Jun 20 2009

Individual Pizzas

Published by at 12:00 pm under Main Course,Spring

“Just cheese, please.”

Pizza

That’s the response you’ll get from my brother and sister-in-law’s niece when asked what she wants on her pizza. In my family, we frequently make individual pizzas at parties, so everyone can pick exactly what they want. And we all get a kick out of that little voice, politely asking that we not add toppings to her pizza.

In my case, I’ll throw whatever vegetables are available on top of my pizza, I don’t discriminate.

flour and yeast toppings
ready for the oven pizza

This is a very basic dough recipe that you can play around with based on whatever flour you have in your pantry. For these particular pizzas, I was out of all-purpose flour and nearing the end of bread flour and whole wheat flour, but the dough still worked perfectly. Even better, you can bake these pizzas in the oven or grill them, so you can enjoy this treat year-round.

Individual Pizzas
makes 3 crusts

3/4 c bread flour*
3/4 c whole wheat flour*
pinch of salt
1 packet dry active yeast
1/2 c hot water (about 110* F)
2 tsp honey
1 1/2 T olive oil

Pizza sauce
Mozzarella
Desired toppings
Oregano
Salt
Pepper

Combine yeast, water, and honey in a small dish or liquid measuring cup; swish to combine. Let sit for 15 minutes to proof the yeast (the mixture will be bubbly and smell very yeasty.

In a medium bowl, combine the flours and the salt. Make a well in the middle of the bowl. Add the water mixture and olive oil to the well and begin mixing with a fork.

When the mixture has come together into a ball, knead about ten times or until smooth.

Coat the bowl with a thin layer of olive oil and return the dough to the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for about an hour or until double in size.

Preheat oven to 500*F or grill to medium high heat.

Divide dough into three sections; with your hands, stretch each dough into rounds.

If baking, sprinkle sheet pan with cornmeal. Add pizza rounds and brush with olive oil. Top with sauce, cheese, and desired toppings. Sprinkle with oregano, salt, and pepper.

Bake for 7-10 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

If grilling, brush grill with oil. Add pizzas to grill, flip after about a minute. Remove crust, add sauce, cheese and toppings; return pizzas to grill, cook until cheese is bubbly.

*Can use 1 1/2 c all-purpose flour

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