Homemade Vodka Pizza

This Homemade Vodka Pizza features a fluffy crust, roasted red peppers, mozzarella and creamy vodka sauce. A total winner for family pizza night!

Homemade Vodka Pizza 

INGREDIENTS

PIZZA CRUST:

• 2 3/4 cups organic all-purpose flour (See Notes for GF option!)
• 1 cup WARM fresh water
• 1 Tbsp raw honey
• 1 packet rapid-rise yeast (That's 2 1/4 tsps!)
• 1 Tbsp Grapeseed oil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

ROASTED RED PEPPERS:

• 1 medium Red bell pepper, sliced thin
• 1 Tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp sea salt + black pepper, each
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 Tbsp dried parsley

TOPPINGS:

• 8 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup vodka sauce, premium
• handful of fresh basil leaves, optional

INSTRUCTIONS

ROAST THE RED PEPPERS:

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
• Add the sliced red peppers unto the baking sheet (in a single layer) and drizzle with olive oil and season with seasonings (salt, black pepper, garlic powder, oregano, basil, and parsley) and bake for 25-30 minutes or until tomatoes are charred, wilted, and tender. Remove and let cool slightly.

PIZZA CRUST:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer (with a dough hook attachment), mix together the warm water, honey, grapeseed oil, and yeast (you might need to use a whisk to ensure that everything combines together well). Let is sit for at least 5 minutes, until yeast begins to activate and foam.
• Slowly add the flour, dried oregano, and smoked paprika (on low speed!), until fully incorporated and a soft dough is formed. NOTE: if dough is too sticky, add 1/2 cup of additional flour at a time)
• Now, increase the speed to medium-high and knead the dough for about 5 minutes in the mixer.
• Once done, add the dough onto a floured surface and slightly roll out the dough until it’s flat enough to form a flat circle the rest of the way with your hands, about 11 inches in diameter. Lightly grease your pizza pan with extra virgin olive oil and place dough on one end of pan, evenly pressing it and flattening it out to fit the entire pan. Gently use your finger to stretch dough until pan is fully covered and gently pinch the edges of the dough together to form the crust.

ASSEMBLY:

• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit and place top rack into the middle of oven. NOTE: be sure to use a great pizza pan to ensure that your crust is crispy and not soggy.
• Spoon a generous amount of the vodka sauce over the top of the crust until evenly coated.
• Generously sprinkle on the mozzarella until crust is fully covered in the middle, leaving a bit of crust for the edges. Add the roasted red peppers a top the cheese.
• Lightly brush the tops of the edge of the crust with 1 Tbsp of olive oil to ensure that it becomes a nice golden brown.
• Transfer the pizza pie to the hot oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or so, until the mozzarella has melted (and becomes bubbly) and the crust is crispy and golden brown.
• Once done, allow pizza to rest/cool for a few minutes (about 2-3 minutes) so that the mozzarella sets before cutting into generous slices, using a pizza cutter. Add a few fresh basil leaves as garnish, if desired.
• Bon Appetit!

https://www.orchidsandsweettea.com/homemade-vodka-pizza/