Homemade Pizza from scratch




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I have been thinking of making pizza at home for a long time. But never found an event/occasion to execute my plan. Last week my nephew got selected in All-Net basketball league. Since he loves pizza I decided to throw a pizza party for him. Instead of ordering pizza, I have decided to make home made pizza.
Believe me or not kids loved the pizza and the best comment I got is from my daughter. She said "This is the best pizza she ever had!!" What else I need right? I was on top of the world with that comment :)


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Here is the fool proof method to make pizza at home.

Source -- Craftsy class of making pizza with slight modifications


Ingredients

Dough:

3 cups of all purpose flour
1 tsp instant yeast
1tsp salt
1tbsp honey/agave/sugar
2 tbsp olive oil
1 - 1 1/2cup of water (depending on the consistency increase or decrease. It is always better to add slowly and check the consistency)

Sauce:  I did two types of pizza one with Tomato sauce one with nut free Pesto

Tomato Sauce :

1 can organic crushed tomatoes
pinch of salt as per the taste
1tsp red wine vinegar (Optional)
1 tsp dried oregano
water as needed

Nut free Basil Pesto:

2 cups of tightly packed basil leaves
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
4 garlic cloves
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 green chilies ( I like to add spice to my pesto. this is completely optional)
salt as per taste

Pizza toppings:  Whatever u like

I used onions, Jalapeños, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese

Preparation:

Tomato Sauce :

In a mixing bowl add all the ingredients and whisk into easily spreadable sauce. If the sauce is too thick add water to thin. Taste and adjust salt as needed. 
If you are using diced or whole tomatoes use a food processor to process into smooth sauce. 

Basil pesto Sauce:

Combine basil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, cheese and pulse till coarse in food processor. Add olive oil and process until fully incorporated  and smooth. Give a taste test and adjust the salt as needed. If the sauce is too thick add oil if it is too thin add cheese. Cover and store in a air tight container to minimize oxidation.


Dough:

Sift the flour and mix all the dry ingredients with a whisk or a spatula in a mixing bowl.
In a food processor add dry ingredients, honey, oil.  With mixer on add water slowly till  all the ingredients are mixed into a dough consistency. Dough will look very sticky. Don't worry that is how it should be.
Remove the dough from the food processor and form into a ball and store in a  container coated with oil. Cover it with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator for at least 20 hours. It is always best if the dough rises slowly in cool temperature

This dough will  make 2-  11 inch pizzas.

Making Pizza:

Pre heat oven 500 degrees F

Cut the dough into two half. Remove one half and form into a round shaped ball.  Dust the cooking surface with flour and stretch the dough using your fingers into 11 inch round pizza pan. You can go little fancy and stretch using your knuckles or back of the hand.  I tried doing that :) Trick is not to get tears in the dough.  Dough should be thin.

Coat the pizza pan with olive oil. Transfer the stretched dough on the pan. Drizzle olive oil(Optional)
Spread the sauce (Whichever u like. You can even do half Tomato and half pesto) Sauces and toppings
are left to your imagination and interest. Spread veggies/toppings evenly and sprinkle mozzarella cheese.

Bake pizza for 10 minutes until crust is golden color and cheese is bubbly. Cut and serve immediately. Hot pizza from oven with a nice cold drink!! Yummm!!!

Pizza


Note: Since I don't own pizza stone I used Cookie pan as the base to keep my pizza pan( I learned this tip from Craftsy class to get the evenly cooked pizza)


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