Monday, May 6, 2013

creamy bbq chicken pizza + jim lahey's no-knead pizza dough


I think, this week, let's talk about pizza! Yes?

I've been on a pizza-making kick lately, and can't wait to tell you guys about it. I've been obsessed with finding the perfect pizza dough recipe for a while now (I have seriously never used the same recipe twice), and the three I'm going to share with y'all this week are all to die for. Crispy, chewy, air-bubbly... just perfect.

Let's start out with this one. I think I was the last person on Earth to try this recipe, but don't be like me! This is as simple as it gets (no knead!), and it's the best pizza dough I've ever made. It's incredible!!!

Although you can (and should) top this pizza with anything and everything, I decided to try out Bev's Creamy BBQ Chicken Pizza because... well, do I really need to explain?!

Real talk: this pizza dough will change your life.

Jim Lahey's No-Knead Pizza Dough (adapted from Girl Versus Dough and Handle the Heat)
makes four 10 to 12-inch pizzas

A quick word about what sounds like the longest rising time ever: the recipe calls for at least an 18 hour rise time, but I'm a terrible planner and very impatient when it comes to pizza. I made my dough in the morning and let it rise all day, about 12 hours, and it turned out perfectly. This dough is forgiving and compassionate to my scatterbrained ways. That being said, the longer you let it rise, the more developed the flavor will be.

you'll need:
3 3/4 cups AP flour
1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, yeast and salt. Add water gradually and stir with a spoon until combined and a dough forms (you may have to use your hands to bring it all together... but you don't need to knead!). With floured hands, bring to dough together in a ball. Transfer the dough to a clean, large bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a tea towel. Set dough in a draft-free place until dough is doubled (or more than doubled) in size, 12-18 hours.

When dough has risen, punch it down and transfer it to a lightly floured work surface. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Take one portion of the dough and gather 4 corners to the center to create 4 folds. Turn seam side down and form into a ball. Repeat with remaining portions of dough. Allow to rest, uncovered, for an hour. When dough is fully rested, it's ready to shape and top as you like! See below for what I did...

*If you'd like to make this dough ahead of time, that's great! Dough will stay good for 3 days in the refrigerator, well-wrapped in plastic wrap. When you're ready to use it, allow it to come to room temperature for 2-3 hours before using. Dough will also keep in the freezer for 1 month. Defrost the dough overnight in the fridge, then allow to sit at room temperature as you would with the refrigerated dough before shaping.

Creamy BBQ Chicken Pizza (toppings adapted from Bev Cooks)
makes 2 12-inch pizzas

you'll need:
1 lb. cooked chicken breasts, chopped into bite-size pieces (I used rotisserie chicken)
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup BBQ sauce, plus 2 tablespoons
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup pickled jalapenos
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons chopped green onions, for garnish

Place a pizza stone in your oven, and preheat the oven to its highest temperature (mine is 550 degrees F). Allow to heat for at least 30 minutes.

Toss chicken with 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix heavy cream and BBQ sauce together until completely combined and smooth.

On two pieces of lightly floured parchment paper, press out each pizza dough ball to 10-12 inches in diameter (one pizza on each piece of paper). Evenly spoon the creamy BBQ sauce over each crust, then top with chicken, red onions, jalapenos and cheese.

Carefully(!) remove the preheated pizza stone from the oven and slide one of the pizzas on parchment paper onto it. Return to oven and bake for 7-12 minutes, until cheese is browned and bubbly. Repeat with other pizza.

Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with green onions, and rejoice!

*Coming later this week: no-knead whole wheat pizza dough, and spicy garlic bread pizza dough. Yipeeeeee!!!


Follow on Bloglovin

27 comments:

  1. Hi Marie - I really must try this pizza dough recipe. I've had it saved for many months. I've heard so many great testimonials, including yours now. I'm glad to hear it's so forgiving - it would need to be for me! PS - I love BBQ chicken pizza! : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Monica, please please please try it! It took me forever to try it too, but it really does live up to all the hype! Let me know if you give it a go!

      Delete
    2. Hi Marie...I've got a question. I am serious about making homemade pizza very soon. Do you recommend I do the 2-hr recipe or the longer one that uses the small amount of yeast? I guess the longer rest time one is Jim Lahey's more recent recipe? I am confused (again)! Thanks!!!

      Delete
    3. Hey Monica! If you can plan for the longer rise, I'd use the recipe listed here. This is by far the most forgiving dough I've made, which is partially due to the long rise. I made mine first thing in the morning and let it sit all day, and it was perfect after a 12 hour rise (although if you can allow for 18 hours, that's even better!) Let me know if you have any more questions!!

      Delete
  2. Ahh I'm so glad the dough turned out for you! And that BBQ chicken topping looks AMAZING. I'm officially drooling everywhere... :)

    Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Steph, it was the best! Thanks so much for sharing it!

      Delete
  3. Wow - an 18 hour rise? Sounds like a great dough to start on a Friday night so I can have a lovely pizza lunch the next day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahhh I know! But I only let mine rise for 12 and it came out perfectly. It takes a little planning ahead for sure, but it takes like 2 minutes to prepare, then the rest is just waiting!

      Delete
  4. pizza is always welcome in my world and did you say - creamy BBQ sauce, yes yes yes! I am always looking out for quick rise pizza crust because my pizza cravings arise suddenly and waiting 18 or even 12 hours seem impossible sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Totally agree! The planning ahead is hard sometimes. Have you ever tried Smitten Kitchen's rushed pizza dough? It's ready to go in about 45 minutes, which is crazy awesome!

      Delete
    2. heading over to Smitten Kitchen now!

      Delete
  5. Great minds think alike :-) Your recipe looks fabulous! BBQ chicken pizza is my husband's all-time favorite pizza-I'll have to try your version with the cream!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adding cream can't make anything worse, right?! :)

      Delete
  6. This looks SO darn tasty!! I LOVE using bbq sauce in place of pizza sauce :).

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm up for a life-changing pizza experience. This looks absolutely gorge Marie. The list of ingredients is star-studded.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jen! Have you tried this dough yet? You'd love it...

      Delete
  8. Your pizza looks incredible and pizza dough looks seriously delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you dear! It is an awesome pizza dough recipe!

      Delete
  9. well this looks just about perfection!!! the crust is what won me over!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Elle! I'm a huge crust girl, so it's so important to me that it's delicious! This recipe's a winner!

      Delete
  10. Oooh I love pizza so much! It's one of my favorite foods! :) This looks delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  11. that is one gorgeous looking pizza!

    ReplyDelete
  12. You know, I made this no-knead dough once and I flubbed it all up. I dunno what happened. But! I did make a whole wheat one hour pizza dough that I LOVE and another 5 minute dough (super serious- no rise!) that is awesome. You've inspired me to give the no-knead dough a shot. I LOVE pizza! Your creamy BBQ looks wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ummm... 5 minute dough?! Totally into that!!!

      I hope you have success with this recipe this go-round! Let me know how it turns out for ya! :)

      Delete
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...