Pizza, Pizza, Pizza!!!

Pizza, Pizza, Pizza!

After a too long hiatus and encouragement from my beloved daughter, I got back in the saddle or kitchen, so to speak, and make an entry of pizzas we experimented with last night. Lemon Hot Sausage, Mushrooms & Goat Cheese, The Purest, and The Mediterranean.

I made them on naan bread because I like the taste; it was available, and easy! I have included fresh pizza dough for anyone who feels so inclined. The recipe is from a London Bakery called Popina. If rolled thin it comes out so crispy and light. It is my favorite dough recipe. There is this pizzeria in Delray Beach, called Pizza Rustica that has a buttery, thicker, bread crust that I would love to have that recipe, but a last I do not, or I would share it too.

The Sausage Lemon Pizza was really good and definitely different. The lemon lifted the heavy quality of the sausage and married it to the soft, fresh mozzarella.

The Baby Bella and Goat Cheese won first in prize from my daughter and I. Dad, sadly, is still working on reconciling his mushroom texture, earthiness issues, but he still jumped right in and tried, which is all one can ask for!

The Purist, which is the simple classic of tomato and cheese: the Margherita Pizza. I chose to try tomato paste on these little pizzas this time because I wanted to try to get a bigger tomato flavor because to me the tomato sauce always gets lost in the cheese and spices. If you have a great sauce recipe that can hold it’s own, please share. Next time I am going to use the sauce to gauge the difference. This is Dad’s favorite, followed by the Sausage.

The Mediterranean with Greek Tendencies has spunk! The marinated artichokes and olives, YUM! Next time I am going to add some chopped pepperoncini’s. We like it hot, spicy hot!

This was a fun meal.  We didn’t even make it to the table. We stood around the cutting boards with all the pizza’s sliced into mini bite sized triangles and compared and contrast, then deconstructed the ingredients., inspiring new combinations and ranking our favorites! In my world of family, this was a great success! Enjoy!

Lemon Hot Sausage

1 Hot Italian Sausage Link, Sliced or Removed from Casing, Crumbled and Cooked

I Naan Flatbread or Fresh Dough per instructions, or other crust vehicle

Fresh Mozzarella

Zest from 1 Lemon

Lemon Wedge

Truffle Salt

Pepper

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees. Assemble: Arrange Mozzarella on Flatbread. Arrange Sausage on Top of Cheese. Sprinkle Lemon Zest, Salt & Pepper to Taste. Bake in  Oven until cheese is bubbly. Squeeze Lemon Wedge over Pizza!

 

Baby Bella’s & Goat Cheese

Baby Portabella Mushrooms

Sliced, sautéed in 2 tbl butter & olive oil

Seasoned with dried thyme, salt & pepper

Red Onions

            Sautéed in 2 tbl olive oil until just wilted

Goat Cheese, crumbled

Grape Tomatoes, for color and texture, Optional

Fresh Garlic, Minced

Thyme, Fresh or Dried

Truffle Salt

Pepper

Olive Oil, Drizzled

1 Naan Flatbread or Fresh Dough per instructions, or other crust vehicle

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees. Assemble: Arrange Goat Cheese on Flatbread. Arrange Mushrooms & Red Onions on Top of Cheese. Sprinkle Garlic, Salt & Pepper to Taste. Bake in Oven until cheese is puffed

 

Purest

Tomato Paste

Fresh Mozzarella

Fresh Garlic, Minced

Oregano, Fresh or Dried

Salt

Pepper

Basil, Fresh, Julienned

Olive Oil, Drizzled

1 Naan Flatbread or Fresh Dough per instructions, or other crust vehicle

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees. Assemble: Spread Tomato Paste on Flatbread.

Sprinkle Garlic, Salt, Pepper, and Oregano on Tomato Layer. Arrange Mozzarella Arrange Sausage on Top of Cheese.  Sprinkle Fresh Basil, Salt & Pepper to Taste. Bake in  Oven until cheese is bubbly. Drizzle Olive Oil

 

Mediterranean with Greek Tendencies

¾ Cup Marinated Artichoke, Chopped

½ Feta Cheese, Crumbled

Grape Tomatoes, Yellow & Red

¼ Cup Kalamata Olives, Slice

¼ Cup Green Olives, Sliced

Fresh Garlic, Minced

Dried Oregano

Truffle Salt

Pepper

Olive Oil, Drizzled

1 Naan Flatbread or Fresh Dough per instructions, or other crust vehicle

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees. Assemble: Arrange Feta on Flatbread. Arrange Artichokes, Olives, Tomatoes, and Garlic & Spices on Top of Cheese. Bake in Oven Until Heated through. Olive Oil, Drizzled

Popina Pizza Dough Recipe

1 ½ Cup Bread Flour

1 tsp Quick Acting  Dry Yeast

½ tsp Salt

2 tbl Olive Oil

1 Egg

½ Cup Warm Water

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Create a well in the centre of the ingredients and add the egg, olive oil and water. Draw everything together with your hands and knead until you get a soft, pliable dough. If you’re using a KithenAid, knead until the dough comes. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead for two more minutes. Let it rest while you prepare the topping for the pizza.