Here is the easiest version of Pizza I have made so far using All Purpose Flour. This is a good choice for beginners though there are healthier Pizza crusts like Whole Wheat Crust, Cauliflower Crust, Coconut Flour Crust and so on.

Home made Vegetable Pizza

A perfect crust can be obtained by baking the Pizza on a Pizza Stone at the highest oven temperature. If you don’t have a Pizza Stone, you can use a Pizza Pan or Baking Sheet. I have used  pie pans and cake pans for making my pizza.

Ingredients

1. All Purpose Flour – 2 cups
2. Yeast – 1 tsp
3. Warm Water – 1/2 cup
4. Salt – to taste
5. Sugar – 1 tbsp
6. Corn Flour/All Purpose Flour – for dusting
7. Canned Tomato Sauce/Puree – 1/4 cup
8. Dried Parsley Flakes – 2 tsp
9. Garlic Powder – 1/4 tsp
10. Barbeque Sauce – 2 tbsp (optional)
11. Thinly Sliced Tomatoes  – 1 medium
12. Thinly Sliced Mushrooms – 4 or 5
13. Thinly Sliced Bell Peppers – half of one small bell pepper
14. Chopped Fresh or Frozen Spinach – 1/4 cup or less
15. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – 1/4 cup (You can use Low Fat Cheese)
16. Olive Oil – 2 tsp + 1 tsp (for coating the pizza pan)

 Preparation Method

1. Dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup of lightly warm water along with 1 tbsp sugar. Keep it aside for ten minutes so that it becomes foamy.
2. In a bowl, combine flour, little salt, 2 tsp olive oil and the yeast solution. Knead lightly to form a smooth dough and leave it aside for ten minutes. You may have to add a few tablespoons of water while kneading.
3. Meanwhile, combine 1/4 cup of the canned tomato sauce, parsley flakes, garlic powder and salt in another bowl. You can also add 2 tbsp of barbeque sauce for an extra kick.
4. Dust your working surface with little corn/all purpose flour and roll the dough into desired shape. The crust shouldn’t be too thin but should be atleast 1/4″ thick. You can roll it into 10-12″ diameter approximately. Brush the top of the dough with little olive oil.
5. If using frozen spinach, defrost it. If using fresh spinach, wash it thoroughly and then chop it.
6. Preheat oven to 400 degree F. Lightly grease a pizza pan, stone or baking sheet with olive oil and dust with all purpose flour or corn flour.
7. Transfer the rolled out dough to the pan and press lightly. Pinch the edges to keep the toppings inside.
8. Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the crust. Top the crust with all the vegetables and shredded cheese.
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes on the lowest rack until the cheese melts. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

Note

1. For a thin and crispy crust, roll the dough into a thinner circle and bake for 12-15 minutes on 450 degree F.
2. Feel free to top the pizza with vegetables of your choice like olives, basil, onions and so on but do not overcrowd the pizza with too many toppings.
3. You can also lightly saute toppings like onions and mushrooms in little oil before adding it to your pizza base.
4. Be careful with the amount of tomato sauce you spread on the base or else the pizza will become soggy.

Vegetable Pizza

Chocolate Flavored Cold Coffee

Ingredients

1. Cold Milk – 1 cup (Pasteurized/Boiled & Cooled)
2. Instant Coffee Powder – 2 tsp (I love Bru)
3. Sugar – 2 tbsp (Alter according to your desired sweetness)
4. Chocolate Powder – 2 tsp + 2 pinches (I used Nesquik)
5. Ice Cubes – 6 to 8

Preparation Method

1. Blend all the ingredients until the ice cubes are crushed and the coffee is thick and foamy. This will take a few minutes.
2. Pour into tall glasses and sprinkle more chocolate powder. The above recipe serves 2.

Note

1. You can add Icecream while blending to make a yummy Coffee Milk Shake.
2. Feel free to add vanilla or other flavors of your choice.

Cold Coffee Shake

Pearl Couscous with Chicken

Pearl Couscous with Vegetables & Chicken make a healthy & filling meal. Go ahead and try this simple & easy recipe.

Ingredients

1. Pearl Couscous – 1 cup
2. Diced Onions – 1 small
3. Diced Tomatoes – 2 small
4. Diced Red Bell Peppers – 1 medium
5. Cooked Chicken Breasts (diced) – 1 cup
6. Curry Leaves – A small sprig
7. Chopped Cilantro (Malliyella) – A few
8. Ginger Garlic paste – 2 tsp
9. Turmeric Powder – 1/4 tsp
10. Red Chilly Powder – 1/2 tsp (Alter according to your spice tolerance)
11. Oil – 2 tbsp
12. Salt – to taste
13. Water – as needed

Preparation Method

1. Cook couscous according to the instructions on the packet. For 1 cup of Couscous, I used 1 and 1/4 cups of water. Bring lightly salted water to a boil in a saucepan. Add couscous, cover the saucepan and simmer for 8-10 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and then fluff the couscous with a fork.
2. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a non stick pan and saute onions until translucent.
3. Add tomatoes, bell peppers, cilantro and curry leaves and continue sauteing until the tomatoes are mashed and the bell peppers have been cooked.
4. Dice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and add it to the pan. Add salt to taste.
5. Reduce heat and add ginger-garlic paste. Saute for 2 minutes.
6. Reduce heat and add turmeric powder and chilly powder. Stir fry for a minute.
7. Add the cooked couscous and toss everything together and remove from stove top.

Note

1. Feel fry to add any vegetables of your choice.
2. You can use Boiled, Grilled, Roasted or Sauteed Chicken Breasts. I used Grilled Chicken Breasts.

Barbecue Flavored Ground Chicken

Ingredients

1. Ground Chicken – 1 lb
2. Diced Onions – 1 medium
3. Chopped Cabbage – 1.5 cups
4. Chopped Tomatoes – 1 medium
5. Slit Green Chillies – 2 (optional)
6. Minced Garlic – 4 cloves
7. Red Chilly Powder – 1 tsp (Alter according to your spice tolerance)
8. Spicy Brown Mustard – 1 tbsp
9. Brown Sugar – 1 tbsp (Alter according to your desired level of sweetness)
10. Ketchup – 3 tbsp
11. Vinegar – 1 to 2 tsp
12. Black Pepper Powder – 1/2 tsp
13. Barbecue Sauce – 2 to 3 tbsp
14. Diced Green Onions – A handful
15. Olive Oil – 2 tbsp
16. Salt – to taste
17. Water – as needed

Preparation Method

1. Heat olive oil in a large pan and saute onions until translucent.
2. Throw in the minced garlic, green chillies and diced tomatoes. Saute until the tomatoes are mashed.
3. Reduce heat and add red chilly powder and little salt. Saute for a minute.
4. Add the ground chicken and cabbage to the pan and brown the chicken for a few minutes.
5. Next add mustard, ketchup, brown sugar, black pepper powder, barbecue sauce and vinegar. Mix everything together and add 1/2 cup of water.
6. Simmer the chicken for 15-20 minutes until cooked. The gravy should cling to the meat. Garnish with green onions before serving.
7. Serve this on a Sandwich or as a Side dish.

Cream of Broccoli Soup

Ingredients

1. Fresh Broccoli Florets & Stem (Chopped) – 4 Cups approx
2. Chopped Onions – 1 small
3. Chopped Garlic – 2 cloves
4. Slit Green Chilly – 1 (optional)
5. Vegetable Broth – 1 cup
6. Water – 1/2 to 1 cup
7. Milk – 1 cup (Alternatively, you can use Whipping Cream)
8. Butter – 2 tbsp
9. Salt – to taste
10. Black Pepper – 1/2 tsp

Preparation Method

1. Melt 1 tbsp butter in a pan and saute onions until translucent.
2. Add the garlic and slit green chilly and saute for a minute.
3. Throw in the chopped broccoli and stir fry for 2 minutes.
4. Add 1/2 cup of water and 1 cup vegetable broth to the pan. Cover and cook for around 10 minutes until the broccoli is tender.
5. Remove from heat and allow it to cool. Blend everything in a blender or food processor until smooth.
6. Transfer it back to the pan and reheat.
7. Slowly, add milk or cream and simmer for a few more minutes. Do not boil.
8. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with slivered almonds.

Note

• If you want to thicken the soup, stir in 1-2 tbsp plain flour after Step 3. Saute until the flour turns light brown.