Chicken Tikka Pizza

Very delicious home made pizza. Pizzas are not that great for health, being filled with all purpose flour and cheese, but having them once in a while is perfectly fine! Pizzas being very costly and the crust being very thin in Tokyo, I decided on making them at home and it was a hit!

Ingredients:

For base

1. All purpose flour- 2 cups
2. Olive oil- 1 1/2 tablespoon
3. Dry Yeast- 2 teaspoon
4. Sugar- 2 teaspoon
5. Salt- 1 teaspoon
6. Warm water- 1/2 cup

For toppings

1. Chicken,boneless- 3/4 cup, cut into small pieces
2. Tomato- 1 small, chopped fine
3. Onion-1 small, thinly sliced
4. Capsicum- 1 small, cut into small parts
5. Grated cheese- 3/4 cup
6. Tomato sauce- 2 tablespoon
7. Red chilly flakes- 2 teaspoon
8. Oil- 1/2 tablespoon

Marinating chicken

1. Yoghurt- 2 teaspoon
2. Pepper powder- 1 teaspoon
3. Red chilly powder- 2 teaspoon
4. Turmeric powder- a pinch
5. Lemon juice- 2 teaspoon
6. garam masala- 1/2 teaspoon

Method:

1. Marinate the cleaned chicken pieces with the ingredients for marination and keep refrigerated overnight.
2. To make the pizza base, dissolve the dry yeast in the warm water and keep aside for 15 mins. Please use active yeast, else the base would be a mere disgust.
3. Add the sugar,salt,olive oil to the yeast and mix well.
4. Take the flour in a wide bowl, pour the warm yeast water and make a soft,fine dough.
5. Keep the dough aside for an hour, it will almost double in size(only if the yeast is active)
6. Meanwhile make the tikkas, by frying the marinated chicken pieces in oil and keep aside(Do not over fry the chicken pieces)
7. After one hour, place the dough on an oiled baking sheet and press down with fingers to form a circular shape,requires some energy :)
8. Rub some olive oil on top and keep aside
9. Chop the veggies in the meantime and get ready with the cheese.
10. Take the base and brush the tomato sauce evenly over it.
11. Throw in the grated cheese over the tomato base followed by the chopped veggies and fried chicken.
12. Preheat the oven at 230 C .
13. Bake the pizza for 15 mins at 230 C. 
14. Sprinkle some more cheese on top along with the red chilly flakes and bake again for another 5 mins at the same temperature.
15. Serve hot!

This would yield a large pizza with  thick crust. If you wish to have a thin crust, then divide the dough into 2 equal parts and follow the same procedure. The cold winter days would resist the dough from doubling, keeping them in a slightly preheated oven would help them double in size. You can add any choice of veggies, and if you wish to have vegetable pizza, just omit the chicken part. Also when you have ready made crust with you, its far easy, just do the tipping and baking part. Enjoy eating Pizza!

Chicken Tikka

Served hot as a starter/side dish.

Ingredients:

1. Chicken breasts- 1/2 kg cut into 1.5 inch pieces
2. Chilly powder- 3 teaspoon
3. Pepper powder- 1 teaspoon
4. Coriander powder-1 teaspoon
5. Turmeric powder- 1/2 teaspoon
6. Salt- as required
7. Ginger garlic paste- 2 teaspoon
8. Fresh yoghurt- 2 tablespoon
9. Lime juice- 3 teaspoon
10. Chat masala- 1 teaspoon(optional)
11. Red colour(optional)
12. Skewers
13. Oil

Method:

1. Wash well the chicken pieces and keep aside
2. Mix all other ingredients(2-11) well in a non reactive bowl.
3. Marinate the chicken pieces and refrigerate for 6-7 hours or overnight.
4. Take them out at least 30 mins before cooking
5. Place the chicken pieces in skewers , don't keep them too tight,since it will be difficult to cook
6. Preheat the oven to 220 C.
7. Oil the pan and place the skewers.
8. Rotate the skewer and roast the other side after 20 minutes
9. Alternatively you can grill them in a grill turning both side.

Serve with sauted onion and capsicum. Add some lemon juice on the top for an extra flavour. A good starter,side dish for roti /chapathi and well as a good companion for drinks!