do not over load the pizza with lot of toppings as it will make pizza soggy and you won’t enjoy all the flavors.

PIZZA RECIPES

Pizza Margherita

Ingredients: (for 1 pizza)

Pizza dough                            100 gm

Pizza sauce                            80 ml

Shredded mozzarella cheese    80 gm

Fresh basil leaves                  2 leaves

Method of preparation:

1. Prepare the pizza dough as per the recipe mentioned above.
2. Take around 100 gm of dough and roll it on a working table using a rolling pin.
3. In the mean while Pre- heat the oven to 300 deg Celsius.
4. Dust the pizza base well at the bottom so that it doesn’t get stick on the table.
5. Using a ladle pour the pizza sauce on the base evenly leaving an inch from all the side.
6. Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese on the sauce and place it gently in the pizza oven.
7. While it gets cooked turn it around so that the pizza is cooked evenly from all sides.
8. Let it cook for 4-5 minutes or till the cheese starts to melt.
9. Remove from the oven and put fresh basil over the pizza.
10. Cut it into 8 pieces and serve hot.

Tips:

If you don’t have a pizza oven you can cook it in a domestic gas oven using a baking tray.

Pizza Primavera

Ingredients: (for 1 pizza)

Pizza dough                            100 gm

Pizza sauce                            80 ml

Shredded mozzarella cheese    80 gm

Sliced onions                          30 gm

Sliced bell peppers                 30 gm

Sliced mushrooms                  30 gm

Black olives                           30 gm

Method of preparation:

1. Prepare the pizza dough as per the recipe mentioned above.
2. Take around 100 gm of dough and roll it on a working table using a rolling pin.
3. In the mean while Pre- heat the oven to 300 deg Celsius.
4. Dust the pizza base well at the bottom so that it doesn’t get stick on the table.
5. Using a ladle pour the pizza sauce on the base evenly leaving an inch from all the side.
6. Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese on the sauce similar to Pizza Margherita
7. Now sprinkle sliced onion, bell peppers, sliced olives and mushrooms on top of the pizza and place it gently in the pizza oven.
8. While it gets cooked turn it around so that the pizza is cooked evenly from all sides.
9. Let it cook for 4-5 minutes or till the cheese starts to melt.
10. Remove from the oven.
11. Cut it into 8 pieces and serve hot.

Pizza Diavola

Ingredients: (for 1 pizza)

Pizza dough                            100 gm

Pizza sauce                             80 ml

Shredded mozzarella cheese    80 gm

Sliced Pepperoni                    80 gm

Sliced red bell peppers          30 gm

Red chili flakes                      10 gm

Method of preparation:

1. Prepare the pizza dough as per the recipe mentioned above.
2. Take around 100 gm of dough and roll it on a working table using a rolling pin.
3. In the mean while Pre-heat the oven to 300 deg Celsius.
4. Dust the pizza base well at the bottom so that it doesn’t get stick on the table.
5. Using a ladle pour the pizza sauce on the base evenly leaving an inch from all the side.
6. Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese on the sauce similar to Pizza Margherita
7. Arrange the sliced pepperoni all over the pizza along with sliced red bell peppers and place it gently in the pizza oven.
8. While it gets cooked turn it around so that the pizza is cooked evenly from all sides.
9. Let it cook for 4-5 minutes or till the cheese starts to melt.
10. Remove from the oven and sprinkle chili flakes on the pizza.
11. Cut it into 8 pieces and serve hot.