Saturday, May 14, 2011

Home-made Pizza with a Tomato Pizza sauce

About two years ago, I would never ever have considered making a pizza base at home. Whenever we wanted a home-made pizza we would buy the ready-made bases, which in retrospect just seem tasteless.

My Uncle had come to India about 2 years ago and we made one at home with pretty crazy toppings. He called it "gourmet pizza" because it did have carmelised onions, goat cheese and pumpkin (Yes, Pumpkin on a pizza tastes dee-licious). I was fascinated with how the dough grows and is practically a living thing. I am still awed.

So, when my friends came over for lunch I made pizza for them with a simple tomato sauce base and with peppers as toppings.



Pizza Base:
Ingredients:
1 cup water
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1/8cup olive oil
3 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp dry yeast

Method:

  • In 1/2 cup of water add the sugar and the yeast and leave for 15-20 minutes till the yeast rises completely
  • Mix the above mixture in the flour, add rest of the ingredients and add water when necessary
  • Cover with a cloth and let it rise for about an hour or two
  • bake on 220C
This recipe makes around 10 inch bases. It can be refrigerated or frozen, but has to be thawed out completely before you use it. bake till the edges become golden. Cooking time varies with every oven. 

Pizza Sauce:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Tomato Paste
2-3 tbsp Tomato Ketchup
4-5 finely chopped pods of garlic
2-3 tbsp Olive Oil
2 tsp basil
4 tbsp water

Method:
  • Heat the olive oil and add garlic and basil and saute till fragrant
  • Add the tomato paste and ketchup and water to get the desired consistency
  • Let it simmer till it cooks
The sauce it pretty versatile. If you reduce the amount of oil it can also be used for spaghetti. 

Make sure that you put in the base for 2 minutes in the oven so it rises before you all the sauce and the toppings. 

If the sauce it oily enough then you don't need to coat the base with Olive Oil (so that the sauce doesn't soak through).

Go crazy with the toppings and the sauce!

6 comments:

  1. Looks delicious. One suggestion though, try to use 50% semolina and 50% flour for a slightly different taste. With this combination you could try one of those delicious thin crust pizzas. And some onions in the sauce will just make the consistency smooth and add lots of flavour.

    I'm so tempted to try the one you have photographed here. It really looks very tempting. After having pasta for lunch today, I know I definitely want this pizza for dinner. :)

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  2. @Nupur: Thanks! I will try semolina in the base. I have never heard of semolina being used in pizza base. but my knowledge is pretty limited. It would add some texture too na?

    I next time I make the sauce, which i will in bulk, I will use onions. I understand what you say about the smoothness, it would also add volume. This sauce makes the pizza taste very tangy and tomato-eey.

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  3. You used yeast, and it was good to you?!
    Wow.
    Yeast hates me.
    Though I'm willing to give it another shot sometime soon. What yeast do you use?

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  4. @Ahmita: I used Bluebird active dry yeast. It worked like a charm. You proofed the yeast na?

    Try singing to it or don't watch will it works.

    I do all of the above.

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Go ahead! I am listening.