CAST IRON SKILLET PIZZA (a 3-4 banana difficulty level)

Oh Pizza, how I do love thee...pretty much everyone loves pizza, right?! I saw someone post a link to making "Cast Iron Skillet Pizza" not too long ago and I thought 'hey, I have a cast iron skillet. I should make this!'

I've done pizza making on my pizza stone and even out on my grill. Believe or not, I've even made pizza in my Cast Iron Skillet before...about 5 years ago...and I totally forgot about it. It appears to have been an Eggplant Hummus Pizza. I never did the post...I think we all know why. I mean, Eggplant Hummus Pizza?!?...what was I thinking! Anyway, here's some embarassing photos of the event...

Well, I learned my lesson. Today's pizza had Sausage, Mushrooms, & Onions. 

Now, some of the videos I've seen about making "Cast Iron Skillet Pizza" shows cutting the pizza while it's still in the skillet. Those skillets are tough, but I don't recommend using them as a cutting board. The pizza comes out easily so just use an actual cutting board!

The difficulty level of making homemade pizza varies a bit. How complicated are your toppings? Are you making the sauce from scratch? Is the dough made from scratch? Once those things are taken care of, then the actual baking of the pizza is pretty simple!

Enough talking...let's get started. Today 'this monkey' will show you how to make "Cast Iron Skillet Pizza"!

WHAT YOU NEED:

Pizza Crust: I used this one... Pizza Dough . (It makes enough for 2 pizzas so halve the recipe if you just want 1 pizza)

Sauce (I chose a Spicy Red Pepper Spaghetti Sauce from the store)

Toppings (Why not use the Roasted Sausage, Mushrooms, & Onions  from yesterday)

1-2 c Shredded Cheese (Mozzarella Cheese with a sprinkle of Parmesan Cheese)

WHAT ELSE YOU NEED:

Large Cast Iron Skillet

Spatula (Small Turner)

Cutting Board

Pizza Cutter

WHAT YOU DO:

1. Follow the recipe for making the Pizza Dough. Dough needs to rise. This will take at least 2 hours. 

2. Once the dough is ready, Pre-Heat Oven & the Skillet to 500 degrees & begin shaping the dough into your pizza crust. (I rub my hands with olive oil before I start working with the dough. Also lightly flour your working surface)

1 will go Cast Iron Skillet & the other on the Pizza Stone

3. After everything is pre-heated, carefully slide your dough into the VERY HOT Skillet. To ensure the crust is ready when the toppings are ready, bake the CRUST for 8 minutes before adding the toppings)

4. Remove the Skillet containing the partially baked Crust from the oven & Add the Sauce (keep the sauce from interacting with the Cast Iron Skillet as they don't play nice)

5. Add the Mozzarella Cheese

6. Add your toppings

7. Give it a little sprinkle of the Parmesan Cheese

8. Bake at 500 degrees for 10 minutes, remove from oven, & use a Spatula (Small Turner) to slide your pizza onto the Cutting Board.

9. Serve & Enjoy!

Mom's homemade pizza was one of my favorite meals growing up! In fact, I often request it when I go home for a visit. The process of making homemade pizza is interesting & fun, but it does take patience & prep especially when making the dough from scratch. I know it is easy just to pick up the phone & order from the local pizzeria, but give this one a try!

Until next time...your favorite neighbor-web monkey! 

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

How many different combinations can be put on top of your pizza? What about different sauces? Before you even think about that, there needs to be the crust. Homemade from scratch pizza dough is fun and easier than you think. Here's how you do it:

To the Right is a Hummus-Turkey Pizza made after Thanksgiving:
Here's what you need:

1 packet (2 1/4 t) Active Dry Yeast
1 1/3 c Warm Water (around 110 deg)

3 1/2 to 3 3/4 c of flour (I used 2 c White Whole Wheat Flour and the rest All Purpose Flour)
2 T Olive Oil
1 T Salt
1 T Sugar (optional)

(***Note: This makes 2 - Twelve inch pizza crusts***)


1. In a large mixing bowl combine Yeast and Water and let stand
about 5 min to dissolve the yeast. Whisk if needed.

2. Add Flour, Oil, Salt, and Sugar and mix on low for about 1 min.
3. Knead about 10 minutes (dough hook on low) or until the dough is elastic and smooth.
4. Lightly drizzle some Oil along the side of the bowl and rotate the ball of dough until
coated with the Oil.

5. Transfer to another bowl, Cover with Plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until it is twice the size (around 2 hours)

6. Punch down the dough, divide in half, and roll each into a ball.


7. Let the dough rest another 15 min.




8. Place oven rack 4-5" from top & Preheat the oven to 500 deg with the baking stone if you are using one.

9. Flour your work area, wet your hands with water, and work the dough into a 12 inch diameter pie & transfer to a Pizza Peel dusted with cornmeal/semolina flour.


10. Gently prick the dough multiple times with a fork & fold up the edge to form a crust and let rest for 10 min.

11. Add your sauce and toppings of choice. Err on the conservative side, less is better.
12. Transfer from the peel to the baking stone.


13. Bake until the crust is nicely browned (around 10-12 min)

Ok, monkeys, be creative and top your pizza!