Making Your Restaurant Better

Pesto And Chicken Pizza With A Homemade Crust

29 August 2016

Virginia Caballero

Ordering takeout from a pizza restaurant is certainly enjoyable, but sometimes you just feel like cooking at home. This pesto and chicken pizza is entirely homemade from the crust to the sauce, and it's just as delicious as the specialty pies from your local pizzeria.

Ingredients (for the crust):

• 1 cup warm water
• 3 cups bread flour
• 1 packet active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil or canola oil

Ingredients (for the pesto):

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1 ounce Parmesan cheese
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon pine nuts

Ingredients (to top the pizza):

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

To make the crust, start by combining the water, yeast, and sugar. Let this mixture rest for 5 minutes or until it starts to look foamy. Add 2 cups flour, the oil, and the salt. Mix for 1 minute to form a soft dough, and then stir in the remaining cup of flour. Knead for 5 minutes in your mixer with a dough hook or for 8 minutes by hand.

Place your dough in a lightly oiled bowl with plenty of space for the dough to expand. Cover the bowl, and place it in a warm place to rest for 1 hour.

While the dough is resting, prepare the pesto. Combine all of the pesto ingredients in your food processor, and process until smooth. Make sure you keep going until there are no more big chunks of garlic or basil remaining.

You can also prepare the chicken while the dough rises. Season the chicken breast with the salt, pepper, and garlic. Place it in a baking pan, and bake for 30 – 35 minutes at 400 degrees F. Remove the chicken from the oven, let it cool slightly, and then pull it apart into shreds.

Once your dough has risen, shape it into a ball, and then place it on a baking sheet to rest for another 20 minutes. Stretch the dough out into a 14-inch circle or into a 16 x 10 inch rectangle. Then, spread it with the pesto and sprinkle on the cheese and prepared chicken.

Bake your pizza in a 400 degree F oven for 20 – 25 minutes. The cheese should be melted and bubbly, and the crust should be golden brown on the bottom. Enjoy!

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