PIZZA SERIES - THE PIZZA TOPPINGS: CUCUMBER ONION PIZZA

Today marks the last of my homemade Pizza Series! I started with the most crusty yet soft Pizza dough and followed it up with a delicous thick Pizza Sauce! I decided to go with simple toppings for first ever homemade Pizza,  Cucumber and Onion. I know the combination may sound crazy or even weird but it worked out great. When it comes to making Honemade Pizza, the world is your oyster and you are only limited to your creative mind. I love how endless the choices for amazing Pizza are. A little confession I have, I was going for a Zuchinni Onion Pizza but wrongfully picked Cucumbers! That ever happened to you? You go for one ingredient and end up picking a different one? lol! This Pizza is totally delicious and simple and "healthy" did I mention delicious! 

INGREDIENTS

1 Cucumber
1/2 Cup Onions
1-2 Cups Homemade Pizza Sauce
1 Cup Grated Cheddar Cheese
3 Garlic Cloves
1 Tablespoon Chili Flakes
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to the highest temperature because every inch of your oven should be very hot. To ensure this let the oven heat up for 30 full minutes! Dust the baking pan with maize/corn flour. This makes it easier to transfer the Pizza onto a plate once it is cooked.  Doing this also gives the Pizza crust hat little extra texture and flavor. Flatten the ball of dough directly on the maize/cornmeal lined baking pan. Flatten the dough into a 12 inch round circle, doesn't have to be perfect, stretch it outward and then lift the edges or you can pinch them to create a rim like shape.

Brush the top of the Pizza dough lightly with olive oil. This is to prevent the toppings from making your dough too soggy while cooking. If you want to prevent bubbling while baking, create dents on the surface of the dough with your fingers and let it rest for about 15 minutes before adding the toppings.

Take a large spoonful of the homemade Pizza Sauce and place on top of the Pizza Dough as your base

Spread the Pizza Sauce evenly on top of the Pizza dough

Add crushed Garlic on top of the Pizza Sauce

Layer Thinly sliced Cucumber on top of the Pizza dough

Spread sliced onions on the Pizza crust then sprinkle with chili flakes

Generously grate Cheddar Cheese as the final layer on your homemade Pizza Dough

You can use Parmesan or Mozzarella cheese to top your Pizza Crust

Bake the Pizza for 15-20 minutes or until the top is golden brown and crispy

Slice the hot Cucumber Onion Pizza immediately and serve. Any left overs can be stored for up to a month in the freezer in a tightly covered container

PIZZA SERIES - THE PIZZA TOPPINGS: CUCUMBER ONION PIZZA

Recipe by Mulunga Alukwe

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
Yield: 8-10 Pizza Slices
Ingredients

• 1 Cucumber
• 1/2 Cup Onions
• 2 Cups Homemade Pizza Sauce
• 1 Cup Grated Cheddar Cheese
• 3 Garlic Cloves
• 1 Tablespoon Chili Flakes
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to the highest temperature because every inch of your oven should be very hot. To ensure this let the oven heat up for 30 full minutes! Dust the baking pan with maize/corn flour. This makes it easier to transfer the Pizza onto a plate once it is cooked. Doing this also gives the Pizza crust hat little extra texture and flavor. Flatten the ball of dough directly on the maize/cornmeal lined baking pan. Flatten the dough into a 12 inch round circle, doesn't have to be perfect, stretch it outward and then lift the edges or you can pinch them to create a rim like shape
2. Brush the top of the Pizza dough lightly with olive oil. This is to prevent the toppings from making your dough too soggy while cooking. If you want to prevent bubbling while baking, create dents on the surface of the dough with your fingers and let it rest for about 15 minutes before adding the toppings
3. Take a large spoonful of the homemade Pizza Sauce and place on top of the Pizza Dough as your base. Add crushed Garlic on top of the Pizza Sauce
4. Layer Thinly sliced Cucumber on top of the Pizza dough. Spread sliced onions on the Pizza crust then sprinkle with chili flakes
5. Generously grate Cheddar Cheese as the final layer on your homemade Pizza Dough. Bake the Pizza for 15-20 minutes or until the top is golden brown and crispy
6. Slice the hot Cucumber Onion Pizza immediately and serve. Any left overs can be stored for up to a month in the freezer in a tightly covered container