I have been making pizza at home for quite long now. I am a bit particular about what goes on my pizza and hence I like the control. I don’t do greens on my pizza, nope.

Here’s my recipe for Pizza. I usually do the pizza bread with yeast. I have tried the same without yeast as well. But if I have yeast available, I prefer the yeast version.

INGREDIENTS

DOUGH

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tsp active dry yeast
• 4 tsp warm water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• Olive oil

TOPPING

• 2 medium tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato sauce
• 2 garlic cloves
• Boneless Chicken breast, cut into small cubes
• Onions, diced
• sweet corn kernel
• Cheese, shredded, as much as you want
• Paprika/ Chilly flakes
• Italian spice mix (Oregano, Basil etc.)
• Olive oil
• Salt to taste

METHOD

1. First, mix the yeast with warm water and let it sit for 10 minutes. It will create bubbles.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, sugar and add the yeast mixture.
3. Start working the dough and add extra water if required.
4. Once the dough comes together, it’s done.
5. Take another clean boil and oil the surface and the sides. Place the dough in the bowl and ensure it’s oiled from all sides.
6. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes and the dough will double in size.
7. After 30 minutes, take the dough out, flatten it with your hand.
8. Oil the surface of your baking dish. Put the dough in the centre, and start pressing it down with your hand. I don’t roll my pizza dough.
9. Spread the dough all over your dish and make the sides thicker.
10. This dough makes me a thin crust Pizza in my 26cm baking tray with thick sides. Using a fork make small holes across the base.
11. Put it in your oven and let it bake for 5 minutes at 180 degree celcius.
12. While the dough is baking, make your pizza sauce. In a mixer, add tomatoes and garlic cloves and make a smooth paste.
13. Once done, put it on a pan and put it on gas.
14. Let it thicken a bit so that it’s not watery. Add the tomato sauce to it, and some paprika.
15. Prepare your toppings as well, i.e., cut your chicken into small cubes, dice onions and whatever else you need. I don’t cook them separately.
16. In a bowl, take 1 tbsp olive oil and add in the spices. Mix it well and add the toppings as well.
17. Give it a nice mix so that the toppings are completely quoted in the oil and spice mix.
18. Now take the Pizza base out of your oven. First brush the surface with some olive oil. Put some extra on the sides as well.
19. Oiling the surface helps in creating a barrier between the base and the sauce.
20. Now spread the sauce on the base. Add the cheese on top.
21. Spread the topping well on the surface.
22. I don’t preheat my oven separately as it’s already pre-heated from baking the base.
23. Put the pizza in for 15-20 minutes. In my convection microwave, it takes around 20 minutes to bake completely. I like hard edges with chewy base.
24. Sprinkle more oregano and chilly flakes on top and there you have your Pizza for Friday dinner.

NOTE : If you don’t have yeast, use baking powder for the dough.