The Simplest Pizza You'll Ever Make!

There's something special about pizzas isn't there? That winning combination of soft warm dough, melted cheese and tomatoes. I've always fancied making my own, but recipes I find are so complicated and usually involve ingredients I can't be bothered to find. I've been inspired by the wonderful Theo Micheals and honed my own version from his fabulously easy cook-along recipe during lockdown back in March.

Here it is:

You will need:

1 large baking tray

Rolling pin (a wine bottle works just as well!)

1 x mixing bowl

1 x large frying pan (you can skip this step if you want to)

1 small tea-mug or use half a big one for measuring (yep it's really that easy!)

Ingredients: (makes 1 small pizza for 2)

1 small tea mug or half a big cup of self-raising flour

Olive oil (to drizzle)

Mixed herbs

2 tblsp of tomato puree and a big squeeze of tomato ketchup ( just tomato ketchup is fine)

Grated cheese (I find 2 big handfuls of cheddar usually does it)

Cherry tomatoes halves (about 8-10)

Fresh basil

Toppings of your choice, I love:

1 small carrot, grated

Torn prosciutto / ham

Sweetcorn (if frozen I boil for a few mins first)

Other toppings ideas could be: - Torn cooked chicken, mushrooms and wilted spinach

- Pepperoni, mozzarella & sliced peppers

- Mushrooms, red onion and black olives

Method:

- First, mix your tomato puree and ketchup in a small bowl

- Preheat your oven to 200 Fan / Gas Mark 7 – 425 ° F / 220 ° C (non-fan assisted)

- In a mixing bowl: add the flour and then pour in the same amount of water

- Mix together with a spoon until it forms a ball of dough (add more flour or water if it's too sticky as you don't want it sticking to your hands)

- Dust a flat surface with flour and place the dough on it

- Pop your frying pan on medium heat to warm up

- Knead the dough a few times* (see footnote for how and why!)

- Roll it out to about 1cm thick or thinner if you like it crispier

- Lay the pizza base flat in the hot, dry frying pan to brown a little for 1-2 minutes,

- Next, transfer it to a baking tray

- Spoon the tomato puree mix onto the base, not quite to the edges

- Add your cheese and toppings

- Sprinkle with mixed dried herbs and a good drizzle of olive oil

- Pop in the oven for 10-12 minutes

Voila! Once out of the oven, scatter some freshly torn basil leaves over and enjoy!

* How to knead the dough: You can skip this step, but it's the best way to get that light fluffy base we all love in our restaurant pizzas or it might be a little dense when it comes out.

- Begin by folding the dough in half.

- Using the base of your hand, press firmly on the dough while pushing it away from you.

- Fold the dough in half again and repeat the process, turning the dough round each time.

- If the dough is sticky, sprinkle with a little flour as you go.

#pizza #lunchtime #pizzarecipes #toppings #easyrecipes