Ingredient Ideology | RAISING A TOAST TO PIZZA By: Dr. Kaviraj Khialani- Celebrity Master Chef.
/RAISING A TOAST TO PIZZA
RELISH THE TEMPTATIONS!
Pizza is a dish of Italian origin consisting of a usually round, flat base of leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomatoes, cheese, and often various other ingredients, which is then baked at a high temperature, traditionally in a wood-fired oven. A small pizza is sometimes called a pizzetta. Looking back into history and finding out how it all started reveals specifically, baker Raffaele Esposito from Naples is often given credit for making the first such pizza pie. Historians note, however, that street vendors in Naples sold flatbreads with toppings for many years before then. Legend has it that Italian King Umberto I and Queen Margherita visited Naples in 1889. While few food connoisseurs argue on what is so special about a pizza? Your taste buds are the primary factor in what makes pizza special.
Along with sweet, salty, sour and bitter, there is a fifth "taste" called umami. Umami was pinpointed by a Japanese chemist who took his observations into a lab and determined exactly what "umami" was and how it affected your taste buds.
Few facts about how the very first pizza came into existence says, the first Italian pizza restaurant, Antica Pizzeria Port ‘Alba, began baking pizzas in 1738 as the dish grew in popularity, especially with tourists visiting Naples. Then, in 1889, modern pizza was born when pizza maker Raffaele Esposito created the “Pizza Margherita” for the Queen consort of Italy, Margherita of Savoy. Pizza was first invented in Naples, Italy as a fast, affordable, tasty meal for working-class Neapolitans on the go. While we all know and love these slices of today, pizza actually didn't gain mass appeal until the 1940s, when immigrating Italians brought their classic slices to the United States.
While some also call it is pizza pie for the fact that Pizza was first invented in Naples, Italy as a fast, affordable, tasty meal for working-class Neapolitans on the go. While we all know and love these slices of today, pizza actually didn't gain mass appeal until the 1940s, when immigrating Italians brought their classic slices to the United States. The reason for pizza usually being round in shape but why must is be round? For starters, round pies can be easily cut and divided into equal pieces. Second, a circular shape can be more evenly cooked and heated throughout. Pizza dough is also stretched by spinning the lump of dough in the air, which takes advantage of centrifugal force and rounds the dough out.
Here are a few of my all-time favourite pizza recipes for our readers to freshly bake and relish.
Recipe-1] MURGH AFGHANI PIZZA
Ingredients:
Pizza base of your choice- 2-3 no
For the spread on the pizza base:
Peanut butter- 2-3 tbsp. mixed with 2 tbsp. tomato sauce
For the toppings of the pizza:
Sliced onions-1/2 cup
Slit green chilies- 2-3 no
Boneless chicken cubes/ shreds- 1 and a half cup cooked
Cream cheese-1/2 cup
Mixed herbs-1 tsp
Chili flakes-1 tsp
Crushed black pepper-1/2 tsp
Chaat masala-1/2 tsp
Red chili sauce-1 tsp
Slit black olives- 2-3 no, green or black
Fresh basil leaves- 4-5 no
Method:
1. Prepare all the ingredients for the pizza as listed.
2. Spread up the peanut butter and tomato sauce mixture on the pizza base.
3. Use pre-cooked chicken pieces’/ chicken kababs/ seekh kababs etc for this pizza along with a choice of veggies like corn/ capsicums/ onion rings etc.
4. Mix up the cream cheese and the grated cheese with some herbs, chili flakes and fresh herbs to top it up and spread it on the pizza toppings.
5. Garnish the pizza with sliced olives and gherkins/ fresh basil leaves etc and bake it in a pre-heated oven at around 180 degrees celsius for 8-10 mins, slice and serve hot.
Recipe-2] Pan- n- Pick Pizza
Ingredients:
For the base of the pizza:
Choose as desired thin or thick crust pizza bread.
For the spread on the base:
Tomato sauce ¼ cup mixed with chopped chilies 2 tsp
Or schezuan sauce and little tomato sauce mixed
For the toppings of the pizza:
Paneer/ tofu cubes- 1 cup
Marinate it with salt, pepper, oil, mixed herbs and chili flakes
For the add on toppings:
Sliced onion rings-1/4 cup
Sliced mushrooms- 1/3 cup
Shredded capsicum-1/2 no
Salt and pepper to taste
Chaat masala powder-1/2 tsp
The assorted choice of cheese- 1 cup, mozzarella/ processed cheese.
Method:
1. Prepare all the ingredients for the pizza as listed.
2. Spread the tomato chili sauce on the pizza base.
3. Marinate the paneer/tofu cubes and keep aside for 20 mins.
4. Saute them lightly in a non-stick pan with little oil and chaat masala.
5. Place the assorted veggies as per choice on the pizza base.
6. Top up the pizza with grated cheese to cover it all over.
7. Sprinkle herbs and chili flakes and place the pizza for baking in a pre-heated oven at around 180 degrees celsius. serve hot.
Recipe-3] DESI SAUSAGE PIZZA
Ingredients:
For the base of the pizza:
Choose as desired thin or thick crust pizza bread.
For the spread on the base:
Tomato sauce ¼ cup mixed with chopped chilies 2 tsp
Or schezuan sauce and little tomato sauce mixed
For the toppings of the pizza:
Sliced chicken sausage- 2-3 no
Sliced onions-1/4 cup
Salt and pepper to taste
Shredded green/red/ yellow capsicum-1/2 no
Boiled sweet corn-1/4 cup
Grated cheese- ½ cup, as per choice.
Chaat masala- ½ tsp
Red chilli flakes-1/2 tsp
Olives- 3-4 no black
0lives- 2-3 no black.
Micro-greens for garnish
Method:
1. Prepare all the ingredients for the pizza recipe as listed above.
2. Choose between the desired thickness of the pizza bread.
3. Apply a spread of mayo mixed with chili sauce and a dash of chili flakes, herbs and chopped garlic.
4.Now place the sliced sausages along with all other ingredients on the pizza base and spread it evenly.
5. It is now time to place the herbs/ chili flakes and seasonings to taste and place all the additional toppings on the pizza.
6.We can place the prepared pizzas topped with choice of cheese in a pre-heated oven at around 180 degree celsius. and slice and serve it hot once done. For a choice of veg in the same recipe, we can also use cubes of assorted veggies, use exotics like broccoli, Babycorn/ roasted eggplant etc.
Recipe- 4] FUSION TOSS PIZZA
Ingredients:
For the choice of base for the pizza:
Whole wheat / multi-grain/ regulars
For the choice of spread on the pizza base.
Tomato herbed sauce- ½ cup
Tomato- pepper- chili dip-1/2 cup
Peanut butter with dash of chili sauce and garlic- 2-3 tbsp.
For the toppings:
Sliced onions-1/2 cup
Green capsicum-1/2 no cut into strips
Black and green olives- 3-4 no each
Sliced roast chicken-1 and a half cup
Juliennes of chicken salami- ½ cup
Mixed herbs-1-2 tsp
Salt and pepper to taste
Chili flakes-1 tsp
Choice of cheese as desired from processed to mozzarella
Method:
1.Prepare all the ingredients for the recipe as listed.
2. Choose between regular pizza base of thick crust/ fancy ingredient
Being added to the base.
For the choice of spreads on the base:
Tomato sauce and chili sauce as per taste- 2-3 tbsp.
Mayo plus white sauce plus Capsico sauce-2 tsp
Cream cheese plus tomato sauce and herbs-2-3 tbsp.
Pesto chutney with a dash of cheese-grated -1 cup
For the toppings on the pizza:
Sliced chicken tandoori pieces- 10-12 no or 2 breast pieces
Assorted veggies like broccoli/ mushrooms, bell peppers and a lot more can be a choice for the toppings. We can also use grilled/ roast or bbq chicken pieces as well.
We can also use tandoori paneer, grilled or pan-fried prawns, tava fish fry can also be used to place, bake and serve.
For the garnishes of the pizza:
Sliced onions-1/2 cup
Sliced tomatoes-1/2 cup
Sliced brown onion rings- 1 cup
Micro-greens-1/4 cup
Sliced olives- black or green-4-5 no
Grated cheese-1 cup, processed or plain.
Recipe-5] MURGH MASALA MIX PIZZA
Ingredients:
For the choice of base for the pizza:
Whole wheat / multi-grain/ regulars
For the choice of spread on the pizza base.
Tomato herbed sauce- ½ cup
Tomato- pepper- chili dip-1/2 cup
Peanut butter with dash of chili sauce and garlic- 2-3 tbsp.
For the toppings:
Sliced onions-1/2 cup
Sliced chicken salami- 1 cup
Sliced red capsicum-1/2 no
Baked beans from a tin-1/3 cup drained
Chicken- 250 gms, cut into cubes to be cooked in makhani gravy.
Makhani gravy- 1/2 tsp
Cream cheese-2-3 tbsp.
Cheese- ½ cup choose between processed and or mozzarella
Slit olives- black and green- 3-4 no each
Assorted herbs- ½ tsp
Chili flakes-1/2 tsp
For the garnishes:
Micro-greens- ¼ cup
Sliced gherkins-1/4 cup
Fresh assorted herbs-1-2 tbsp.
Method:
1. Prepare all the ingredients for the base of the pizza.
2. Apply the choice of spreads on the pizza base or bread.
3. Now place the toppings as per choice as listed above and add in the baked beans, chicken pieces, kale and other greens.
4. Pace the chicken pieces laced with makhani gravy on the pizza bread and top it up with choice of cheese and cream cheese as well.
5. Sprinkle over the garnishes and cheese as needed for the pizza before placing it in the pre-heated oven at 180 degrees celsius.
6. Cut the pizza into equal portions and dish out the pizza while it is still hot since the cheese tends to get rubbery if not cut accordingly and serve hot.
Recipe-6] VEGGIE WONDER PIZZA
Ingredients:
For the choice of base for the pizza:
Whole wheat / multi-grain/ regulars
For the choice of spread on the pizza base.
Tomato herbed sauce- ½ cup
Tomato- pepper- chili dip-1/2 cup
Peanut butter with dash of chili sauce and garlic- 2-3 tbsp.
For the toppings:
Sliced onions-1/2 cup
Green capsicum-1/2 no cut into strips
Black and green olives- 3-4 no each
Sliced roast chicken-1 and a half cup
For the add-on toppings:
Water chestnuts- 2-3 no sliced
Sliced mushrooms-1 cup
Salt and pepper to taste
Chaat masala-1/2 tsp
Method:
1. Prepare the ingredients for the pizza as listed above and pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees celsius.
2. Apply a choice of spreads which can be applied on the pizza base and can add a lot more excitement and feast for the palate.
3. Place the assorted toppings as desired and choose between veg and non –veg and evenly spread them all out.
4. Place out the garnishes for the pizza as per choice and ensure that the pizza looks colorful and attractive and not just the regulars but also exotic veggies be added on the pizza bread.
5. After ensuring a generous topping of grated cheese and assorted nuts/seeds/ herbs etc place the pizza inside the oven and allow to bake for 3-4 mins on each sides.
6. Remove from the oven and slice them hot along with tomato sauce/ chili sauce/ Capsico/ and a small portion of tossed salad.
