Zucchini And Red Pepper- Pesto Pizza

“Zucchini and Red Pepper Pesto Pizza”

It was Father’s Day and kids had made plans for a Homemade Pizza for Daddy☺️ ❤️
We made a half whole wheat-half bread flour crust and topped it with Basil Pesto, zucchini & red pepper slices and cheese. 

Zucchini on pizza might sound odd... but after trying Papa Murphys Thai pizza in the past that has zucchini as a topping.... It tastes great and we like it! 
The crust came out perfectly spongy on the inside and crusty on the outside.

• Pizza Crust: ( I made it in bread machine)
Makes a 12 inch thick crust pizza

1 and 1/4 cup warm water
1.5 tbsp olive oil
3/4 tsp honey
1.5 tsp salt
1.5 cups Whole wheat flour
1.5 cups Bread flour
1 and 3/4 tsp yeast

1) Mix and Knead all ingredients into soft dough and keep in warm place for 1.5 to 2 hrs.
2) Pre heat oven to 415F
3) Spread and roll out the dough into oiled pizza pan.
4) Apply Basil pesto evenly.( I used store bought) 

5) Top with thin zucchini and red pepper slices. Season with Italian/ pizza herb seasoning, red chili flakes, black pepper and shredded cheese. 

6) Bake at 415F for 20-25 mins.
Enjoy hot out of the oven....Delishhhhhh!!! 

😋

Fusion Cuisine-"Paneer Tikka Pizza"

One of our favorite versions of Pizzas is the fusion kinds- with Indianized toppings. Crusty pizzas with spicy-zesty toppings like Paneer Tikka, Chicken Tikka or even Butter Chicken ....They have the Best of Both Worlds!
I have tried several of the fusion kinds previously with either ready made crusts or with pizza crust mix:
"Spicy Chicken and Red Pepper Pizza"(https://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2012/05/fusion-cuisine-chicken-and-red-bell.html)
"Pav Bhaji Pizza" (https://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2011/05/fusion-cuisine-pav-bhaji-pizza.html)
"Paneer Tikka Pizza" (https://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2011/02/fusion-cuisine-paneer-tikka-pizza.html)

But lately we have been making the crust at home. And OMG....It is so easy and comes out great! Once you get the taste of homemade Breads and Pizza crust...there is no going back!!!
I use the Bread machine to do the kneading cycle and rising for me, so it becomes as easy as 'dump the ingredients and walk away'!!!😁 If you do not have a bread machine, there are many super easy recipes to make pizza crusts at home which don't require much kneading and rising time.
Even this “20 Min One-Pot Pizza” from ‘Tasty’ is worth a try!!! (https://www.facebook.com/464363670276153/posts/1884352798277226/?d=n)

Bread machine Pizza Base: (Makes one 12 inch Pizza) You can double the recipe for 2 pizzas.
1/2 cup plus 2-3 tbsp extra water (Use Luke warm water)
2 cups Bread Flour
1 tbsp Olive oil
1 tbsp Sugar
1 tsp Yeast (Use fresh/non expired)
1 tsp salt
**2 tsp Sooji (Rava) will be needed when ready to bake the pizza crust (to spread on baking sheet to avoid sticking)

Add the ingredients to the bread machine in the order listed. Turn on 'Dough' cycle. Add the extra water if the dough is too hard. Or little extra flour if dough is sticky. Let the dough knead and rise in the bread machine (It takes 1. 5 hrs in my bread machine) Knead with oiled hands once done.

Paneer Tikka Topping:
1 cup paneer cubes
1/4 cup thick yogurt
2 tsp Tikka masala (I used Aachi Chicken Tikka masala)
1 tsp Cumin-Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Red chili powder
1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste
1/2 tsp turmeric
salt
Mix the yogurt and spices. Add paneer cubes and mix gently. Marinate all the above and keep in refrigerator for 30 mins

Other Toppings:
1/2 cup Shredded cheese (I used mozzarella)
1/4 cup Pizza Sauce (I used pasta sauce instead because that's what I had!)
Circular slices of red onions
Thinly sliced Red pepper
Broccoli florets
Cherry tomatoes
1 tsp Italian herb seasoning
Chopped cilantro
Red Chili flakes

Method:
1) Pre-heat oven to 415 F
2) Spray olive oil on the baking sheet. Sprinkle sooji/rava evenly on the baking sheet.
3) With oiled hands spread out the dough (with even thickness all over). Prick evenly with fork.
4) Top with pizza sauce, Veggies and Paneer tikka topping, Italian herb seasoning and Cheese.
(If there is any yogurt-spice marinate leftover, drizzle over the toppings)

We like to make patterned arrangements like in the picture. Kids have fun doing it!

5) Bake at 415 F for 20-25 mins. Till crust is golden brown and cheese is melted and slightly browned.

6) Remove from oven and let it cool for few mins before slicing the pizza.
Garnish with chopped cilantro, red chili flakes and Serve hot! Enjoy!!!😋😋😋

"Everyday Cooking"- Spinach-Red Onion-Feta Cheese Pizza

There is nothing satisfying like Hot 'Out of the oven pizza'....with the Cheese bubbling all over it...with your favorite toppings and done just the way you love it!! The delivery/ take out won't give you this satisfaction. Moreover...it's fun to play with the toppings on the pizza.....try various combinations..some typical some not so typical. I feel even the 'layering' matters.If you put one topping on the other...or vice versa..the taste changes! Yes...try it yourself!

Ingredients:
1 ready to bake Pizza crust (or make your own!)
1/2 cup Pizza sauce/ Crushed tomatoes with added some Italian herbs
1 cup fresh Spinach leaves
1/2 Red onion sliced in rings
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 cup Shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup Feta Cheese
1/2tsp Pizza seasoning/ Oregano+Basil etc
1/4 tsp Red pepper flakes( add more for spicy pizza)
1/4 tsp Black ground pepper
1tsp olive oil

Method:
1) Pre heat oven as per the Pizza crust instructions.
2) Brush the crust with olive oil
3) Spread the pizza sauce .Sprinkle the minced garlic
4) Spread half of the spinach leaves. Add half of the mozzarella. Add the rest spinach leaves and then the mozzarella.
5) Place the sliced onion rings.Add the feta cheese, pizza seasoning,black ground pepper, red pepper flakes.

6) Bake 7-8 mins and then broil for 1-2 mins until the cheese is bubbly and starts to brown.
7) Serve HOT OUT OF THE OVEN!

"Fusion Cuisine"- Chicken and Red Bell Pepper Spicy Pizza

In the quest to use up the "Rotisserie Chicken" that I bought the other day .....This Spicy and mouthwatering pizza came into being!!! Rotisserie Chicken...by the way is a great value for money... I feel. With a $7-8 Rotisserie chicken you can easily make 2-3 meals. This time I used it to make Chicken Quesadillas, Chicken Alfredo Pasta and this Chicken and Red Bell Pepper Spicy Pizza...
I buy the chicken and shred it into pieces on the same day.I make portions and freeze them, so they are ready to be used for the dish I want to cook....

Ingredients:
1 Pizza Crust
1/2 cup Pizza sauce ( Ketchup or Maggie Hot and Sweet sauce is ok too!)
1 cup Shredded Rotisserie Chicken( Or use grilled chicken or any cooked chicken pieces)
1 Red Bell Pepper chopped into small  bite size squares
1/2 Onion chopped into small bite size squares
8-10 Basil Leaves (Yes...these were from my Vegetable Garden)
1 clove garlic chopped
3 tsp olive oil
1 tsp Kitchen King masala/ Chicken curry masala
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1/4tsp Black ground pepper
1/4 tsp Owa seeds/ ajwain ( try it..it goes really well on pizza!)
1/2 tsp Italian Pizza seasoning
salt
1 Cup Shredded cheese( I used Mexican Taco blend cheese...it is very flavorful)
Red chili flakes ( for more spice)

Method:
1) Heat 2tsp olive oil.Add chopped garlic, Shredded chicken, Chicken masala, red chili powder, red belle pepper, onion. Saute for couple mins.Add salt.
2) Preheat the oven to 450 F( follow packet directions on the crust )
3) Brush the Pizza crust with 1tsp olive oil. Spread the Pizza sauce. Add the sauteed topping.Top with Shredded cheese, black ground pepper, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes, Ajwain seeds and fresh Basil Leaves
4) Bake for 7-10 mins till cheese melts and bubbles.

Serve hot!!

"Fusion Cuisine"- Corn Kulchizza!! / Corn pizza on a Onion Kulcha

Kulchizza!!!
How cool is that??? Yes, I came up with that name!!
 A pizza made with "Kulcha" as a crust.....Kulchizza!
Yesterday ,we had our weekly playdate for the kids and I had made "Masala Butter Corn" on toast for the kids. I had made plenty of the corn and we had leftovers for dinner.
Masala Butter Corn......I had it when I visited India last month.At 'City Pride' theater..they had a stall which served this. They steamed the sweet corn kernels, added chili powder,salt,chaat masala, butter and a squeeze of lemon.

 

The steaming hot- sweet corn with all that spicy masala..ummm umm yummm.....definately made the movies more interesting!!
For dinner......I put together this Kulchizza with frozen Kulcha ,the masala butter corn, ketchup,some chopped onion and cilantro and cheese on top.

Since the Kucha is already stuffed with onion and spices....it makes a very flavorful pizza base/crust.
You can top it with any toppings of your choice.

Ingredients:
Masala Butter corn---
2 cups frozen-(thawed to room temp) corn kernels
1/2tsp chili powder
1/2tsp kitchen king masala
1/2tsp chaat masala
1/4tsp mustard seeds
1tsp oil
salt
1tsp butter

Pizza:
4 Onion Kulchas
8 tsp Ketchup
1/2cup chopped onion
4tsp chopped cilantro
1/2cup shredded cheese

1) Masala Butter Corn=Heat 1tsp oil, add mustard seeds,corn, salt, ,chili powder, masala etc. Sir fry till properly heated.Add the butter.
Serve this as is with a squeeze of lemon or chopped raw onions and cilantro.

2) Kulchizza-
Heat a nonstick pan on low heat
Place a kulcha on the pan.Spread 2 tsp ketchup, 1tbsp masala butter corn, onions, cilantro and shredded cheese.

3) Cover with lid and bake till cheese melts and the kulcha crispens on the bottom

Serve hot hot hot!

"Fusion Cuisine"- Pav Bhaji Pizza

Pav Bhaji (meaning a mix- vegetable -spicy mash served along with buttered bread) is one of the most famous and favorite street foods in India. They have this big flat tava (pan), on which they make the Bhaji as per demand and toast the bread on 'ample' amounts of 'Amul' butter!!!! The combination is just mouthwatering! And 'eye' watering too ..due to the spiciness!
Pav Bhaji is 'M's favorite.Even now, when we visit India, he wants to eat the red spicy buttery Pav Bhaji with an 'extra' Pav Jodi! Whenever I make it at home, he tells me to make it enough for at least 3 meals.He can eat it everyday...if I decide to make it that often, that is!
So..it means many times I have Pav bhaji left over from previous meals. I decided to revitalize the leftovers and make this 'Fusion' pizza---- Pav Bhaji Pizza. Later I got to know that my 'innovation' came a little too late...a restaurant in California already has 'Pav Bhaji Pizza' on menu and my sister tells me, it is very common in Pizza joints in Pune! Oh well....may be someday I will really make some food innovation!

Pav Bhaji:
3 boiled potatoes
1/2 cup finely chopped cauliflower
1/4 cup finely chopped cabbage
1/4cup carrots finely chopped
1 cup finely chopped green pepper
1/2 cup green peas+ 2 tbsp peas(boiled)
1 big onion chopped
3 red ripe tomatoes finely chopped/ tomato puree
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1-2 tsp Everest Pav Bhaji masala
1/4 tsp Garam masala
1-2 tsp Red chili powder
salt
oil
Butter(Amul if possible)
Veggies: Green beans, zucchini etc can also be added to make it more nutritious.
Method:
1) Pressure cook all the veggies. Mash them well.Grate/mash the boiled potatoes.
2) In 2 tbsp oil, fry the chopped onion til tender.Fry the tomatoes till soft and tender. Add the pav bhaji masala, garam masala, chili powder,salt,veggies and fry. Add little water to get desired consistency.
3) Top with butter.Add the 2 tbsp green peas for pop of color.
4) Serve with toasted bread nicely buttered. Garnish the Pav bhaji with chopped onions ,cilantro and squeeze of lemon juice.
5) Serve Hot!

Pav Bhaji Pizza:

1) Boboli Pizza base
2) 1 cup Pav Bhaji
3 ) 1/2 cup Onions and green pepper sliced vertically
4) 1/2 cup Pizza blend shredded cheese(mozzarella,, cheddar etc)
5) 3-4 tbsp Ketchup/Pizza sauce
6) 2 pinches ajwain/Oowa
7)Chopped cilantro

Method:
1) Spread the ketchup/ pizza sauce on the pizza crust
2) Top with Pav Bhaji, onions, green peppers, cheese, ajwain, cilantro

3) Bake at 400 F( or as per directions on Pizza base/crust) for 8-10 mins
4) Bake till all the cheese is melted and bubbly...and the base is crisp.
5) Broil for 2 mins to melt the cheese and get the golden brown color
5) Serve hot!

                                        Enjoy the 'Indianized' version of pizza!

"Fusion Cuisine"- Paneer Tikka Pizza

'The grass is always greener on the other side' as they rightly say, when I was in India, I would crave the 'western' type food...and now that I am here in USA, I am craving the hot ,spicy, zesty and tasty Indian food. I love how the 'food companies' cater to the tastes of people in different countries. In India, Pizza- hut has these 'mouthwateringly-delicious' pizzas- Paneer Tikka Pizza, Chicken tikka pizza etc which are nothing but 'Indianized' pizzas with popular indian toppings. I just love those! When I visit Pune, I do eat at Pizza hut for these Pizzas.Obviously, we have no such pizzas here and hence there is only one option- make it yourself!
I made Panner tikka pizza the other day to revisit 'Pizza hut India'!
Ingredients:

For Paneer Tikka Topping
1 cup Paneer cubes
1/2 tsp Ginger garlic paste
1 tsp yogurt
1/2tsp Kitchen king masala
1tsp chili powder
1tsp cumin-cilantro powder
salt
oil
chopped cilantro
For pizza:
1 Boboli Pizza base
1/4 cup Pizza sauce (Tomato sauce with Italian herbs) ( I sometimes use plain Ketchup!!)
1/2 cup shredded pizza blend cheese/ mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup sliced green peppers
1/2cup thinly sliced onions
1/2tsp red pepper flakes
Black pepper
2 pinches ajwain seeds
salt
chopped cilantro


Method:
1) Mix together yogurt, kitchen king masala,chili powder, salt, ginger garlic paste, cumin-cilantro powder.Marinate the Paneer cubes and keep for 1 hr.
2) In a nonstick pan, stir fry the marinated Paneer on oil till golden brown from all  sides.All the chopped cilantro.Paneer Tikka is ready.Can serve as appetizer or with roti/naan.
3) Pre heat the oven to 400F.
4) On the pizza base, spread the pizza sauce.Top with Paneer Tikka, sliced onions, green pepper, cheese, red pepper flakes ,ajwain ,salt and black pepper, chopped cilantro

5) Bake at 400F for 10-15 mins or so till the cheese has nicely melted. Broil in the oven for 1-2 mins.
6) Serve hot!!