Ordering pizza is really convenient, if we’re being honest, but these days, even ordering a box of mini pizza has become very costly, particularly in Nigeria. Delivery costs and additional toppings can easily run you over 20,000 to 25,000 Naira, which is probably much more than you had budgeted for. But my belief has always been that if there’s anything that can be done in the store, it can equally be made at home.
Why go through all this hassle when you can make a pan pizza at home? While it may seem like a task best left to professionals, I promise you that making pan pizza at home is much simpler than you might imagine. Of course, mistakes can happen, but in this post, I’ll outline the various kinds of mistakes you should avoid.
Ingredients for Making Pan Pizza
For the dough
- Flour
- Yeast
- Water
- Salt
- A little olive oil
For the sauce
- Tomato paste
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Seasoning like oregano or basil or whatever seasonings that you’d like in your pizza.
For toppings
- Cheese, (mozzarella cheese would be great)
- Pepperoni
- Vegetables, or whatever toppings you’d like.
Step-by-step Process
Making the dough: First thing you have to do is to make the dough. You’ll start by mixing the yeast with warm water and letting it sit for about 5 minutes to get activated. Then add the flour, salt, and olive oil and knead it into a soft dough. Let it rise for about an hour until it doubles in size.
Roll out the dough: Once the dough is ready, head over to a clean surface and sprinkle a little bit of flour on it. Stretch out the dough on a clean surface and if it gets sticky, which it would, dust your hands with flour and try to stretch it out so it can fit the size of your pan.
Make the sauce: Mix the tomato paste with garlic, olive oil, and any seasoning of your choice. Spread it evenly over the dough surface.
Add the toppings: For the toppings, you can add cheese, chicken, mushrooms, leaves, or any other thing that you would like to have on your pizza.
Cook the pizza: Heat your pan over medium heat. Then carefully place the pizza in it. Cover the pan with a lid to trap the heat and cook the pizza for about 10 to 15 minutes. However, you need to check it every once in a while to avoid burning the pizza.
Note: Before placing the pizza in the pan, drizzle with olive oil or your preferred oil to stop it from sticking. Also, once the pizza is in the pan, reduce the heat from medium to low. If you keep it on medium, the bottom of the pizza could burn before the cheese melts properly. That is why it is advisable to reduce the heat of the pan after placing the pizza in it.
Common Mistakes
Some things can still go wrong when making pan pizza, even if you follow a specific recipe. Your dough not rising properly is one of the most common problems. If your dough doesn’t rise, it’s likely that the environment was too cold or the yeast wasn’t activated correctly. Make sure the water is just warm enough to activate the yeast, not too hot. Place the dough with the light on in a warm area, such as next to a heater or in the oven, to allow it to rise.
Another problem is having soggy or burned pizza. Sometimes the pizza becomes soggy in the middle. This commonly occurs when you use too much sauce or toppings. To avoid this, just use less sauce and spread it evenly. If the pizza browns too much on the sides before the cheese melts, reduce the heat or cover the pan to cook it evenly.
There are instances when the pizza gets stuck in the pan and you are forced to eat it straight out of the pan. The next time you’re preparing to make a pan pizza, be sure to grease the pan or sprinkle it with flour before adding the dough. This will help you avoid an issue like this one. Or just use a non-stick pan so that the pizza transfers to the plate easily after it’s done cooking.
Conclusion
You don’t need to spend a lot of money on take-out when you can create your own pizza at home. Just follow the steps above, watch the pizza closely while it’s cooked, and try avoiding the necessary mistakes when making your pizza. If you practice these tips over time, you’ll get good at making a pan pizza.
