A desi variation of the good 'ol pie.
The Dough:
2 cups all-purpose flour.
1/2 packet of active-dry yeast.
pinch of salt.
1 tsp of sugar.
0.8 cups of water.
Add the yeast to water and microwave for 30 seconds or till the water is warm.
Add sugar to the yeasty water and let sit for 10 mins.
In a mixing bowl, add the flour and salt.
Introduce the yeasty water to the flour in parts and knead into a smooth dough.
Knead for atleast 15 mins till the dough looks slightly glossy and uniform.
Cover the bowl and let it sit for 30 mins till the dough rises to almost twice in size.
After 30 mins, punch the dough to remove all the air bubbles. Let it sit covered for an hour more.
Finally on a clean kitchen surface , dust some flour an on this take the dough ball and roll it with a rolling pin to a circle base about the thickness of a naan (1/2 cm).
Take the base and set it on a pizza oven pan.
The Sauce:
2 tbsp of oil
1 small onion
1 tbsp ginger/garlic paste
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp turmeric power
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp kasoori methi powder
1 tsp mango powder or juice of 1/2 a lime.
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1.5 tsp salt
1/2 can tomato sauce
1/4 cup half and half
In a sauce pot , add finely diced onion to hot oil and saute for 2 mins.
Add the ginger garlic paste and reduce temperature to low.
After 2 mins add all the spices and salt and a sprinkle of water to avoid burning.
After the spices start sweating, add the tomato sauce and turn the heat up to medium.
Cook for about 20 mins, then turn heat to low and introduce the half and half.
Cook for about 5 mins more then turn heat off and allow sauce to cool.
With a spoon evenly spread the sauce on the pizza base leaving about 1/4 inch on the border.
Take care to keep the coat of sauce thin and even and use only as much sauce as required and save the rest.
The Toppings:
1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup of freshly made paneer
Sprinkle the paneer on top of the base and sauce. Fill the gaps with mozzarella till you can barely see the red sauce peeking through the cheese. Sprinkle some chopped cilantro on top for garnish.
Paneer:
Boil 1/2 gallon of whole milk.
Add 1tbsp of lemon juice diluted by 1 tbsp of water gradually to the boiling milk till the curds start to seperate.
Will a slotted spoon scoop the curds out onto a cheese cloth.
When all the curds are transferred to the cheese cloth, wrap the curds entirely with the cloth and squeeze out any remaining water.
Hang the cheese ball enclosed in the cloth for about 30 mins.
Bake the assembled pizza in a 400 degree oven for 20 mins , or till the cheese start bubbling and the crust starting browning a little.
Slice and serve.
P.S Payal Paradkar knows how to make the best paneer ever!!!!!!
