My Chicken and Broccoli Pizza
My Chicken and Broccoli Pizza. Homemade dough. Luscious chicken chunks. Dollops of Mozzarella. An overload of Parmesan. The perfume of basil. The warmth of freshly ground black pepper. Bliss !!
Ingredients
Pizza base (approximately two 12 inch pizzas)
- 3.5 cups plain flour
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 11/4 cup luke warm water
- flour for dusting
Chicken and Broccoli Topping
- 250 g boneless chicken thigh bite sized pieces
- 2 red bell peppers chopped into 2 inch juliennes
- 2 cups broccoli cut into medium florets and blanched in salted water
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt to taste
Assembling the Pizza
- 2 cups fresh mozzarella cheese
- 1.5 cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 tsp red chilli flakes
- a handful of fresh basil leaves
Instructions
For the Pizza Base
- Take the yeast and sugar in a mixing bowl, add ΒΌ a cup of luke warm water. Give it a gentle stir, allow to rest till bubbles start to appear on the surface, 2-3 minutes or so.
- In another mixing bowl, take the flour and salt, combine with a whisk. Make a well, add the yeast-mix, olive oil and the remaining warm water, mix till incorporated.
- Take the dough out onto a flour-dusted surface. With lightly floured hands, knead the dough, some 8-10 minutes or so, now poke the dough with your finger. If it slowly bounces back, your dough is ready. If not, keep kneading for a while longer. (If the dough is too sticky, feel free to add a little bit more flour, but do not go overboard.)
- Allow the dough to rest in a greased mixing bowl covered tightly with cling film, about 45 minute to 1 hour, or until it has rise to twice its size.
- Take the dough out of the mixing bowl onto the flour-dusted surface, punch down the risen dough to release air bubbles. Divide into 2 equal portions.
- Take the dough out of the mixing bowl onto the flour-dusted surface, punch down the risen dough to release air bubbles. Divide into 2 equal portions.
- Take one portion of the dough, make a ball with your palms, roll gently close to a 12 inch circle. Carefully transfer the rolled out pizza base to a baking tray lined with parchment paper and dusted with a little flour.
- Using your fingers, push dents into the surface of the pizza base, this shall prevent bubbling once the pizza goes into the oven.
- Drizzle olive oil over the pizza base.
Chicken and Broccoli Topping
- Marinate the chicken with salt and black pepper.
- Heat oil in a pan, sear the chicken pieces over a high blame, about 2-3 minutes or so. Keep aside.
Assembling the Pizza
- Preheat the oven to 200C.
- Add the mozzarella slices over the pizza base, followed by the chicken, broccoli and red pepper. (Take care that the toppings cover the pizza uniformly.)
- Add a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper and a generous handful of grated Parmesan. Bake for 12-15 minutes.
- Garnish with basil, add some red chilli flakes if you like the heat. Serve hot.