Spicy Enchilada Pizza
SPICY ENCHILADA PIZZA
With Renegade Spicy Chorizo
Pizza Crust:
½ Cup Warm Water
1 Teaspoon Dark Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed
1 Teaspoon Active Dry Yeast
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 ½ Cups All-Purpose Flour
½ Teaspoon Salt
Instant Enchilada Sauce:
2 Medium Tomatoes, Diced
¼ Medium Yellow Onion, Diced
2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
2 Cloves Garlic
½ Fresh Jalapeño, Seeded and Diced
2 Teaspoons Chili Powder
1 Teaspoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
¾ Teaspoon Ground Cumin
¼ Teaspoon Dried Oregano
¼ Teaspoon Salt
Toppings:
3 Ounces Renegade Spicy Chorizo, Thinly Sliced and Cut into Strips
¾ Cup Roasted Corn Kernels
6 - 8 Ounces Shredded Vegan Pepper Jack Cheese
½ - 1 Fresh Jalapeño, Thinly Sliced
2 Tablespoons Fresh Cilantro, Minced
Instructions:
1) Place the warm water, brown sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. Mix lightly to combine and allow about 10 minutes for the yeast to reactivate and become frothy.
2) Incorporate the oil before adding the flour and salt. Mix thoroughly to combine. Use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook to knead for about 10 minutes, or by hand for closer to 15, until the dough is smooth and elastic, but still slightly sticky.
3) Transfer to a clean bowl and lightly grease. Cover, place in a warm, draft-free place, and let rise until doubled in volume; 1 - 1 ½ hours.
4) Meanwhile, to prepare the sauce, place the tomatoes, onion, tomato paste, garlic, jalapeño, chili powder, cocoa, cumin, oregano, and salt in your food processor. Pulse to combine, breaking down the vegetables until very finely chopped. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with your spatula to ensure everything gets incorporated. Blend on high speed until completely smooth. Get the remaining toppings ready to go and set aside.
5) Preheat your oven to 450 degrees and lightly grease a pizza stone or sheet pan.
6) Once risen, turn the dough out onto your prepared pan. Use your hands to stretch it out towards the edges in an even circle about 14-inches in diameter. If it begins to fight you and starts shrinking back before you reach the full size, let it rest for 15 minutes before giving it a final pull. Leave a thicker ring of dough around the edges to form the crust
7) Bake the pizza on the lower oven rack until it looks dry on top but is not yet fully baked; about 8 - 10 minutes.
8) Remove from the oven and spread the sauce on top, leaving a ½-inch border around the edge clear. Distribute the cheese, chorizo, and roasted corn evenly over the top
9) Bake on the upper oven rack for an additional 10 - 15 minutes, until the crust is crisp and the cheese has melted. Broil on high for a final 5 minutes to get a bit of golden-brown color on the surface.
10) Let cool for just a few minutes before sprinkling the sliced jalapeño and cilantro on top, slicing, and serving.
Makes 6 – 8 Servings
Notes:
To simplify this recipe, start with 16 ounces of prepared pizza dough, available in the deli section of most supermarkets, and use ¾ cup of ready-made enchilada sauce. Skip straight to step #5 for assembly and baking.
The enchilada sauce can be made up to seven days in advance. Store in an airtight jar in the fridge.
Roasted corn can be purchased frozen and thawed before use. To roast corn from scratch, toss 1 cup of fresh kernels with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Roast at 425 degrees for 15 - 25 minutes, until lightly charred around the edges.
Leftover pizza can be wrapped in foil and stored in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat slices in a lightly oiled skillet over medium heat. Cook until the cheese has melted and crust is crispy; about 3 – 5 minutes.