I love pizza, the proper Italian way, crispy base with loads of fresh simple ingredients. So, on Sunday night, I decided to prepare our fave pizzas for dinner, a Caprese for J and a Proscuitto, parmesan and rocket(from the garden….aah. um..) for me! And it really isn’t a mission to prepare at all! I made my own pizza dough, but you could always buy ready made dough from your local store’s bakery. For those of you that don’t have pizza ovens…the trick is to preheat your oven at the highest temperature and “par bake” your bases before putting the other toppings on…this will ensure crispy bases everytime! Because the flavours are so simple, I enjoy devouring these pizzas with extra virgin peppery olive oil and balsamic vinegar – something to mop the crusts in!
This is what you will need to make dough for 2 large pizzas
4 cups cake flour
2 t salt
2 t instant dried yeast
2 t sugar
2 T olive oil
+ – 350 ml luke warm water
Combine all the ingredients together to form a dough, then knead until smooth and elastic (+ – 5 minutes). Place back into a bowl, cover and allow to proof(rise) in a warm area for +- 30 minutes (should double in size). If you don’t want to use the dough straight away, refrigerate to stop the dough from rising more and use within 2 days.
This dough can also be used to bake a loaf of bread – Bake at 180 degrees for +- 40 minutes, make little rolls - 180 degrees for 10 -15 minutes or use for “braai broodjies”.
Preheat the oven to 230 degrees.
Divide dough into 2 balls, then stretch and spread the dough out onto two greased baking trays (you can make your pizza round or rectangular). Prick holes into the dough with forks and brush with olive oil. Bake for 5 minutes(this prevents the base from getting soggy).
Tomato sauce for the bases:
Combine 200 ml passata/tomato puree with mixed herbs, sugar, salt and pepper to taste.
Caprese:
Spread one base with tomato sauce. Top with a large handful of grated mozzarella and about 125 g halved rosa tomatoes. Sprinkle with a bit more cheese and some dried mixed herbs.
Bake for +- 10 minutes
For the Proscuitto pizza:
Spread the other base with tomato sauce and a handful of grated mozzarella cheese.
Bake for +- 10 minutes
Top Caprese pizza with Fresh basil! Wala!
Top baked base with Proscuitto slices (+- 8 slices) , Parmesan shavings and fresh rocket. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Season with freshly ground salt and pepper.
You can’t get fresher than this! Who needs take out?
Here’s to another week people!! 
lovies C x
