Basil Pizza Food

TOMATO AND BASIL PIZZA

Steps:

• Heat it up:Set up a grill with heat source, coals or gas, on one side over medium-high. Clean and lightly oil hot grill.
• Stretch it:On a lightly floured work surface, stretch or roll 1 piece Basic Grilled Pizza Dough or 4 ounces store-bought dough into a 10-inch-long oval or other desired shape. Brush one side lightly with Herb Oil or olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Grill it:Using your hands, place dough, oiled side down, directly over heat source. Brush dough with herb oil or olive oil and cook until underside is lightly charred and bubbles form all over top, 1 to 2 minutes. With tongs, flip dough and cook until lightly charred, 1 to 2 minutes. Slide dough to cooler side of grill.
• Top it:Top with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil; cover grill. Cook until cheese melts and toppings are heated through, 2 to 5 minutes.

EVERYTHING BASIL PIZZA

Steps:

• Follow the Best Pizza Dough or Thin Crust Dough recipe to prepare the dough. (This takes about 15 minutes to make and 45 minutes to rest.)
• Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500°F. OR preheat your pizza oven (here's the pizza oven we use).
• Make the Best Basil Pesto (or Cashew Pesto, Walnut Pesto, or Vegan Pesto). Thinly slice the fresh basil (or keep it whole if you like).
• When the oven is ready, dust a pizza peel with cornmeal or semolina flour. (If you don't have a pizza peel, you can use a rimless baking sheet or the back of a rimmed baking sheet. But a pizza peel is well worth the investment!) Stretch the dough into a circle; see How to Stretch Pizza Dough for instructions. Then gently place the dough onto the pizza peel.
• Spoon the pesto onto the dough and spread it out with the back of the spoon. Then top with the mozzarella cheese in an even layer, then the Parmesan cheese. Add a pinch of dried basil and if you like, a sprinkle of kosher salt. (Most pesto is salty enough, but it depends on your pesto and cheese.)
• Use the pizza peel to carefully transfer the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake the pizza until the cheese and crust are nicely browned, about 5 to 7 minutes in the oven (or 1 minute in a pizza oven).
• Top with the basil leaves. Slice into pieces and serve immediately.

PIZZA WITH FRESH TOMATOES AND BASIL

Steps:

• Position 1 oven rack in the center and the second rack on the bottom of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Sprinkle the cornmeal over 2 rimless baking sheets. Roll out each piece of Pizza Dough into a 10 to 11-inch-diameter round. Transfer 1 dough to each prepared baking sheet.
• Drizzle 2 teaspoons of oil over each Pizza Dough. Sprinkle the mozzarella over the Pizza Dough, dividing equaling and leaving a 1-inch border around each pizza. Arrange the tomato slices in a single layer over the cheese. Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Arrange basil leaves on top, drizzle with a little more olive oil and sprinkle garlic all over. Bake the pizzas until the crusts are crisp and brown on the bottom and the cheese is melted on top, about 15 minutes. Drizzle 1 teaspoon of oil over each pizza. Sprinkle with basil for garnish and salt. Cut the pizza into wedges and serve immediately.
• Mix the warm water and yeast in a small bowl to blend. Let stand until the yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes. Mix the flour and salt in a food processor to blend. Blend in the oil. With the machine running, add the yeast mixture and blend just until the dough forms. Turn the dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer the dough to a large oiled bowl and turn the dough to coat with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm draft-free area until the dough doubles in volume, about 1 hour. Punch the down dough and divide into 2 equal balls. (The dough can be used immediately or stored airtight in the refrigerator for 1 day.)

BASIL PESTO PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes, then add the onions. Saute on low until the onions are browned and caramelized, 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the walnuts and 1 cup of the oil and process until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the Parmesan, lemon juice, garlic and 1 teaspoon sea salt and process until blended, about 1 minute. Add 3 3/4 cups of the chopped basil, reserving the remaining 1/4 cup for topping the pizza. Add the spinach and process until smooth, about 1 minute.
• In a medium skillet over medium heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes. Add the olives and saute for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, then add the balsamic vinegar and a little sea salt to taste.
• To assemble the pizzas, place the pizza crusts on two sheet pans or large round pizza pans. Spread the pesto onto the crusts, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Top with the caramelized onions, tomatoes, reserved basil, and olive mixture. Garnish with a little grated Parmesan if you like. Bake until the crusts are golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

MUSHROOM, ONION AND BASIL PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over a medium heat. Add the mushrooms and onions and cook until tender and most of the liquid evaporates, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and remove from the heat.
• Place the pizza crust on a baking sheet. Spread the sauce over the crust leaving a 1-inch border. Top with the mushroom mixture and sun-dried tomatoes. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Bake until the crust is crisp and the cheese is nicely melted, about 13 minutes. Sprinkle with basil, cut into 8 slices and serve.

FRESH MOZZARELLA AND BASIL PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F Shape pizza dough ball into 6-8 inch circle on a lightly floured surface.( Circle doesn't have to be perfect) Place dough on a piece of prachment paper. Fold up edges of dough, forming a 1 inch border. Brush oil evenly over dough with a pastry brush, or drizzle evenly over dough.
• Cover pizza dough circle loosely with plastic wrap, and let rise in warm place, free from drafts, 15 to 20 minutes. Heat pizza stone or heavy baking sheet 10 to 12 minutes in oven. ( I think the pizza stone is much better than the pan).
• Remove and discard plastic wrap from dough. Layer tomato, and next 3 ingredients evenly. Sprinkle with pepper. Carefully transfer dough on parchment paper to pizza stone.
• Bake at 450F for 10 minutes or until crust is golden.

BASIL AND GARLIC GRILLED PIZZA DOUGH - - AWESOME

Steps:

• Add one packet yeast to one cup warm water (between 110 and 115 degrees F) and stir to dissolve. Add in the sugar and let sit (proof) for 10 minutes or until frothy. Hint - - the water should be pleasantly warm - not hot. If the water is too hot, it will kill the yeast. I proof the yeast in a glass measuring cup.
• Pour the yeast mixture in a large bowl and add salt, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and flour. Mix together by hand until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
• Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5-8 minutes.
• Coat a bowl on bottom and sides with olive oil and place the dough in the well oiled bowl. I give the dough a couple of swirls around the bowl to make sure the entire surface of the dough is coated in oil. Cover with a damp cloth and set in a warm place to raise. Let dough rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Punch down and knead in garlic and fresh basil. Place dough back in oiled bowl and cover, again, with damp cloth. Set aside, again, in warm place and let rise for 1 more hour, or until doubled. (To speed up rising, I have put the dough in an oven-safe glass bowl and placed in a 200 degree oven).
• Once the dough has risen for a second time, punch it down and divide in half. Form each half into an oblong shape 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick.
• I was able to just press out the dough onto a dinner plate and used that for the size of my pizza. It all depends on the workability of your dough. You may be able to just manipulate it with your fingers, or you may want to roll it out on a lightly floured surface using a rolling pin - the method is really up to you.
• Brush grill grates with olive oil and then preheat grill to high heat. I let the grill heat up for about 10 minutes.
• Carefully place one piece of dough on hot grill. With a spatula, I was able to slide the dough off the plate onto the grill. I have heard that another method is to spray a rimless cookie sheet with cooking spray and the dough will slide off easily onto the grill.
• Once on the hot grill, the dough will probably begin to puff almost immediately. Once the bottom of the crust has lightly browned (anywhere from 2-4 minutes - - you'll know because it becomes stiff and easy to lift with your spatula) turn the dough over.
• Now, here is where time is of the essence. Working quickly, brush the pizza with your desired sauce (I did this wearing an oven mitt to protect my hand from the heat. Just be careful and, if you need to, slide the dough to the edge of the grill to avoid the open flame and move the dough back over the flame once you've added your toppings.) You want to go light with your toppings because you want the top to cook and the cheese to melt without burning the bottom of your crust. I recommend using light sauce and no more than two toppings with the cheese.
• After you've brushed on your sauce, sprinkle the basil over the sauce and top with the mozzarella cheese.
• Close the grill lid and let the cheese melt for 2-4 minutes, checking every now and then to make sure the bottom isn't burning.
• Once the cheese has melted, remove the pizza from the grill and set aside to cool for a few minutes while you prepare the second pizza.

TOMATO-BASIL PIZZA RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 500ºF.
• Pat and stretch dough into 14x6-inch rustic rectangle on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray; spread with sauce.
• Top with 1 cup cheese, tomatoes and basil; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
• Bake 12 to 15 min. or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.

TOMATO BASIL PIZZA SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in medium saucepan over a medium heat until hot.
• Add garlic; cook 30 seconds or until fragrant.
• Stir in tomatoes, salt and pepper and cook for 8-10 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring and mashing tomatoes with potato masher until crushed.
• Stir in basil.
• Place in small bowl; cool to room temperature This sauce may be made up to 3 days ahead and refrigerated or up to 2 months ahead and frozen.

EASY TOMATO-BASIL PIZZA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425ºF.
• Mix cream cheese spread, milk and Italian seasoning until blended; spread onto pizza crust. Top with remaining ingredients.
• Place crust directly on middle oven rack.
• Bake 10 to 12 min. or until cheese is melted.

PINEAPPLE, HAM & BASIL PIZZA

Steps:

• Use a well-seasoned heavy cast iron skillet, at least 12" in diameter.
• Preheat oven to 450 F (very HOT).
• Toss grated mozzarella cheese with 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• Drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil into skillet.
• Press dough into pan.
• Spread mozzarella over crust then follow in this order with: pineapple, ham, basil, walnuts, feta.
• Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil on top.
• Put into very hot preheated oven - bake for about 20 minutes.
• Use a spatula to lift edge of crust to check that it is golden and crisp.
• Remove when done to your liking, transfer to platter, slice and serve.

BASIL & GARLIC PIZZA DOUGH (ABM)

Steps:

• Add all ingredients (except cornmeal) into breadmaker in the order suggested by your breadmachine manufacturer. Process on Dough setting.
• Sprinkle cornmeal on pizza pan.
• Turn dough out onto floured board, and knead in any flour necessary to make the dough easy to handle. Roll out dough and place on pizza pan.
• Top as you prefer, and bake at 425 for 15 to 25 minutes or until done - edges of crust should be golden, and cheese bubbly.

FRESH BASIL-CHICKEN PIZZA

Steps:

• Prepare dressing as directed on envelope. Remove 1/4 cup dressing. Refrigerate for later use. Pour remaining dressing over chicken in shallow dish; stir gently. Refrigerate 30 min. to marinate.
• Heat oven to 450ºF. Drain chicken; discard marinade. Cook and stir chicken in 2 Tbsp. of the reserved dressing in skillet on medium-high heat 8 to 10 min. or until done. Brush remaining dressing onto pizza crust; top with tomatoes, basil, chicken and cheese.
• Bake 8 min. or until cheese is melted and pizza is heated through.