Pepperoni Pizza

My kids' favourite.... I'll try to make it whenever requested by them. I know it is more convenience to buy rather than to make it but the satisfaction seeing your kids eating it until the last piece...a joy that can never be described by words :) especially my Aina... very fussy eater !!!!

Pizza Dough

I really can't remember where did I get this dough Recipe but I really love this dough recipe easy to make & delicious ;)

Ingredients :
1  Tablespoon active dry yeast ..I use mauripan
1 1/2 cups of warm water
3 1/2 cups of flour
1  Tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
pinch of salt

Method

In a small bowl sprinkle the yeast on the warm water & stir to dissolve it. Set aside until the yeast starts forming bubbles in about 5 minutes.

Sift the flour pour the flour into a large bowl or on a work surface. Mold the flour in a mound shape with a hole in the center.

Pour in the center the yeast mix, olive oil & salt.

Using a spatula, draw the ingredients together. Then mix with your hands to from a dough. Sprinkle flour on the work surface, place the dough on the floured surface. Knead the dough briefly with your hands pushing and folding. Knead just long enough to for the dough to take in a little more flour and until it no longer sticking to your hands.

With your hands spread a little olive oil inside the a bowl. Transfer the dough into the bowl. On the top of the dough, make two incisions that cross and spread with a small amount of olive oil. This to prevent the surface of the dough from breaking too uch while rising. 

Cover the bowl with a kitchen cloth & set the bowl aside for 1/2-2 hours until the dough doubles in volume. The time required for rising will depend on the strength of the yeast and the temperature of the room.

When the dough is double its original size, punch it down to eliminate the air bubbles.

Lightly floured work surface, cut the dough  into 3 equal pieces. Using a rolling pin and your hands, shape one piece of dough into a thin round layer...make a pizza about 12 inches in diameter.

alternatively you can use this pizza recipe from my friend Nadiah Shah

Pizza Dough
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1 package active dry yeast
1 ½ tsp sugar
3-4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup warm water
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt

Method
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Dissolve yeast in water with sugar and allow to proof.

Mix 2 cups flour, salt and oil in a large bowl. Add yeast mixture and beat until smooth. Stir in additional flour until the dough begins to form a ball and is easy to handle.

Place the dough on a lightly floured surface/ pastry cloth and knead until smooth and elastic (8-10 minutes). Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover and let it rise in a warm spot until the dough doubles in size, appromixately 1 hour. Punch down and knead again. Allow dough to rise for another 20-30 minutes.

Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to fit a pizza tray. Brush the surface with a little extra virgin oil. Spread tomato sauce on bread base to within centimetre of the edge.

Tomato sauce
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250 gm fresh ripe tomatoes blanched, skinned and chopped coarsely. [ A great substitute would be canned whole plum tomatoes which is what I normally use]

½ tbsp olive oil
1tbsp tomato puree
1 tsp mixed dried herbs
½ tsp each sugar and salt
pinch of pepper

Heat the olive oil in a non-stick saucepan and pour in chopped tomatoes. Using a wooden spoon stir in the tomato paste, herbs, sugar, salt and pepper. Bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the tomato mixture has thickened. Remove from heat and set aside to cool before using.

To assemble the pizza
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Spread tomato sauce on the pizza base.
Arrange mozarella cheese slices evenly over the tomato sauce . Add other toppings eg ground beef, mushrooms, salami, sausages, shrimps, squid, or mussels etc. Top evenly with grated mozarella cheese.

Bake in a preheated oven at 220Celcius for 25-30 minutes or until the pizza dough is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling. Remove from oven and serve at once. Sprinkle with oregano/chilli flakes.