Spicy Mediterranean Thin Crust Pizza

I am a big fan of homemade pizza. There are so many options for toppings that there is something for everyone.  This one is pretty spicy, not for those who don't love a bit of zing!

Neil buys fresh pizza dough at an Italian supermarket. It is available in a lot of local supermarkets that have instore bakeries, but is often sold frozen. Frozen dough is still workable, but needs to be bought ahead of time so that you have time to thaw it. Best bet is to place it in a bowl covered with a damp cloth, and allow it to rise before stretching out.

For the past several years, we have been using pizza stones from the Pampered Chef. For a thin crust pizza the stone is a definite advantage, as the surface keeps the dough from shrinking away from the edges before it is cooked. Stretch out the dough on the stone, and bake for 3-5 minutes maximum, just until the top has lightly dried. Remove from the oven, flip the dough over, and you will not only have the perfect crust to place your toppings on, you will never have a soggy bottomed pizza.

 

Pizza Recipe
Makes 2 pizzas for 4 hungry people.

Preheat oven to 375.

1 bag pizza dough
1 pkg fresh basil
Maestro Calabrese hot salami, THINLY sliced
1/4 medium green pepper
1/4 medium red pepper
8-9 sundried tomato slices in oil (cut in thin strips)
1 small plum tomato, very thinly sliced
6-8 mushrooms, thinly sliced
14-16 medium Kalamato black olives, halved lengthwise
grated mozzarella cheese, spread thinly
grated asiago cheese, spread thinly
Clubhouse Cajun spice
homemade tomato sauce - spread thin on both crusts

Apply flour lightly to 2 pizza stones. Divide pizza dough into 2 balls and flatten each, then roll directly onto stones. Add Cajun spice to tomato sauce in fry pan, and cook gently to reduce. Prep vegetables. Thinly spread tomato sauce on prebaked dough. Sprinkle basil and then spread mushroom slices over pizza, followed by salami slices, both peppers, and more basil. Spread a small amount of mozzarella, followed by sundried tomatoes, then more mozzarella. Add olives, and then asiago cheese. Bake at 375 for 5-10 minutes, the change temperature to 400 until crust is lightly browned.

Alternatives:  We have used flatbread from the supermarket, and even Naan as a crust. The fresh pizza dough is best, but making pizza on the premade alternatives is quick and easy.

We use our homemade tomato sauce in all of our recipes, but store bought sauce will also work. Our sauce is thin, and contains only tomatoes, onions and garlic. Read the ingredients when selecting your sauce, and stick to the more natural ones for best results.