The Adventures of Bob & Shan

an unfolding story of food & adventure.

Backyard Pizza Party

by

Pizza Party - Six great pizza recipes + a no-knead dough!

Growing up, pizza was hands down my favourite food. One that I certainly felt met the criteria of a buzzworthy “superfood”. Dairy, meat, vegetables, bread – it had it all. I have fond memories tormenting my mother every single day on our drive home, waiting mere seconds before stating “we should get pizza for supper!”, to which she usually responded “maybe tomorrow” or “I’ll think about it”. My mother was very good at saying no, without actually saying no. Nonetheless, I would make my daily request, because there was no sweeter feeling then the rare moment I was granted pizza for dinner!

Over the years, my love for pizza has changed. While it remains strong, I realize pizza every day would certainly prove my “superfood” theory wrong. My cravings have subsided, and I don’t desire to eat it every day, in fact, I don’t remember the last time I actually ordered take-out pizza. Now, it’s not just about the pizza, it’s about the process. There is something extremely satisfying about stretching the dough out, circling a spoonful of sauce around the pizza, and topping it with your favourite things. The moment you toss it on that broiling hot pizza stone, watching as the thin crust starts to bubble and brown, to the first bite. It’s this process that makes homemade pizza so good.

Pizza Party - Six great pizza recipes + a no-knead dough!

I’m not sure what prompted it, but I started having a strong desire to make pizza a few weeks ago, and finally had the perfect opportunity thanks to Shannon. After making plans with all of her girlfriends, she realized they hadn’t really decided on where these plans would take place, so I suggested we host. Initially, I hadn’t intended to get super involved, but when we decided it would be fun to do a pizza night, I got way too excited! I started jotting down ideas, and before I knew it, I had a full menu of pizzas, and was mixing flour and water for dough.

Rather than do a bunch of different posts, we decided to just combine everything into one big pizza party post, so here it is.

Pizza Party - Six great pizza recipes + a no-knead dough!

Save Print
Backyard Pizza Party
Author: 
Recipe type: Pizza
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6 pizzas
 
Everything you need for the perfect backyard pizza party!
Ingredients
  • -------------------------------------
  • NO-KNEAD PIZZA DOUGH - to be mixed the night before (makes 6, 10-12" pizzas)
  • -------------------------------------
  • 1000 g all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp active dry yeast
  • 750 g water
  • 4 tsp salt
  • * If you don't want to wait overnight for the dough to rise, double the active dry yeast to 1 tsp, and rise time should be about 6-8 hours.
  • ---------------------------------
  • TOMATO PIZZA SAUCE
  • ---------------------------------
  • 28 oz (796ml) can of whole tomatoes
  • 10-12 large basil leaves
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • Salt & pepper
  • ---------------------------
  • CHICKEN CAESAR
  • ---------------------------
  • 1 roasted chicken breast (shredded)
  • ¼ cup Caesar dressing + 1-2 tbsp for kale
  • ½ cup kale (chopped)
  • ¼ of a red onion
  • ⅓ heaping cup shredded mozzarella
  • 3-4 tbsp Parmesan (finely grated)
  • Zest of ½ a Lemon
  • ---------------------
  • SPICY ITALIAN
  • ---------------------
  • 2-3 spicy Italian sausages (cooked & crumbled)
  • ¼ cup tomato pizza sauce
  • ⅓ cup shredded mozzarella
  • ⅓ cup shredded cheddar
  • ¼ of a red onion (sliced)
  • 3-4 large basil leaves (thinly sliced)
  • ½ cup kale (chopped)
  • 3-4 mushrooms (sliced)
  • 1 sprig of fresh rosemary
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • --------------------
  • MARGHERITA
  • --------------------
  • ¼ cup tomato pizza sauce
  • ½ cup mozzarella (or enough to evenly distribute on pizza)
  • 10-12 fresh basil leaves
  • ---------------------------------------
  • POTATO & ROASTED LEEK
  • ---------------------------------------
  • 1 medium yukon gold potato (very thinly sliced)
  • 2 tbsp chives (chopped)
  • 1 large clove of garlic (minced)
  • 1 sprig of fresh oregano (or pinch of dried oregano)
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme (or pinch of dried thyme)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1-2 roasted leek (sliced)
  • ½ cup mild gouda or mozzarella
  • ¼ cup pesto
  • 4-5 slices of prosciutto
  • -----------
  • GREEK
  • -----------
  • ⅓ cup feta
  • ⅓ cup mozzarella
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3-4 artichoke hearts (chopped)
  • ¼ of a green pepper (sliced)
  • 3 tbsp chopped kalamata olives
  • ¼ of a red onion (thinly sliced)
  • ----------------------
  • FOUR CHEESE
  • ----------------------
  • ¼ cup tomato pizza sauce
  • ¼ cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
  • ¼ cup asiago cheese (shredded)
  • ¼ cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
  • 3 tbsp (roughly) parmesan cheese (finely grated)
  • -------------------------------
  • SPARKLING SANGRIA
  • -------------------------------
  • 2 bottle white wine
  • 1 bottle sprite (added to taste)
  • 2 apple (sliced)
  • 8 strawberries (sliced)
  • 2 lemons (sliced)
  • Ice
Instructions
  1. ----------------------------
  2. NO-KNEAD DOUGH
  3. ----------------------------
  4. Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, slowly add the water, whisking until ingredients are well combined.
  5. Gently mix the dough with your hands until a ball is formed.
  6. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, allowing the dough to rest at room temperature for around 18 hours, or until roughly doubled in size.
  7. Once dough has rested, cut into six even portions. On a floured worked surface, gather four corners to the center of the dough, creating four folds.
  8. Place seam side down, gently form dough into a ball, dust with flour, wrap in plastic, or cover with damp towel and let rest for 1 hour. If storing in the fridge, lightly coat ball of dough with oil, and wrap in plastic wrap, taking dough out of the fridge at least an hour before using for pizza.
  9. Before cooking the pizza, turn oven to its hottest setting (550-500F), allowing to preheat for one hour. If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven before preheating.
  10. To form the discs, flour whatever surface you will be transferring the pizza into the oven with (I use a large pizza paddle).
  11. Using the back of your hands, gently stretch the dough into 10-12 inch discs.
  12. Place toppings on pizza.
  13. If using pizza stone, place pizza on the stone, turning the oven to broil, and cook for 5-7 minutes until pizza is cooked to your liking.
  14. If you don't have a pizza stone, place pizza on a floured baking sheet, cooking for about 10 minutes on the ovens hottest setting.
  15. Allow at least 5 minutes between pizzas, for oven to reheat.
  16. ---------------------------------
  17. TOMATO PIZZA SAUCE
  18. ---------------------------------
  19. Drain excess water out of canned tomatoes.
  20. Combine tomatoes, basil, and garlic in a large bowl (or blender), puree with blender or immersion blender.
  21. If sauce is a little bit too watery, add to a pot, bringing to a boil, and simmering until reduced to your desired thickness.
  22. Season to taste with salt & pepper.
  23. ---------------------------
  24. CHICKEN CAESAR
  25. ---------------------------
  26. Dress kale with 1-2 tablespoons of dressing, set aside.
  27. Spread caesar dressing on pizza.
  28. Place chicken, and onion.
  29. Sprinkle with mozzarella.
  30. Finely grate about 2 tablespoons of parmesan onto pizza.
  31. Bake.
  32. Once pizza is finished, top with kale, another 1-2 tbsp finely grated parmesan, and the zest of ½ a lemon.
  33. ---------------------
  34. SPICY ITALIAN
  35. ---------------------
  36. An hour before making pizza, slice mushrooms, and toss them with olive oil, rosemary, and garlic.
  37. Toss kale with a drizzle of olive oil.
  38. Spread sauce on pizza.
  39. Top with sausage, onion, basil, mushrooms, cheddar and mozzarella.
  40. Bake.
  41. Once baked, top with kale.
  42. --------------------
  43. MARGHERITA
  44. --------------------
  45. Spread tomato pizza sauce.
  46. Place mozzarella.
  47. Bake.
  48. Once baked, place fresh basil.
  49. ---------------------------------------
  50. POTATO & ROASTED LEEK
  51. ---------------------------------------
  52. An hour before making pizza, toss sliced potato in a bowl with oil, chives, garlic, thyme, and oregano.
  53. Spread pesto on pizza.
  54. Top with roasted leeks & cheese.
  55. Spread potato slices on pizza.
  56. Bake.
  57. Once baked, place prosciutto on pizza.
  58. -----------
  59. GREEK
  60. -----------
  61. Combine minced garlic and olive oil, brush pizza with oil.
  62. Place mozzarella, artichoke hearts, green pepper, olives, and red onion.
  63. Top with crumbled feta.
  64. Bake.
  65. ----------------------
  66. FOUR CHEESE
  67. ----------------------
  68. Spread tomato pizza sauce.
  69. Top with cheese.
  70. Bake.
  71. -------------------------------
  72. SPARKLING SANGRIA
  73. -------------------------------
  74. In a large pitcher, add ice, white wine, apple, strawberries, and lemon.
  75. Add sprite to taste.

Pizza Party - Six great pizza recipes + a no-knead dough!

Pizza Party - Six great pizza recipes + a no-knead dough!

Pizza Party - Six great pizza recipes + a no-knead dough!

It was the small details that really made these pizzas amazing. The extra shredding of parmesan on the four cheese pizza, adding the perfect amount of salty funk to cut through all the rich cheese. A zesting of lemon on top of the chicken caesar. Choosing hot instead of mild for the spicy Italian sausage pizza. Barbecued, charred leek, combined with salty prosciutto on the potato leek pizza, or the freshly picked basil on the classic margherita. It was all SO GOOD!

Pizza Party - Six great pizza recipes + a no-knead dough!

Pizza and beautiful women. What is this life!?

Bob

How to Host a Pizza Party - Six great pizza recipes + a no-knead dough!

Comments