When the desire for a bit of nostalgia strikes, this recipe always takes me back to my teenage years. All you can eat buffet from Pizza Hut was our hangout place of choice. After trying endless recipes, this is the one I'll be settling on... for a while at least.
For the Base
- 800g/1lb 14oz '00' flour
- 200g/7oz semolina flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp or a couple of squirts of honey
- 14g/½oz dried yeast / fresh yeast
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 650ml/1 pint 2fl oz warm water (body temp)
For the Topping
- 200g Lamb or Beef
- 2 teaspoons (more if you like it hot) of Spice Spice Baby Seasoning)
- 2 x 400g/14oz tins San Marzano tomatoes (or plum tomatoes)
- 2 large cow’s milk mozzarella balls, grated
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Added Extra:
To add a full hit of nostalgia, make up a bath of the Ranch dressing.
- 1 Table spoon of Ruddy Good Ranch Rub
- 3 Tablespoons of natural plain yoghurt
Mix together and pop it into the fridge for about an hour before serving. Drizzle & dip over the top of the Pizza.
Method
Step 1) To make the dough, place the warm water into the bowl along with the yeast & the honey. Leave to activate for about 15 mins. After 15 mins the yeast should bloom, the top of the water should look like a sparkling drink or sparkling water. If you can't see the sparkles, it means that the yeast is not active.
Step 2) If the yeast is not active, discard and start again as you will not get a rise later on in the process.
Step 3) Place the flours, salt, sugar into the water and stir. Gradually mixing to form a soft dough.
Step 4) Tip out and knead on an oiled work surface for about 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic. Place it into a bowl, cover with cling film and refrigerate for 24 hours.
Step 5) Mix the Spice Spice Baby Seasoning into the minced beef/lamb and gently fry, set to one side to cool
Step 6) Preheat the oven to its highest temperature. Place a heavy baking tray or pizza stone in the oven/BBQ and allow it to heat.
Step 7) Remove the dough from the bowl and knead for a couple of minutes, then divide into four pieces. Allow to rest for five minutes, then stretch each piece over your hands to form a disc about 5mm/¼in thick.
Step 8) Place the circles of dough onto floured baking trays or a pizza peel if you have one.
Step 9) Blend the tinned tomatoes with a stick blender or a food processor. Spoon the blended tomato thinly over the pizzas, scatter over the grated mozzarella & the beef/lamb mix, then drizzle over the oil. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Step 10) Slide each pizza off the baking tray directly onto the heated baking tray or pizza stone in the oven and cook for 5 -10 minutes, or until golden-brown and crisp.
Step 11) Enjoy
