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How to Make Pizza That’s Better Than a Takeaway

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Let’s be honest, one of our favourite foods is the pizza. Fact. Whether it is a homemade pizza or one from a takeaway, nothing beats the cheesy, innovative, flavoursome toppings that come on that doughy-based flatbread. Whilst ordering fast food at home does taste that extra bit yummy, we also know how bad this can be for us, so Kenny McGovern has come up with some great healthy recipes – including a pizza dough recipe that’ll get your calzone of choice – or any other pizza for that matter – tasting like it’s from Pizza Hut, Domino’s or any other large pizza chain.  Here’s how…

How do I get a good crust on a pizza?

i)  A good quality pizza pan designed with holes across the surface will help moisture escape as well as allowing the heat of the oven to brown the base
ii)  A good quality pizza stone helps to conduct a high, dry heat, which will brown your crust underneath

How do I get restaurant quality pizza?

1)  Place the pizza stone in the oven at the highest possible heat for an hour
2)  Slide onto the bottom of the oven floor in the last few seconds of cooking
3)  Less toppings really are more as your toppings won’t become soggy
4)  Chop any vegetables very small to ensure they are cooked through and stay on the pizza base rather than fall off

1) Spicy Chicken and Sweetcorn Pizza

Ingredients:
Chicken breast fillet
Cajun spice mix
Olive oil
Lemon juice
Prepared pizza base
Mozzarella cheese
Green pepper
Ground pepper
Oregano

Method:
–  Trim any excess fat from the chicken breast and cut into bite size pieces
–  Place into a bowl with the Cajun spice mix, olive oil and lemon juice
–  Mix well
–  Arrange the chicken on a baking tray and cook for 20 minutes until cooked through
–  Remove from the oven and set aside to cool
–  Once cool, shred the chicken with a knife and fork
–  Lightly oil a pizza tray and place the pizza base on top
–  Spread the pizza sauce onto the base, add grated mozzarella cheese, shredded chicken and green pepper
–  Place pizza on top of the very hot pizza stone and bake for 12 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted
–  Once cooked, remove from the oven and garnish with black pepper and oregano
–  Slice and serve

TIPS

–  Cooked chicken will last in the fridge for up to two days
–  Preheat the pizza stone in the oven for one hour at the highest possible heat to ensure you get that crust on the base

2) Pizza Toast

Ingredients:
White bread
Mozzarella cheese
Tomato
Black Pepper
Oregano

Method:
–  Grill the bread on one side until golden
–  Turn the bread over and divide one hand of grated mozzarella cheese over each slice
–  Add the tomato slices and cover with the remaining mozzarella cheese
–  Place the pizza toast back under the grill until the cheese melts and becomes golden
–  Garnish with black pepper and dried oregano
–  Place back under the grill to warm the herbs
–  Cut the pizza toast into triangles and serve with chilli sauce, spiced onions or jalapeno peppers