Deep Dish Pan Pizza

Most of us love eating the deep dish pan pizza available at the leading fast food joints. But have you ever tried making this pan pizza at your home? I made it last evening and loved it completely!! The thick, soft and crunchy base of the pizza makes it too tempting to resist...

Health Check – High in carbohydrates, fats, proteins, calcium and sodium.

Ingredients
2 cups plain flour (makes 2-3 pizzas)
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoon olive/vegetable oil
1 Onion (add your own choice of toppings)
1 capsicum (yellow, red or green)
1 small bowl of sweet corns (add your own choice of toppings)
250 gms cottage cheese (paneer) (add your own choice of toppings)
Cheddar/Mozzarella cheese
Butter for greasing
Pinch of black pepper
Salt to taste
2 tablespoon pizza sauce/marinara (see recipe below)

Ingredients for Pizza Sauce 
2 tomatoes
1 tablespoon melted butter
2 teaspoons sugar
Salt
Pinch of Black Pepper
1/4 teaspoon Oregano
Crushed Basil
2-3 garlic cloves (minced )

Cooking Method for the Base
1. In a container add 2 cups of plain flour. Add salt according to taste.
2. In a separate mixing bowl add 2 teaspoons of yeast and sugar and mix with ½ cup of warm water. Stir well to avoid any lumps. Keep this mixture aside for 5-10 minutes. You will see froth getting formed. Remember not to put hot water as it will kill the yeast.
3. Gently add the yeast mixture to the flour and stir well. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to the mixture.
4. Now, knead the flour to make a dough. Knead the dough for at least 10 minutes.
5. Place the dough in a container. Cover it with a wet cloth and keep aside in a warm place for 1-2 hours until the dough doubles in size. (You can also preheat the oven and keep the container inside it).
6. Once the dough is ready rub it gently to make it smoother.
7. Now divide the dough into 2-3 pieces (depending upon how small or big you want the size of the pizza).
8. Take a dough portion and make a round pizza base using a cake pan or a non-stick pan.
9.  Bake the base in the oven at 180 degrees centigrade for 15 minutes.
10. Remove the base from the oven and let it cool.
11. Pizza base is now ready.

Cooking Method for Pizza Sauce
1. Make a puree of the tomatoes.
2. Take a pan and add 1 tablespoon melted butter.
3. As butter gets heated, add the minced garlic and stir for 1-2 minutes.
4. Now add the tomato puree and add some salt to it. Mix it nicely.
5. Also add 2 teaspoons sugar to it.
6. Put the heat on medium flame and let the sauce cook for another 30-40 minutes until it thickens.
7. Finally add crushed Basil and oregano and mix well. Your pizza sauce is now ready.

Cooking Method for Pizza with toppings
1. Spread some pizza sauce over the base.
2. Also spread gently some butter over the crust. (optional)
3. Now add your choice of toppings (Onions, tomato, capsicum, sweet corn etc).
4. Sprinkle some salt and black pepper over the toppings.
5. Now, sprinkle the grated cheese over the toppings. I have used cheddar cheese. You can use your own choice of goat or mozzarella cheese.
6. Place the pizza in a baking tray and bake it in the oven at 200 degrees C for 15-20 minutes until it turns light brown.
7.  Remove the pizza from the oven and cut into equal pieces. Your yummy Pan Pizza is now ready to be served.