PESTO PIZZA SANDWICH

Suggested Accompaniments
Butter Bean And Vegetable Soup
Tortellini With Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce
Pasta Genovese
Melon And Strawberry Gelato


Other Related Recipes
Pizza Margherita
Calzone
Sun-Dried Tomato Loaf
Spinach And Ricotta Pie




This fun sandwich uses Italian bread (a herb flavoured bread) topped with a zesty salad bound with a pesto flavoured mayonnaise dressing.
If you are making pesto by hand, it is best to use a mortar and pestle. But you can make larger quantities in a blender and refrigerate it for upto a week.
Chill all the ingredients for the salad and combine them with the dressing just before serving.
You can choose your own vegetable combination for the salad.


Preparation Time : 15 mins.
Cooking Time : 20 mins.

Makes 2 pizza sandwiches.

For the herb pizza base

1 cup whole wheat flour (gehun ka atta)
1 teaspoon (5 grams) fresh yeast, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons onion, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon olive oil or oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
oil for greasing

To be mixed into a topping

1 cup iceberg lettuce, torn into pieces
1/2 cup baby corn, diced and blanched
1 tablespoon sweet corn kernels, boiled
2 to 3 cherry tomatoes (optional)
2 tablespoons mozzarella cheese, cubed
1 tablespoon sun-dried tomatoes, page... soaked and finely chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped celery

To be mixed into a dressing

2 tablespoons eggless mayonnaise, page...
salt and pepper to taste

For serving

grated parmesan cheese

For the herb pizza base


1. Combine all the ingredients except the olive oil in a bowl and knead into a soft dough using enough water until it is smooth and elastic (approx. 5 to 7 minutes).


2. Add the olive oil and knead again.


3. Cover the dough with a wet muslin cloth and allow it to prove till it doubles in volume (approx. 15 to 20 minutes).


4. Press the dough lightly to remove the air. Divide the dough into 2 equal parts.


5. Roll out each portion of the dough into an oval that is approx. 6 mm. (1/4") thick and about 150 mm. (6") long. Prick with a fork at regular intervals.


6. Place the oval pizza bases on a greased baking tray.


7. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200°C (400°F) for 10 minutes or until the base is evenly browned. Allow it to cool.


How to proceed


1. Just before serving, toss the greens and vegetables in the dressing mixture.


2. Put this salad on top of the pizza bases. Sprinkle on top with parmesan cheese.


3. Cut into wedges and serve immediately.


Tips

Refrigerate all the ingredients for the topping and mix the pesto and mayonnaise just before serving.