English Pizza Food

PIZZA

Steps:

• Mix together the yeast and sugar with 250ml warm water and leave to sit for 10 mins. Place half the flour in a table-top mixer with a dough hook, pour in the yeast mixture and beat at medium speed for 10 mins (or mix in a bowl, then knead with oiled hands in the bowl for 5-10 mins).
• Leave somewhere warm for 10 more mins, then add the remaining flour and oil. Beat or knead to a dough for a further 5 mins. Put in a well-oiled bowl, cover with a cloth and place somewhere warm to double in size - about 1½ hrs.
• For the sauce, heat the oil in a pan over a moderate heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 mins, stirring constantly. Add the garlic, 1 tsp sea salt and 1 tsp ground black pepper and cook for 2 mins more. Add the tomatoes and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for a good 20 mins, stirring occasionally.
• Once your dough has doubled in size, slap it down on a lightly floured surface and knead for 4 mins until soft but not too elastic. Divide into 6 pieces, roll into balls and leave to rest for 10 mins. Heat oven to the highest temperature possible (270C fan in the Good Food test kitchen) and place a flat baking sheet in the oven.
• With a well-floured rolling pin, roll out each ball of dough as thinly as possible. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, oil or dust with flour, then carefully transfer the dough base onto it. Spread over some of the tomato sauce (I like to apply it in the quantity that you would spread Marmite on toast, or the base will be soft and fall to bits), then the cheese and any toppings you desire.
• Cook for between 5-10 mins depending on your oven temp, until the base is crisp and the cheese melted. Scatter with basil.

ENGLISH MUFFIN PIZZAS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until softened and starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the carrots, peppers and zucchini and cook, stirring, until softened, about 15 minutes. Add the garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Continue to cook, stirring, until the vegetables are lightly browned, for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the crushed tomatoes. Add 1 cup water to the empty tomato can and pour into the pot. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the vegetables are very soft, the sauce has thickened slightly and the rawness from the canned tomatoes has mellowed, about 20 minutes. Puree the vegetables with a hand blender or transfer to a blender and puree until smooth, holding down the lid with a kitchen towel to prevent the hot sauce from spraying. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed and cool. You will have about 5 cups of sauce.
• While the sauce simmers, lay the English muffin halves in a single layer on a baking sheet and lightly toast in a toaster oven set to broil or under an oven broiler, 2 to 3 minutes. Spread the top of each muffin with 1 to 2 tablespoons of sauce. Combine the 2 cheeses and sprinkle over the sauce. To serve as a snack right away, add your desired toppings and place the assembled pizzas under the broiler in the oven or toaster oven until the cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes.
• To make ahead: Place the entire tray of mini pizzas in the freezer and freeze until hard, about 1 hour. Stack in a plastic freezer bag until ready to eat. To reheat, place the frozen pizzas on a piece of heavy-duty foil, add any toppings you like and bake in a toaster oven at 400 degrees F until golden, hot and the cheese is melted, 13 to 15 minutes.