California pizza
California pizza recipe in the pizza category
Recipe ingredients:
- Dough:
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- 2 packages yeast
- 3 1/2 cups unbleached flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Pesto:
- 1 cup olive oil
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 3 tablespoons pine nuts
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 1 sweet red pepper, seeded and sliced into strips
- 1 green peppers, seeded and sliced into strips
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 pound garlic and fennel sausage or sweet Italian sausage
- 3 ounces goat cheese
- 10 ounces Mozzarella cheese, coarsely grated
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons cornmeal
Recipe method:
- Prepare dough:
- Dissolve yeast in water and set aside.
- Mix flour, salt and sugar in a bowl.
- Make a well in the center. Pour in yeast solution and olive oil.
- Blend in the flour using a fork, working towards the outside of the well.
- As dough becomes stiff, incorporate remaining flour by hand.
- Gather into a ball and knead eight to ten minutes on a floured board.
- Place in an oil coated bowl. Cover with a damp cloth.
- Let rise in a warm draft free place until doubled in size, approximately two hours.
- Prepare pesto sauce using a blender or food processor:
- Combine all ingredients except cheese.
- Process but do not create a puree. Stir in cheese.
- Set side.
- Saute onions and peppers in one tablespoon olive oil and water in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Stir frequently until peppers are soft. Drain and set aside.
- Brown sausage, breaking into pieces as it cooks.
- Drain off excess fat. Chop coarsely and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Spread remaining olive oil evenly over a 12 inch pizza pan.
- Sprinkle with cornmeal.
- Punch down pizza dough, flatten lightly with a rolling pin, turn and flatten with fingers.
- Place dough in pan and spread to edges with fingertips. Bake five minutes.
- Spread pesto sauce over dough. Crumble goat cheese evenly over pesto.
- Add onions and peppers, sausage and cheese.
- Bake 10 minutes or until crust is slightly brown and cheese is bubbly.
Tags: California, recipe, pizza, recipes, cooking