kalpana’s la cucina..... spice 4 all seasons: HOMEMADE WHOLE WHEAT VEG PIZZA

_________________I am Mrs. Kalpana Mhaske, a Home-Maker, from the city of 52-Gates, one of the famous heritage- destination of the world- Ajanta - Ellora Caves, Bibi-Ka- Maqbara (The Taj of Deccan) and Deogiri Fort. i.e. AURANGABAD. I admire cooking - tryout and innovate different cuisines. Basically, both of my gorgeous daughters are foodie, they have always encouraged me in the kitchen and forced to carve a Food Blog, that’s why, I am happy to share the makings with you. I am an artist too. Painting – especially, Canvas-Painting is my one more hobby. In total - Ours is an ART-FAMILY, my husband is an Architect. In the end, I keep the same belief with Louise Fresco - “ Food, in the end, in our own tradition, is something holy. It's not about nutrients and calories. It's about sharing. It’s about honesty. it’s about identity ”

Sunday 3 April 2016

HOMEMADE WHOLE WHEAT VEG PIZZA

Whole wheat pizza base with step by step preparations and pictures. Sharing this healthy pizza dough recipe that I tried for the first time and it results in the best pizza at home. I guarantee that after trying this like me you will also never go for the all purpose flour pizza base. For this whole wheat base, the trick is to knead the dough very well. If you can get this right, then you will have a nice soft textured pizza base and it won’t be chewy or dense.

Whole wheat pizza base is a healthy alternate to the basic white pizza. I used homemade wheat flour and that gives me double happiness of eating the 100 % whole wheat pizza which is my daughters favourite. It comes out so good with a crusty crisp edges and soft chewy inside. Also this is my long time desire to try a pizza base separately then bake it with toppings and finally it happened. So sharing this whole wheat pizza base with you all.

This is a detail recipe with start to finish of making pizza. I have made this pizza for my family for the very first time from dough to sauce and all, as daughters love pizza. So this is a full proof tried and tasted recipe. Only you need to read the recipe carefully and follow it.

Here I have made a thin crust pizza, but you can made regular one as well. After trying this homemade vegetable pizza, I am feeling that my daughters will never go to order a pizza from outside. You will taste everything fresh in homemade one compare to store brought.

Hope you all love the recipe. If so then don’t forget to share a comment below in the comment box.

INGREDIENTS:

For The Dough:

2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour

6-7 Basil Leaves

100 ml Olive Oil [used for various purpose]

Salt as per taste

½ Tablespoon Yeast Powder

1 Teaspoon Sugar

10 gm All Purpose Flour [ maida for dusting]

1 Cup Water [warm]

Butter Paper

For The Sauce:

1 Cup Tomato Puree

1 Cup Chopped Onion

2 Teaspoon Dry Herbs

2 Teaspoon Oregano

1 Teaspoon Dry Red Chillies

5-6 Garlic Cloves

Olive Oil

For The Topping:

1 Cup Sliced Bell Pepper [all coloured]

1 Finely Sliced Onion

Olives

Pre-cooked Meat [optional]

3-4 Mushrooms finely sliced [optional]

Jalapeno [optional]

1 Teaspoon Dried Herbs

1 Teaspoon Oregano

Chilli Flakes [ as per liking]

CHEESE

Well when it comes to making pizza, more cheesy, use different combinations of cheese as it add depth to the flavours. Here I used Amul Cheddar Cheese and Amul Mozzarella for the classic pizza. But it depends upon your personal liking and availability.

METHOD:

For whole wheat pizza dough:

STEP 1 – In a small bowl mix yeast, sugar and warm water. Mix it together and let it set for 10 minutes.

STEP 2 – Once the yeast mixture foams up, in another bowl add wheat flour, salt, finely chopped basil leaves and olive oil and the yeast mixture.

STEP 3 – Bring it all together by kneading with your hands to make a soft dough. You should be able to pinch it without the dough sticking to your fingers.

STEP 4 – Wrap the bowl with a clinge film or malmal cloth and keep for at least 2 hours for the dough to rise.

Here your pizza dough is ready.

For Sauce:

STEP 1 – Take a pan with olive oil in it and add coarsely chopped onions. Fry till translucent and add the blanched and pureed tomatoes in it and cook.

STEP 2 – Cook till oil starts to appear on the side, now add garlic, sugar, salt and oregano in it.

STEP 3 – Mix them well and cook well for about two minutes or more. [ As per liking consistency of the sauce]

STEP 4 – Check for flavours and adjust accordingly.

STEP 5 – Now your sauce is ready to use, cool it and remove from the pan and keep aside.

Assembling and baking pizza:

Now we have topping and pizza sauce ready with us. Let’s start assembling the pizza. I tried to bake the pizza in oven as well as in a thick bottom pan on gas stove.

*So first I am going to share how to bake in oven:

STEP 1 – Preheat the oven to 250 degrees C for at least 15 minutes.

STEP 2 – Start with the crust, take a piece of butter paper and sprinkle some fine flour over it.

STEP 3 – Take a small portion of dough, roll it in to 8-9 inch diameter circle for thin crust or for a regular crust 6 inch diameter.

STEP 4 – Roll the edges inwards so that the cheese and sauce doesn’t flow out while baking.

STEP 5 – Place the rolled pizza on the baking tray. Spread the pizza sauce evenly and generously.

STEP 6 – Add the thinly sliced veggies to the crust and sprinkle grated cheese on the top.

Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the veggies. Sprinkle some oregano and dry herbs over it.

STEP 7 – Bake in to the preheated oven for 15-17 minutes or till the cheese melts. Slice and serve.

*Making pizza on the gas stove:

STEP 1 – Heat the heavy bottom pan over low medium heat, lightly oil the pan .

STEP 2- Sprinkle some fine flour on the platform and start rolling the pizza over it.

STEP 3 – Roll the edges as explained above, let cook the rolled pizza for 2 minutes until crust has nicely browned from bottom. Lower the heat to low.