Nix's Indian Pizza

Pick up a pizza stone and get ready for some easy, delicious, homemade pizza.

Ingredients

• 1 lb Pizza Dough (storebought or make your own with this recipe)

• 2-3 cups veggies (mushrooms, bell peppers, onions)

• 1 lb protein (paneer, chicken)

• 1 32 oz pizza sauce bottle (youll only need 1/2-1 cup per pizza, so feel free to scale down - or 1 15oz tomato sauce, 1 6oz can of tomato paste)

• Laxmi Brand tandoori paste

• garam masala

• chili powder (optional)

• minced garlic (optional)

Directions

Protein Marinade: let protein marinate in fridge 1-2+ hrs:

• Chicken: cut chicken into 1/2 inch cubes, marinate chicken in 1tbspn yogurt / 2 tbspn tandoori paste per chicken breast

• Paneer: cut into 1/2 inch cubes and marinate in 2tbspn tandoori paste

Sauce: scale down for fewer pizzas: 1/2-1 cup per pie

• mix pizza sauce (or 1 15oz can of tomato sauce and 1 6oz can of tomato paste) with 3 tbspn minced garlic, 1-2 tbspn tandoori paste, 0.5 tbspn garam masala in medium saucepan on medium heat, let simmer covered for 10m. add red chili powder to taste

Cooking Protein: (optional) lightly pan fry your protein to seal in flavor, 2-3 minutes

Cooking Pizza:

• Heat the oven to 550°F or higher: Don't be afraid to really crank the heat up to its highest setting. The high heat will help make a crunchier and more flavorful crust. Let the oven heat for at least half an hour before baking your pizzas. If you have a baking stone, place it in the lower-middle of your oven.

• Divide the dough in half: One pound of dough makes two 10-inch pizzas. Slice the dough in half and cover one half with an upside-down bowl or a clean kitchen towel while you prepare the first pizza.

• Roll out the dough:

Method #1: Pizza Baked on Parchment: Tear off a large piece of parchment paper roughly 12 inches wide. Working with one piece of the dough at a time, form it into a large disk with your hands and lay it on the parchment paper. Use your hands or a rolling pin to flatten the dough until it is 1/4-inch thick or less. If the dough starts to shrink back, let it rest for 5 minutes and then continue rolling.

Method #2: Pizza with Cornmeal or Flour and a Baking Stone: Sprinkle a handful of cornmeal or flour on a pizza peel or the back of a baking sheet. Working with one piece of the dough at a time, form it into a large disk with your hands and lay it on the peel. Use your hands or a rolling pin to flatten the dough until it is 1/4-inch thick or less. Shake the peel or baking sheet frequently as you shape to make sure the dough isn't sticking. If the dough starts to shrink back, let it rest for 5 minutes and then continue rolling.

Method #3: Pizza Baked on a Baking Sheet: Brush a thin film of olive oil on a baking sheet. Working with one piece of the dough at a time, form it into a large disk with your hands and lay it on the baking sheet. Use your hands or a rolling pin to flatten the dough until it is 1/4-inch thick or less. If the dough starts to shrink back, let it rest for 5 minutes and then continue rolling.

• Top the pizza: Spoon a few tablespoons of sauce into the center of the pizza and use the back of a spoon to spread it out to the edges. Pile on all of your toppings.

• Bake the pizza: Using a pizza peel or the back side of a baking sheet, slide your pizza (with the parchment or with the cornmeal) onto the baking stone. If you don't have a baking stone, bake the pizza right on the baking sheet. Cook for 5 minutes, then rotate the pizza. Slide the parchment out from under the pizza, if used. Bake for another 3 to 5 minutes, until the crust is golden-brown and the cheese looks toasty.

• Slice and serve: Let the pizza cool slightly on a cooling rack, just until you're able to handle it. Slice it into pieces and serve.