Pizza party! There are some days when you just need pizza…. it’s science. I absolutely love pizza but don’t eat it as much as I want to because it’s so bad for you. Jim and I have been talking for a while about using our trusty cast iron pan to make a pizza. We finally got around to it, and I’m so glad we did.
Don’t be disappointed when you get to the recipe below. It’s not a healthy recipe, but it’s definitely healthier than anything you’d get from one of the fast food pizza chains. There aren’t 2 cups of artificial butter flavored spray sogging up the crust here. We’ve come up with a basic pizza crust that works really well for a pan pizza. It’s dense enough to hold up to the toppings and doesn’t dry out too much from being cooked in the cast iron pan.
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp instant yeast
- 2 tbsp olive oil, plus more for the bowl
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 2.5 C white whole wheat flour (all-purpose), plus more for dusting
- Add 1 C water (110F) to the bowl of a stand mixer (with dough hook). Add sugar and sprinkle yeast on top.
- Let stand for 5-10 minutes, or until frothy.
- Add olive oil and salt. Start the mixer on a low speed and add flour in batches. Mix until dough forms a smooth ball.
- Knead dough for 2-3 minutes on a floured surface and place in an oiled bowl to rise for 1 hour, covered with plastic wrap. Make sure the bowl is in a warm area.
- Divide the dough in half and shape into tight balls. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise for another 30 minutes.
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp garlic
- 2 tbsp hot sauce
- 1 tbsp sriracha
- 1 chicken breast, sauteed and sliced thinly
- 1 pizza dough
- 4 tbsp pizza sauce
- 1 C shredded mozzarella cheese
- 4 tbsp green onion, thinly sliced
- Combine all ingredients in a small pan and heat over med-low heat until melted and combined. Remove from heat.
- Preheat oven as high as it will go, most likely 550F.
- Add the chicken to the sauce and coat evenly.
- In a cast iron pan, spread the crust out so that it's even. Add the pizza sauce and cheese, then top with chicken and onion.
- Place in center of oven and cook for 10-12 minutes. Use a thin spatula and check the bottom of the crust. It should be golden brown. Top of pizza should be bubbly and slightly browned.
- 1 avocado
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp greek yogurt
- 1/4 tsp salt
- juice from 1/2 a lime (or lemon)
- Place all the ingredients into blender and blend until smooth.
What are your thoughts on homemade pizza? Do you have a great pizza dough recipe that you use? Let’s talk about it in the comments. Happy Holidays!