Recipe for Pizza from scratch

We start by making the Chicken Tikka(You can add whatever protein you like)

• Remove the skin, Wash the Chicken thighs and make random incisions on each thigh
  
• Mix all the ingredients mentioned under the 'Chicken Tikka' section(except coconut shell/coal), cover it tight and allow it to marinade overnight in the refrigerator
  
• Then in a Pan, heat some oil on Medium flame
  
• As soon as the oil turns hot, add the marinaded chicken thighs and cook it on both sides till it gets a charred look

  Note:-

  Let it coook on High flame first on both sides till it gets a charred crust and then turn down the heat and let the chicken cook for about 10-12 minutes on each side
  
• Transfer the fried chicken into a vessel and place a small steel bowl in between the fried chicken
  
• For the smoky flavour, hold a piece of coconut shell with the help of a pair of Tongs or Pincers hold it over direct fire till it becomes completely black. To turn off the fire , you will have to turn off the gas flame and continuously and rigourously blow the fire off the shell.

  Saftey Tip:-DO NOT burn the entire Coconut shell or else the flames will be too high and may lead to accidents if it's your first time. I have used a full shell here because it was a thick shell and difficult to break

  Keep a Thick cloth ready, just incase the fire doesn't go off the coconut shell, you can immediately wrap it with the thick cloth.

  You can Skip this step if you're not confident.

  You Can use a block of coal instead
  
• Place the Burnt coconut shell/coal inside the steel bowl
  
• Pour 1 tspn oil on the hot burnt coconut shell/coal
  
• Immedietely cover the vessel with a lid so that the evenly spreads all throughout the chicken. Keep it covered for around 10 minutes and keep it covered till it has to be used up
  

Follow these steps to make the Pizza

• Activate the yeast by adding 1 tspn Sugar and 1.5 tspn Instant Dry Yeast to 100 ml warm water, Stir it well and place it in a warm place to bloom. It will take around 10-15 minutes

  Note:- The Water should be warm to touch. If the water is Hot or Cold, the yeast won't bloom. Also, Yeast doesn't bloom if it is old or is taken off from an open packet
  
• Simultaneously, in a dough pan, add all the other ingredients mentioned under the 'Pizza Dough' section
  
• Once the Yeast is activated, transfer it into the dough pan with all the other ingredients
  
• Gently bring all the ingredients together and turn it into a dough
  
• Knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes till it turns smooth
  
• Grease a Large bowl on all sides, till the brim, with olive oil and place the dough into the bowl and lightly brush the dough with Olive oil so that it doesn't dry out
  
• Cover the bowl with a cling wrap/plate or a cloth and Place the Bowl in a warm place for it to rise or double in size. I keep it inside the Microwave with the light on and door shut. This will take about an hour

  Note:- The process of letting the dough rise or double in size is called proofing
  
• Simultaneously, we go ahead and make the Pizza sauce

  In a pan, heat 2 tbspn Olive Oil on Medium flame
  
• Add the chopped Onion and Garlic and Sauté till the onions turn transparent
  
• Then add the Tomato Purée, chopped basil(if using), pepper powder, parmesan cheese(if using), Oregano, Salt and Sugar and Stir it well
  
• Once it starts to thicken, turn the flame off and keep it aside.

  Note:- Don't let it dry out completely because it will further thicken as it is cooling at room temperature
  
• Then, grate the Cheese and keep it aside
  
• Get the other toppings ready and keep them aside

  Note:- You can add all the toppings or some of the toppings mentioned. You can add the toppings of your choice.

  If you like, you can add only Mozzarella cheese, the choice is completely yours
  
• Moving back to the dough

  Once the dough doubles in size, transfer it on a lightly floured surface preferably the kitchen platform
  
• Deflate the dough with your hand and knead it further for around 5 minutes
  
• Grease the Pizza Tray with some oil

  Note:- I've used a 12 inch tray
  
• Transfer the Dough on the pizza tray
  
• Grease both your palms with oil and flatten the dough on the tray

  Note:- the technique is to push the dough from the centre to the edges so it is evenly spread
  
• Now spread the Pizza sauce all over the base and sprinkle the cheese all over the pizza sauce

  Note:- save some cheese to sprinkle on the toppings
  
• Now add all your toppings
  
• Sprinkle the left over cheese on top
  
• Now the most exciting stage! We go ahead and bake this Beauty! Yayyy!!☺️☺️

  Pre Heat the oven at 200°c for 10 minutes, Top and Bottom heating

  We will bake the Pizza in the middle rack of the oven
  
• Once the oven is heated, Slide in the Pizza tray onto the middle rack of the oven and Let it bake at 200°c for 30 minutes

  Note:- Every oven has different temperatures, settings and heating processes. Please check what suits your oven best. My Pizza took 30 minutes to get ready. Yours may take more or less time
  
• Once your Pizza is ready, cut it the way you like and enjoy it while it's Hot!
  

Notes

• To your base , you can add the vegetable purée of your choice. This is my little secret, whatever veggies I'm not a great fan of, like Cauliflower, Spinach, Fenugreek, Beetroots, etc. I add it to my dough!
• Just incase you don't wish to add any Vegetable purée, you can skip that ingredient and use around 1/2 cup of roomtemperature water to knead the dough

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