Dill Pickle Pizza

I often make my own pizza curst, but you can buy nice pizza dough for some pizza joints and speciality grocery stores.   You can also buy pizza curst int he refrigerator section of a grocery store, but they aren't nearly as good.

DILL PICKLE PIZZA

(8 servings) 

Crust Ingredients:

*1 cup very warm water (not hot)

*1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)

*1 teaspoon granulated sugar

*1 teaspoon salt

*2 teaspoons olive oil

*2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

*corn meal (for dusting pizza pan)

Sauce Ingredients:

*2 teaspoon vegetable oil

*2 garlic cloves minced (about 1 tablespoon)

*1 ounce cream cheese

*1/4 cup ranch dressing

*1/8 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese 

*1/8 teaspoon dried dill weed (I use about 1/2 teaspoon of fresh dill weed)

*1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

*1/8 teaspoon onion powder

*1/4 teaspoon salt

*1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper)

*dash of red pepper flakes (optional)

*2 teaspoons pickle juice

Topping Ingredients:

*2 dill pickles, sliced (more or less as you desire)

*2 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded (I use fresh mozzarella)

*2 ounces cream cheese, softened

*dash of dill weed (I use fresh dill weed)

*1-2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

Crust Directions:

~In a small bowl, whisk yeast and sugar together.

~Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes to proof (foam).

~In a medium mixing bowl, mix flour, salt, and olive oil.

~Mix in flour.

~On a lightly floured surface, knead until no longer sticky (you may need to add up to 1/4 cup flour).

~Place dough into a well oil bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a clean damp towel.

~Place in a draft free area and allow to double in size (about 1 hour).

~Sprinkle corn meal onto a pizza pan or large cookie sheet (this helps make the crust crispier and prevents sticking).

~Punch down down and form into a circle

~Place onto pizza pan.

Sauce Directions (I make this while the pizza crust is rising):

~In a medium skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-low heat.

~Add garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly (be careful not to let it burn).

~Add in cream cheese and stir until melted.

~Stir in ranch dressing, parmesan cheese,  dill weed, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes until well incorporated.

~Remove from heat and stir in dill pickle juice a small amount at a time until you have desired thickness to spread on pizza dough (easy enough to spread, but not thick or to thin kind of like pizza sauce).

~Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes.

Let's Make The Pizza:

~Preheat oven to 450 degrees (if using store bought pizza dough follow the directions on the package).

~Spread desired amount of dill sauce you want over pizza crust.

~If you want to add meat add it at this time (I don't normally add any, but ham would go well with it).

~Bake pizza for 4-6 minutes.

~Remove from oven.

~Drop small spoonfuls of cream cheese over top of pizza.

~Add mozzarella cheese over top.

~Add pickle slices.

~Bake for another 6-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and starts to turn a golden brown.

~Remove from oven and sprinkle lightly with dill weed and parmesan cheese.

~Allow to cool for 5 minutes before cutting.