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

Here is the recipe for a Chinese Style Fried Rice using Brown Rice. You can use any type of Brown Rice preferably Brown Basmathi Rice.

Chinese Style Brown Fried Rice

Ingredients

1. Brown Rice – 2 cups
2. Diced Spring Onions – 1 small bunch (Separated into whites and greens)
3. Diced Carrots – 1/2 cup
4. Finely Chopped Beans – 1/2 cup
5. Diced Broccoli Florets – 1/2 cup
6. Chilly Garlic Sauce – 1 tsp (Alter according to your spice tolerance)
7. Soy Sauce – 2 tbsp
8. Vinegar – 1 tsp
9. Black Pepper Powder – 1/2 tsp
10. Sugar – 1 tsp
11. Salt – to taste
12. Oil – 2 tbsp
13. Water – as needed

Preparation Method

1. Cook the brown rice in salted water according to the instructions on the packet. To reduce the cooking time, you can soak the brown rice in water for 20-30 minutes before cooking. Drain and keep aside.
2. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a non stick pan or wok and saute the spring onion whites until translucent.
3. Throw in the beans and stir fry for a 2-3 minutes on medium high heat.
4. Next, add the carrots and continue sauteing for a few minutes.
5. Add the broccoli florets along with salt to taste.  Stir fry until the vegetables are cooked but crispy.
6. Reduce heat and add chilly garlic sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, black pepper powder and 1 tsp sugar.
7. Add the cooked brown rice and toss everything together. Garnish with spring onion greens and remove from stove top.

Vegetarian Rice Noodles

Ingredients

1. Rice Stick/Noodles – 1 packet 250g approx
2. Diced Onions – 1 small
3. Diced Tomatoes – 1 small
4. Diced Beans – 1/2 cup
5. Diced Carrots – 1/2 cup
6. Diced Bell Peppers – 1/2 cup
7. Cashew halves – 10 to 12
8. Curry Leaves – a sprig
9. Slit Red/Green Chillies – 2 (Alter according to your spice tolerance)
10. Turmeric Powder – 1/4 tsp
11. Red Chilly Powder – 1/2 tsp (Alter according to your spice tolerance)
12. Garlic Powder – 1/4 tsp
13. Oil – 2 tbsp
14. Mustard Seeds – 1/4 tsp
15. Lemon Juice/Vinegar – 1 to 2 tsp
16. Sugar – 1 tsp
17. Salt – to taste
18. Water – as needed

Preparation Method

1. Bring water to a boil and cook the rice noodles in salted water according to the instructions on the packet. Keep an eye as these noodles cook in 3-5 minutes. Drain and keep aside.
   Heat 2 tbsp oil in a non stick pan and splutter mustard seeds.  Add the onions, cashews and chillies and saute until the onions are translucent.
2. Throw in the curry leaves along with the chopped beans. Saute for a few minutes.
3. Next, throw in the carrots and stir fry for a few minutes.
4. Add tomatoes and bell peppers along with salt to taste.
5. Continue sauteing until the vegetables are cooked.
6. Reduce heat and add turmeric powder, chilly powder and garlic powder. Stir fry for a minute and add lemon juice or vinegar along with 1 tsp sugar.
7. Add the cooked rice noodles and toss everything together and remove from stove top.
8. Serve with any pickle or chutney of your choice.

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.

Beef/Pork Fried Rice

Ingredients

1. Long Grain Rice – 2 cups
2. Beef/Pork Sliced into thin strips of 1/4 ” thickness – 1/2 lb or 250 grams
3. Eggs – 2
4. Diced Onions – 1 small
5. Fresh/Frozen Green Peas – 3/4 cup
6. Diced Carrots – 3/4 cup
7. Finely Chopped Spring Onions – 1/2 cup each (White & Greens separated)
8. Tomato – 1 (Alternatively, use 1 tbsp Tomato Ketchup)
9. Soy Sauce – 2 tbsp
10. Chilly Garlic Sauce – 2 tsp
11. Fish Sauce – 1 tbsp
12. Black Pepper Powder – 1/2 tsp (Optional)
13. Oil/Butter – 4 tbsp
14. Water – 3 to 3.5 cups (depending on the Rice used)

For Marinating the Meat

1. Turmeric Powder – 1/2 tsp
2. Home Made Garam Masala Powder – 1 tsp
3. Red Chilly Powder – 2 tsp (Alter according to your Spice Tolerance)
4. Meat Masala Powder – 1 tbsp (optional)
5. Pepper Powder – 1 tsp
6. Ginger Garlic Paste – 1 tbsp
7. Salt – to taste

Preparation Method

1. Soak the rice for half an hour. You can skip this step of you are in a hurry.
2. Wash the rice and allow the water to drain completely.
3. Meanwhile, wash the meat thoroughly and drain all water. Cut it into thin strips.
4. Marinate the meat with all the above ingredients and keep it aside for 10-15 minutes.
5. If using frozen peas, defrost in a microwave. Chop all the vegetables and keep aside.
6. Heat oil in a non stick frying pan and shallow fry the meat until browned on both sides. You need to fry each side for atleast 5 minutes so that it browns well. Remove the strips and drain onto paper towels.
7. Heat 2 tbsp oil/butter in a wide non-stick pan and add the well-drained rice.
8. Stir fry the rice until it begins to change color lightly.
9. Add 3 to 3.5 cups of water to the pan along with salt to taste. Increase heat, cover and bring to a rolling boil.
10. Reduce heat to low and cook covered for 8-10 minutes until all water has been absorbed by the rice.
11. Remove the pan from stove top. Open the pan and fluff the rice with a fork. Spread it on a baking tray or pan and allow the rice to cool.
12. Meanwhile lightly shred the fried meat using a food processor. You can pulse it once or twice. Be careful, that the meat doesn’t get minced or powdered.
13. Heat 2 tbsp oil in another non-stick pan or wok. Throw in the diced onions and whites of spring onions. Saute on high heat for 2 minutes.
14. Add the carrots and stir fry for 3-4 minutes.
15. Throw in the green peas and tomatoes. Saute for a few minutes
16. Add the shredded meat to the pan and saute for a minute. Push the vegetables and meat to the edges of the pan or wok.
17. Beat the eggs and add it to the center of the pan. When it begins to set, scramble it well.
18. Reduce heat to medium-low and add 2 tsp Chilly Garlic Sauce, 2 tbsp Soy Sauce and 1 tbsp Fish Sauce. Mix everything and stir fry for a minute.
19. Switch off the heat and slowly add rice to the pan. Mix everything carefully or else the rice may break. Sprinkle pepper powder if needed. Do a taste test and add more Soy Sauce if needed.
20. Garnish with spring onion greens. Serve with any side dish like Chilly Chicken.