How to prepare Pizza

HOW TO MAKE PIZZA

Ingredients

Pizza dough
2 cups organic plain flour / all-purpose flour/ maida (or 1 cup maida & 1 cup atta)
½ tbsp. active dry yeast
½ cup +1 tbsp. water (use as needed)
1 ½ tbsp. olive oil
¼ to ½ tsp salt (use as needed)
¾ tsp organic sugar

Pizza sauce

400 grams tomatoes
2 garlic cloves minced or chopped finely
1 tsp organic sugar
1 tsp red chili flakes
1 tsp Italian herbs or ½ to ¾ tsp oregano
Salt as needed
½ tsp pepper coarse crushed or powder
1 ½ tbsp. oil

For Toppings

Mozzarella cheese about 200 grams or as needed (refer notes)
1 ½ cups sliced or cubed veggies (capsicum, onions, olives, tomatoes, mushrooms)
¼ to ½ tsp mixed Italian herbs or oregano
¼ tsp red chili flakes (optional)

Making pizza dough

1. Add yeast & sugar to luke warm water and stir it. Set aside for 10 to 15 mins and allow to proof.

2. If the water doesn’t turn frothy by then, the yeast is inactive and cannot be used for the dough. In this case discard and start afresh with luke warm water, sugar and yeast.

3. When the water turns frothy, add flour, salt and oil. Mix and make a dough adding more water if needed.

4. Knead the dough very well until very soft and pliable for about 5 to 7 mins.

5. Apply a thin layer of oil and keep covered in a bowl. Allow the dough to rise and double in size.

Preparing sauce

1. Meanwhile prepare the tomato pizza sauce.

2. To make sauce, heat oil in a pan and saute garlic until it smells good.

3. Then add red chili flakes and then onions if using. Saute until they turn slightly golden.

4. Add tomato puree, salt and sugar. Stir and continue to cook covering partially as it splatters a lot.

5. Cook until the sauce thickens. Add herbs and crushed pepper.

6. Mix and set aside to cool.

7. Now wash and cube the veggies. Separate the layers of onions.

Making pizza

1. Preheat the oven to 240 C for atleast 20 to 25 mins.

2. Transfer the dough to the work area.

3. Punch the dough to deflate it. Cut to 2 to 3 portions.

4. Gently shape it to a ball and flatten it.

5. Sprinkle some corn meal over the pizza tray.

6. Add few drops of oil and begin to flatten it and spread to a round disc of desired thickness.

7. If making a thick base then put the base in the oven and bake it for 5 to 7 mins.

8. If making a thin crust pizza then just go ahead.

9. Spread the pizza sauce as desired. Layer the veggies and the grated cheese.

10. Sprinkle Italian herbs and red chili flakes.

11. Bake for 10 to 12 mins until the base is cooked and cheese turns slightly golden.

12. Slice and serve pizza hot or warm.