Pizza 2

Another pizza! I tried a flavour I haven't done before. It's an excellent combination: caramelised onions and Gorgonzola. Delicious!

This time, however, I decided to use pizza flour. The pizza dough was easier to work with and the pizza base was crispier. I would definitely recommend using pizza flour instead of white bread flour.

Serves: 1 medium sized pizzas (30 cm diameter) - 1 person.

Ingredients:

• For the base (quantities are for 2 x medium pizzas):
• 250g pizza flour
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ tsp fast action dried yeast
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 150ml hand-hot water
• For the topping (quantities are per medium pizza):
• 1 red onion, halved and sliced
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 30ml balsamic vinegar
• 150g chestnut mushrooms, sliced
• 100g Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
• basil leaves to taste
• olive oil to taste

Equipment: 1 pizza tray - 30 cm diameter.

Method:

1. Make the dough for the pizza base:
1. Combine the flour, salt and yeast in a bowl. Do not put the salt on top of the yeast as that will kill it, instead add them to different parts of the bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in the olive oil and water. Mix to a soft dough.
2. Turn out on to a floured work surface and knead for 5-10 min until smooth. 
   
3. Cover and prove in a warm place until doubled in size, usually about 1 hour.
   
   
   
   
2. Prepare the onion:
1. Fry the onion in olive oil for 10-15 min, until they are golden.
   
   
   
2. Add the sugar and vinegar and mix well until all combined. Cook for a further 5-10 min.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Prepare the mushrooms:
1. Fry the mushrooms in olive oil for 10-15 min.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Divide the dough in two and roll out to a ball each. Freeze one of the balls if not using immediately. I had 400g dough, so 200g balls.
5. Stretch the ball by hand, slowly and working around the dough, from center to edge, until if forms a rough 30 cm circle that fits on the pizza tray. 
   
   
   
6. Spread olive oil to within 2.5 cm of the edge.
   
   
   
7. Add the caramelised onion to the pizza base.
   
   
   
8. Add the mushrooms to the top.
   
   
   
9. Finally the cheese.
   
   
   
10. Bake at 230°C for 10-12 min until the base is crisp and the cheese as melted.
    
    
    
11. Add bay leaves and serve immediately.