Pizza is that Italian classic that has as many variations as your imagination can think of. From the pizza dough (the crust) to the sauce or lack of sauce to the cheese and toppings, there are many, many different ways each can be made. One thing you should know is that pizza is about the crust.
Before we go wild with our imagination, bear in mind that the pizza should look inviting and taste awesome. My children love pizza with a capital L. In fact, daughter no. 2 loves making it and she is very good at it, when you get her to do it, that is. So we find ourselves ordering pizza a lot. My son no. 3, during the long holidays, once the freezer is stuffed with those “crappy” frozen pizzas, he is set for his gaming sessions. I wasn’t a pizza person before but I am a convert now.
Nigeria and Pizza
Pizza shops, Pizzerias are becoming commonplace in Nigeria and Nigerians are embracing Pizza with so much gusto. The only downer to this newfound love is the price of a pizza. Whether the pizza is worth the price or not is subjective.
Making pizza, with all the mystery surrounding it, may seem daunting but I assure you it is not. This recipe demystifies Pizza making and makes it seem like a walk in the park.
You will be amazed at your masterpiece and might decide to call it “I-can’t-believe-I-made-this-pizza” pizza. I used meatballs as part of my topping. I had a lot of leftover meatballs from putting together my Spaghetti and meatball in tomato sauce post. So I decided to make Pizza with it for son no. 3. and he loved it, even my Renaissance man said “…this pizza is GOOD”. I also made Egg muffins and Pizza cups (Pizza muffins) with the leftover meatballs.
You can use my delicious marinara sauce (fresh tomato sauce) or my other pizza sauce made with tomato puree (paste), so it is quicker. Both are awesome.
For the recipe for the pizza dough, check here.
Pizza can be made without an oven. It can be made in a skillet, deep frying pan or in a pot.
Possible toppings
Fried minced meat, mushroom, onions, pepperoni, pineapple, anchovies, chicken, garlic, sausage, olives, bell peppers, corn, ham, canned or fresh tomatoes, bacon, olive oil, shrimp, various kinds of cheese, etc.
How to make Easy homemade pizza
Homemade Pizza Dough Homemade pizza Sauce Mozzarella cheese Green bell pepper Red bell pepper Meatballs
Preheat oven to 230 deg C. It should heat up for up to 20-30 minutes.
Grease your baking tray or pizza tray and dust with cornmeal or flour.
Slice green and red bell peppers, grate cheese and set aside.
Place your dough on the tray and starting from the centre, push and press outward to stretch the pizza dough. Be gentle and patient. If it springs back after you have pushed, leave it to rest for 10 minutes.
Continue stretching until it gets to the rim of a 12-inch pan.
Lift the edge with your fingers right around.
Lightly brush the dough with oil especially the edges so they will crisp up.
Spread your Homemade pizza sauce starting from the middle with the back of a spoon in a circular motion.
Spread grated mozzarella cheese all over the top.
Arrange your slices of bell peppers on top and meatballs too, or whatever toppings you are using.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is all hot, melted and bubbly.
Transfer to a cooling rack. Let it cool a bit before slicing and eating.
Note
- Too much sauce will introduce too much moisture which will result in a limp pizza. Not good!
- Pizza needs a very, very hot oven.
- I used thinly sliced spring onions as part of the toppings on this pizza, but I sprinkled them on the pasta sauce before the cheese. Any topping that will burn easily like thin spring onion slices should usually go under the cheese.
Easy homemade pizza
Ingredients
- Homemade Pizza Dough
- Homemade pizza Sauce
- Mozzarella cheese
- Green bell pepper
- Red bell pepper
- Meatballs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 230 deg C. It should heat up for up to 20-30 minutes.
- Grease your baking tray or pizza tray and dust with cornmeal or flour.
- Slice green and red bell peppers, grate cheese and set aside.
- Place your dough on the tray and starting from the centre, push and press outward to stretch the pizza dough. Be gentle and patient. If it springs back after you have pushed, leave it to rest for 10 minutes.
- Continue stretching till it gets to the rim of a 12-inch pan.
- Lift the edge with your fingers right around.
- Lightly brush the dough with oil especially the edges so they will crisp up.
- Spread your Homemade pizza sauce starting from the middle with the back of a spoon in a circular motion.
- Spread grated mozzarella cheese all over the top.
- Arrange your slices of bell peppers on top and meatballs too, or whatever toppings you are using.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the crust is golden and cheese is all hot, melted and bubbly.
- Transfer to a cooling rack. Let it cool a bit before slicing and eating.
Notes
- Too much sauce will introduce too much moisture which will result in a limp pizza.
- Pizza needs a very, very hot oven.
- I used thinly sliced spring onions as part of the toppings on this pizza, but I sprinkled them on the pasta sauce before the cheese. Any topping that will burn easily like thin spring onion slices should usually go under the cheese.
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