Tag Archives: pizza

Lighter Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza

Posted in Non-Vegetarian Main Dish, Simple and Delicious by

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How many of you have heard of tried Chicago-style deep dish pizza? The pie with its classic tall buttery crust, similar in appearance to a tart shell lovingly embraces within its boundaries copious amounts of cheese, sauce and toppings of your choice. For a person with a normal appetite, one slice is all it will take to satisfy your hunger. Anything beyond that is pure indulgence on cheesy, buttery, flaky, chewy goodness.

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Although a fully loaded cheesy pizza with all the trimmings can be delicious, I am discovering that a homemade crust topped with lighter cheeses and healthier toppings are far more superior in taste and nutrition than what you can get at a restaurant. I especially enjoy making crusts with varying combination of spices/herbs etc. and amping up the nutrition value by lowering the cheese and increasing the amount of veggies. In order to stick with healthier options, for a meaty pizza, I prefer small amount of cooked crumbled bacon or diced up grilled chicken breast.

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This pizza however has just sliced vegetables – I would have used more but had to do with what I had on hand that was topping appropriate.

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This is the first time I ever tried making Chicago-style deep dish and I am delighted to say that my kids who can be harsh critics (even though they will eat whatever I make) enjoyed every bite of it. Fresh mozzarella used melts beautifully leaving a nice cheesy curtain when you lift a slice to serve. The crust, molded in a tart pan crisps up nicely on the outside while remaining chewing and soft on the inside. It also holds the toppings well without getting soggy. I did modify the crust recipe a little bit by adding a teaspoon of garlic powder and 1 teaspoon each of crushed dried parsley, basil and oregano. All in all, another successful pilot attempt in my kitchen.

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Lighter Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza

  • Servings: 6
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Ingredients
1 recipe dough
4 oz fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/8″ slices
1/2 cup part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cups of sliced vegetables of your choice (I used red peppers, tomato and red onions)
2 tablespoons grated parmesan
1 tablespoon olive oil

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. After the dough has proofed, punch it down. Grease a large tart shell with removable bottom (or similar pan with at least 1 1/2″ tall sides) lightly with nonstick cooking spray (or oil).
3. Pat the dough down on the pan and stretch lightly to cover the bottom and the sides completely.
4. Prick the sides with a fork and layer the bottom with fresh and grated mozzarella.
5. Bake for about 7 minutes till the fresh mozzarella begins to melt. Remove from oven and spread your favorite sauce (I used heart healthy bottled sauce).
6. Top with your favorite toppings. Sprinkle parmesan cheese and drizzle the olive oil all over.
7. Return to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes till vegetables are cooked and crust is golden.
8. Serve immediately.

Crispy and Healthy Pizza

Posted in Breads by

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I like pizza. I don’t know if I love it, but I certainly enjoy it every now and then. Having said that, anytime someone suggests a carryout pizza, I am usually not keen with the choice. I just don’t feel good about chomping down on a slice of a typical carryout pizza – with a massive crust made with all white flour, tons of cheese (I wonder if it is all 100% dairy based), so-so sauce and a smattering of toppings that you may or may not really care for – leave alone worry about the calories! So, that pretty much leaves me with wanting (and in a peculiar way, longing) to make home-made pizza that not only tastes good but better for you!

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I like to try out different recipes for the crust, preferring to use a combo of flours. This recipe, to everyone’s delight, turned out to be soooo good – crispy and chewy with a nutty note. I wish I had some whole wheat flour on hand to replace some of the all-purpose flour with (what a crime!). Next time! Anyway, if you are the type that loves this type of crust, forget about the Chicago-style deep dish crust, and give this one a try. I think your body will thank for it as well! 🙂

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Crispy and Healthy Pizza

  • Servings: 6
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INGREDIENTS

Pizza crust
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour (replace some of the white flour with whole wheat if you would like)
1/2 cup soy flour
1/4 cup ground flax
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 packet active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoon wheat bran
1 tablespoon olive oil

Pizza toppings
1 cup pizza sauce
1/2 – 2/3 cup part-skim mozzarella (for one pizza)
1/2 -2/3 cup sliced fresh mozzarella (for other pizza)
1/2 cup diced chicken breast
1/2 cup diced green peppers
1 cup broiled or sautéed broccoli florets
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
2 slices of cooked bacon slices, crumbled

Preparation
1. Mix all purpose flour, soy flour, ground flax, salt, yeast and sugar in a stand mixer or a large bowl (I went with the bowl this time around).
2. Add the olive oil, followed by warm water in a slow stream and mix to form a dough.
3. If the dough is too sticky, add a tablespoon of all-purpose or whole wheat flour. If it is too dry, add a tablespoon of warm water.
4. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes to make a smooth dough.
5. Coat a large bowl with the additional tablespoon of olive oil. Place the dough ball there and toss to coat with oil.
6. Cover with a damp kitchen towel and leave in a warm, drought-free spot till the dough doubles in size.
7. When ready to prepare the pizza, preheat oven to 500F.
8. Punch down the dough and divide into two parts.
9. Sprinkle a cookie sheet or pizza stone with wheat bran (or cornmeal if you prefer) and flatten one part of dough to a thin crust, about 1/4 inch thick. You can flatten using the tips of your fingers. Repeat with the other part of the dough.
10. Bake the crust for about 7 minutes. Remove from oven.
11. Spread about 1/2 cup of pizza sauce of your preference. Sprinkle with part-skim mozzarella cheese or sliced fresh mozzarella. Follow with toppings of your choice. I used a combination of broiled broccoli, green peppers, baby bella mushrooms, green onions, diced cooked chicken breast and bit of cooked and crumbled center-cut bacon.
12. Bake the pizza till cheese melts and toppings (fresh veggies and pre-cooked meats) are heated through (about 5-7 minutes).