Pass the pizza, please!
Rita DeMontis
Published:
April 10, 2019
Updated:
April 10, 2019 7:00 AM EDT
Pulled pork pizza. (Courtesy of Foodland Ontario)
The weekend’s coming. Binge-watching is on the radar. You want something fast and fabulous without ordering in, but don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen.
Pizza to the rescue! Consider the crust a blank slate and just add and enjoy, especially when store-bought pizza dough is always available.
Here’s a selection of absolutely delicious recipes courtesy Foodland Ontario (foodlandontario.ca) that are guaranteed to please and become family favourites.
Pulled Pork Pizza
Topped with tangy Carrot Apple Slaw.
1 pkg (400 g) prepared pulled pork (from your local hot table or supermarket take-out)
1 prepared pizza dough (1 lb./500 g)
1/2 cup (125 mL) rib and chicken barbecue sauce
1/3 cup (75 mL) thinly sliced red onion
1/3 cup (75 mL) thinly sliced sweet yellow pepper
3 slices (about 66 g) provolone cheese
Slaw:
4 tsp. (20 mL) apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. (5 mL) each honey and Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper
1 Tbsp. (15 mL) vegetable oil
1 cup (250 mL) thinly shredded cabbage
1/2 cup (125 mL) diced apple (such as Empire or McIntosh)
1/3 cup (75 mL) finely shredded carrot
On floured surface, roll pizza dough into 13-inch (33 cm) circle; place on preheated pizza stone or lightly greased pizza pan. Spread barbecue sauce leaving 1-inch (2.5 cm) border. Shred pulled pork and place over sauce; top with onion and yellow pepper. Cut provolone in half; arrange over top. Bake in 425F (220C) oven, until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly, 12 to 15 minutes. Cut into slices. Serve topped with slaw.
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Slaw: In medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, honey, mustard and salt and pepper, to taste. Whisk in oil. Add cabbage, apple and carrot; toss to coat well. Can be made up to 24 hours in advance.
Serves 8.
Deep dish pizza. (Courtesy of Foodland Ontario)
Deep-Dish Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes
1 Tbsp. (15 mL) olive oil
1 cup (250 mL) chopped onion
1 cup (250 mL) sliced mushrooms (white or cremini)
3/4 cup (175 mL) each chopped sweet yellow and red peppers
1 prepared pizza dough (1 lb./500 g)
1/2 cup (125 mL) pizza sauce
3/4 cup (175 mL) sliced turkey pepperoni
1-1/2 cup (375 mL) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup (125 mL) grated Parmesan cheese
24 cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
2 Tbsp. (30 mL) sliced fresh basil leaves
In large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, cover and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in mushrooms and peppers. Cook, stirring occasionally until softened, about 6 minutes. Transfer to bowl; let cool slightly.
On floured surface, roll dough into 12-inch (30 cm) circle; press into and up sides of lightly greased 10-inch (25 cm) cast iron skillet. Spread pizza sauce on bottom of dough. Top with mushroom mixture and pepperoni; sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake in 400F (200C) oven until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly, about 20 minutes. Top pizza with tomatoes and basil.
Serves 8.
Apple-cheesecake pizza,. (Courtesy of Foodland Ontario)
Apple Cheesecake Pizza
4 oz. (125 g) block cream cheese, at room temperature (half pkg)
1/4 cup (60 mL) granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. (2 mL) vanilla extract
1/4 cup (60 mL) low-fat sour cream
Streusel:
3 Tbsp. (45 mL) each all-purpose flour and granulated sugar
1-1/2 Tbsp. (22 mL) butter
1/3 cup (75 mL) pecan halves, coarsely chopped
Apples:
4 cups (1 L) thinly sliced apples (McIntosh, Empire or Gala)
2 Tbsp. (30 mL) granulated sugar
3/4 tsp. (4 mL) ground cinnamon
Crust:
2-1/4 cups (550 mL) all-purpose flour
1/3 cup (75 mL) granulated sugar
1-1/4 tsp. (6 mL) salt
1 tsp. (5 mL) baking powder
3/4 cup (175 mL) cold butter
3/4 cup (175 mL) milk
In medium bowl, using electric mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Stir in sour cream. Cover and refrigerate.
Streusel: In small bowl, stir together flour and sugar. With fork, mix in butter until crumbly. Stir in pecans; set aside.
Apples: In large bowl, toss together apples, sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
Crust: In large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Cut in butter using pastry blender or knife until size of large peas. Stir in milk just until moist. Form into ball. Knead a few times on floured surface.
Roll dough into 12-1/2-inch (31 cm) circle; fold over 1/2-inch (1 cm) and pinch down to make raised edge. Place crust on lightly greased 12-inch (30 cm) pizza pan. Spread cream cheese mixture to edge of crust. Top with apples, discarding any juices. Sprinkle with streusel. Bake in 350F (180C) oven until crust is golden brown and apples are tender, 30 to 35 minutes.
Serves 8.
Steak and mushroom pizza. (Courtesy of Foodland Ontario)
Steak, Mushroom and Caramelized Onion Pizza
5 tsp. (25 mL) olive oil
1 pkg (227 g) sliced cremini mushrooms
1/2 tsp. (2 mL) dried thyme leaves
3-1/2 cups (875 mL) halved and thinly sliced onions (about 4 onions)
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. (5 mL) granulated sugar
1/2 lb. (250 g) beef sirloin steak, thinly sliced
1 tsp. (5 mL) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. (2 mL) Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper
1 prepared pizza dough (1 lb./500 g)
1/2 cup (125 mL) smoky barbecue sauce
1/3 cup (75 mL) diced sweet red pepper
1 cup (250 mL) finely shredded asiago cheese
1/2 cup (125 mL) finely shredded Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp. (30 mL) finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
In large skillet, heat 1 Tbsp. (15 mL) of oil over medium heat. Add mushrooms and thyme; cook for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. With slotted spoon, remove to bowl. Add 1 tsp. (5 mL) of oil and onions to skillet; cover and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Stir in garlic and sugar, cook for 1 minute. Stir in 1/4 cup (60 mL) water. Cook, stirring, until onions are soft and caramel colour, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove to bowl.
Add remaining oil to skillet. Add steak; cook until lightly pink, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in flour, Worcestershire and 1 Tbsp. (15 mL) water. Cook until thickened, about 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
On floured surface, roll dough into 13-inch (33 cm) circle; place on lightly greased pizza pan. Spread barbecue sauce leaving 1-inch (2.5 cm) border. Top with steak, peppers, mushrooms and onions. Sprinkle with cheeses. Bake in 450F (230C) oven until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly, about 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.
Serves 8.
http://torontosun.com/life/food/0410-foodnational