Paneer Pizza

Happy New Year Y’ALL!!!!!. I hope this New Year brings with it a new beginning and memories to last a lifetime. I am starting off with a PIZZA recipe for the New Year. The reason for that is simple; the missus absolutely loves, loves PIZZA. So if she is happy everything else seems smooth sailing. When you make one of her favorite ingredients “PANEER” the star of the pizza then you get permission to watch football all day with your friends. This simple spiced Paneer Pizza not only put a beautiful smile on wifey dear’s face but was also a big hit at the gameday party at my apartment.

This New Year’s Day fell on a Friday, which gave everyone the perfect opportunity for a long weekend. For the adventurous people this was the chance to take off on a vacation. This must have been a much longer vacation for them if they took time off for Christmas too. On the other hand lazy guy like me (CHUCKLES!!!) can only follow one routine; eat, watch football, sleep. Then repeat. I mean c’mon how can you not do so when college football games are on TV pretty much all day.

At such times the sports bars are crowded so people usually gather at a friend’s place for gameday. This is where your ability to cook can be both a boon and a curse for you. It can be a boon since people want to come spend time at your place and a curse because you need to cook for them (Only if you have your own food blog. CHUCKLES!!!!!) All jokes aside there is no better sight to see, than a smile on someone else’s face when they eat your food. That is why I do not mind entertaining people at my home even on long weekends (when I would rather be sleeping… LAUGHS!!!!)

A close friend of mine Phillip who runs southernfatty.com has taught me an amazing recipe for homemade pizza dough. So I just could not think of anything else to make for the big day. The only problem was the sauce and the toppings since I very much wanted to infuse some Indian flavors in this pizza. I came across a packet of paneer in my fridge and the idea for the Paneer Pizza was born.

I marinated the paneer for a little bit of extra flavor. Whisk together yogurt, gram flour, turmeric, garam masala, red chili powder and lemon juice in a bowl. Fold in paneer cubes and let it marinate in the fridge for 2 hours.

Sauce: Heat oil in a pan. Add onions and sauté till golden. Add garlic and cook for few minutes. Transfer it in a food processor and make a fine paste using very little water. Heat oil in a flat-bottom pan over medium heat. Add onion garlic paste and cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Mix in the tomato puree, fenugreek leaves, black pepper powder and sauté till oil starts separating. Season with salt. Let it cool.

The pizza dough recipe is the same recipe that I used for my Spinach, Tomato & Onion Pizza.

Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and stretch to desired thickness. Prick the base with fork to avoid bursting. Brush the surface with oil. Evenly spread tomato sauce. Spread the paneer cubes onto the crust and top with tomato, onion, green pepper and cheese.

Bake in the oven at 400 F for 20 mins until crust is golden brown. Slice and enjoy with a glass of cold beer….

The New Year’s Day bowl games were all blowouts and hence were a bit of disappointment but I am happy to say that my friend’s did not say the same about the pizza…

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Paneer Pizza

Rahul

Spicy paneer pizza topped crispy capsicum and onions on a homemade pizza dough- quite a mouthful!

5 from 2 votes

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Ingredients

  

Pizza Crust

• 2 cup: All Purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp: Yeast
• 1 tsp: Sugar
• ½ tsp: Salt
• ¾ cup: Hot water

Marination

• 1 cup: Paneer cubed
• ¾ cup: Yogurt
• 1/3 cup: Gram Flour
• ¼ tsp: Turmeric
• ¼ tsp: Lemon Juice
• ¼ tsp: Garam Masala
• ¼ tsp: Red Chili Powder

Sauce

• ½ cup: Tomato Puree
• ½ large: Onion Chopped
• 2 : Garlic pods
• 1 tbsp: Dried Fenugreek leaves/Kasoori methi Optional
• 14 : Black Pepper Crushed
• Salt

Toppings

• ½ Green Pepper cut into strips
• ½ Onion cut into strips
• ½ Tomato cut into strips
• Mozzarella Cheese

Instructions

 

Pizza Crust

• Dissolve the sugar in hot water and add yeast into the mixture. Mix and set aside for 10 mins till the yeast starts to bloom.
• Mix the flour and salt. Add the yeast to this mixture and knead slowly to form soft dough.
• The key to making a great crust is the proper kneading technique. The technique is folding and kneading with the heal of your palm till the dough is smooth and elastic.
• Apply oil on the dough. Cover with plastic wrap and leave it in a warm place to rise for 45 minutes.

Marination:

• Whisk together yogurt, gram flour, turmeric, garam masala, red chili powder and lemon juice in a bowl. Fold in paneer cubes and let it marinate in the fridge for 2 hours

Sauce:

• Heat oil in a pan, add onion and sauté till golden. Add garlic and cook for few minutes. Transfer it in a food processor add very little water and make a fine paste.
• In a flat-bottom pan over medium heat. Add oil and onion garlic paste stir well and cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Add tomato puree, fenugreek leaves, black pepper powder and sauté till oil starts separating, season with salt. Keep aside to cool

Pizza

• Turn the dough out on a lighty floured surface and stretch to desired thickness. Prick the base with fork to avoid puffing up. Brush the surface with oil.
• Evenly spread tomato sauce.
• Drain the paneer cubes and place onto the crust.
• Top with tomato, onion and green pepper. Sprinkle cheese
• Bake in the oven at 400 F for 20 mins until crust is golden brown.
• Slice and enjoy !!

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