Description
This Paneer Pizza recipe combines the traditional Indian paneer tikka flavors with a classic Italian pizza base. The homemade soft and chewy dough is topped with marinated paneer cubes, bell peppers, onions, and a rich, homemade marinara-cashew sauce, finished with melted mozzarella cheese for a delicious fusion meal perfect for dinner or a special occasion.
Ingredients
For Pizza Dough
- 450 grams (around 3 cups) Bread flour or all purpose flour
- 2 tsp Instant Yeast
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 1/3 cup (around 300 ml) Warm water
- 2 tablespoons Extra virgin Olive oil
For Paneer Marinade
- 250 grams Paneer cubes
- 1 cup Red bell peppers, chopped into cubes
- 1 cup Green bell pepper, chopped into cubes
- 1/2 cup Onion, chopped into cubes
- 1/2 teaspoon Ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Garam masala
- 1 teaspoon Coriander powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon Kasuri Methi
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
For Sauce
- 1 1/2 cups Marinara sauce (good quality)
- 1/2 cup Onion, chopped
- 1/2 tablespoon Grated garlic
- 3 tablespoon Cashew nuts
- 1 teaspoon Garam masala
- 1 teaspoon Kasuri methi
- 1 teaspoon Chili flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tablespoon Maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt or to taste
For Topping
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese
- Finely chopped Cilantro for garnishing
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, sugar, instant yeast, and olive oil. Mix well to distribute all ingredients evenly.
- Knead the dough: Gradually add warm water and knead the mixture either using a stand mixer with a dough hook on speed 2 for 5-7 minutes or by hand for 8-10 minutes until the dough is very soft and smooth.
- Let dough rise: Lightly grease a large bowl with oil, place the dough inside, turning to coat all sides. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- Marinate the paneer: In a bowl, combine paneer cubes, chopped bell peppers, and onions. Add red chili powder, turmeric, garam masala, cumin, coriander, kasuri methi, ginger, garlic, salt, and olive oil. Mix thoroughly and cover. Let marinate for 30 minutes.
- Prepare the sauce: Heat butter in a pan and sauté garlic and onions for 2-3 minutes until translucent. Stir in marinara sauce, garam masala, kasuri methi, Italian seasoning, chili flakes, salt, and maple syrup. Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes, then add cashew nuts, mix well, and remove from heat.
- Blend the sauce: Transfer the sauce mixture into a blender and blend until smooth. Set aside.
- Preheat oven: Set the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet (14 inches or larger) with parchment paper.
- Shape the dough: Punch down the risen dough to release air bubbles. Divide into two equal portions. Roll one portion on a floured surface into a 14-inch circle about 1/3-inch thick. Place onto the prepared baking sheet and pinch edges to form a rim.
- Assemble the pizza: Spread half of the prepared sauce evenly over the dough surface. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Distribute half of the marinated paneer and vegetable mixture evenly on top. Drizzle 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil over the toppings.
- Bake the pizza: Place the baking sheet in the oven's middle rack and bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is golden brown.
- Finish and serve: Remove the pizza from the oven, garnish with finely chopped cilantro, slice into desired pieces, and serve hot.
- Repeat: Use the remaining dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings to make the second pizza following the same steps.
Notes
- Warm water for the dough should be approximately 100-110°F (37-43°C) to activate the yeast properly.
- If you don’t have a stand mixer, kneading by hand is equally effective for dough development.
- You can refrigerate the unused dough half for up to 2 days for later use.
- Adjust chili flakes in sauce according to your preferred spice level.
- Using a pizza stone can help achieve a crispier crust but is optional.
- For a vegan version, replace paneer with tofu and mozzarella with vegan cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Fusion (Indian-Italian)
