Herbed Cheese Pizza
(from elchallis’s recipe box)
Prep time: 120 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Serves 8 people
Ingredients
- Dough:
- 2 cups bread flour
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 packages dry yeast
- 2 cups warm water
- 2.5 cups AP flour
- 1 teaspon salt
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- Cooking spray
- Topping:
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teasponns ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon hot paprika
- 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 10 ounce thinly sliced kasseri cheese
- 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
Directions
-
To prepare dough, lightly spoon bread flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 1 cup bread flour, sugar, yeast, and 1 cup warm water in a bowl; let stand 15 minutes.
-
Lightly spoon all-purpose flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup bread flour, and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Add yeast mixture, 1 cup warm water, and 2 teaspoons oil to flour mixture; stir well. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes); add enough of remaining all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands (dough will feel tacky).
-
Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 45 minutes or until doubled in size. (Press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, the dough has risen enough.) Punch dough down; divide dough into 8 equal portions. Cover and let rest 20 minutes.
-
To prepare topping, combine oregano, cumin, paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; set aside. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, garlic, bay leaf, and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer 15 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat; discard bay leaf.
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Preheat oven to 450°.
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Working with one portion at a time (cover remaining dough to keep from drying), roll each portion into a 6-inch circle on a lightly floured surface; place circle on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Repeat procedure with remaining dough portions.
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Top each crust with 1/4 cup tomato mixture, 1 1/4 ounces cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon oregano mixture. Bake at 450° for 12 minutes or until crusts are lightly browned. Sprinkle evenly with minced parsley.