Sunday, July 29, 2012

11. Homemade Ham Tomato Pizza




Homemade Ham- Tomato Pizza
Makes 2 thick crusted/ 3 thin crusted pizza
Serves 4-6

Yeast mixture:
1 cup (240 ml) warm water
1 1/4 teaspoon yeast

Tomato sauce:
2 medium sized tomatoes
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup dried basil/ oregano
1/2 teaspoon granulated, white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Dough:
1 3/4 cup (228 g) all purpose flour
1 cup (150 g) wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon sugar

Toppings:
Onion, capsicum, cherry tomato, mushrooms sliced
Pineapple bits
Olives halved
Cooked ham/ chicken pieces
Mozzarella cheese

Activate yeast:
Warm a cup of water in a microwave. Add yeast and keep in a warm place to rise for 10- 15 minutes.

Make tomato sauce:
In a saucepan, take enough water and bring to a rolling boil. Make an X mark on the bottom side of each tomato to help skin peel off easily. Immerse the tomatoes in boiled water for 30 seconds. Immediately immerse into a bowl of ice cold water for few seconds. Notice the skin curling off from the X mark. Remove the skin, chop the tomatoes and puree in a blender. Keep a pan on low- medium flame, add pureed tomatoes and remaining ingredients to it to make a thick sauce of spreadable consistency.

Make dough:
In a bowl, take the ingredients required to make the dough. Knead into a ball with the yeast mixture.
Cover the dough with a cloth and keep in a warm place to rise for an hour.
After an hour, if the dough has doubled in size, knead once again and keep aside for 30 minute in a warm place.
Set oven temperature to 250o C.
Keep dough on a floured surface and divide into 2 or 3 portions, based on the preference of the crust thickness.
Roll out each portion into a 9 inch (23 cm) round. It is best to do one portion at a time and roll out the next one after the first one is in the oven.
Set the dough on a baking sheet/ pizza stone and poke all over with a fork to remove air.
Brush 1 inch around the sides of the pizza dough with oil. Spoon in the tomato sauce leaving the 1 inch side.
Arrange your favorite toppings over the tomato sauce and top up with grated mozzarella cheese.
Ready to go into the oven for 20-25 minutes, until the sides turn golden brown And puff up.