Pizza Base Recipe with Tomato Sauce Topping and Basil Swirl

This easy, fresh and delicious pizza recipe is one of my family favourites. I make double the batch and freeze them to have a ready made light lunch or I add extra toppings to make a satisfying dinner. You will never be short of a meal with these in the freezer and they come in so handy on the school holidays. They are heaps cheaper than the bought pizzas or pizza bases and they taste better too! The recipe below will make 3 thin crust pizzas but if you want a thicker crust then divide the dough into two instead. Also, if you are going to freeze them, you will need something round and flat to freeze them on. Some thick cardboard circles (covered in cling wrap), round cake boards or even plastic container lids will do the trick. Trust me, a little bit of effort for a really big reward. Buon appetito ;)

Ingredients for base:

• 1 x 7 gram packets of dried yeast
• 200 mls of warm water
• 1 tsp of sugar
• 3 cups of plain flour (Home brand will do)
• 2 tsp of salt
• 2 tblsp of olive oil

Method:

1. Combine water, sugar and yeast in a bowl and sit aside in a warm place for 10 mins.
2. Place flour and salt in a large bowl and make a dent in the center. Pour the yeast mix and olive oil into the flour and mix until the mixture comes together into a dough. Add more warm water if needed.
3. Knead for 3 minutes or until dough is smooth and place in a clean greased bowl and put aside in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
4. Knock down dough and remove from bowl. Knead a little and cut into 3 even size pieces (or 2, if you are making thicker crust).
5. Roll out pieces into a 25 cm across circle, one at a time and top with whatever you like or the tomato topping sauce, swirl of basil mix (recipe follows) and some grated mozzarella cheese. Yum! (Makes 3 thin or two medium pizza bases)

Tomato Sauce Topping:

• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 x 400 gram tin of chopped tomatoes
• 2 tsp of tomato paste
• 1/2 a tsp of sugar
• 1/2 a tsp of dried Italian herb mix or oregano
• salt and pepper

Method:

1. Fry onion and garlic, in a little oil, in a medium saucepan until tender.
2. Stir in the tomatoes, paste, sugar, herbs, salt and pepper.
3. Bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until mixture is thick. Let cool. (Makes enough for the 3 thin pizza bases)

Basil Mixture:

• 2 handfuls of fresh basil
• 2 tblsp of Parmesan cheese
• pinch of salt
• Olive oil

Method:

1. Put basil, parmesan and a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a blender or food processor and blitz. Add a little more olive oil, a bit at a time, if needed. (Makes enough for the 3 thin pizza bases)