A Healthy and Mouth-watering Paneer Pizza Recipe 

Paneer pizza is a delicious fusion of Indian and Italian cuisines. The major ingredient of this pizza is paneer or cottage cheese, which is a rich source of protein. Specifically, paneer is one of the staple items of a vegetarian diet. It also includes vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and onions. Apart from these, you can bake a wide range of paneer pizzas using a variety of toppings.

Whether it’s for a quick lunch or a weekend dinner, paneer pizza is sure to impress your taste buds and leave you wanting more.

Paneer Pizza Recipe

Ingredients

For Making Dough

• 1 teaspoon instant yeast – 3 grams (rapid rise yeast)
• ½ teaspoon sugar
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt or add as required
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 to 1.25 cups lukewarm water or add as required
• 3 cups whole wheat flour

For Paneer and Veggie Marination

• 2 tablespoons curd or sour cream or Greek Yoghurt
• 100 grams paneer 
• 1 cup onion, cubes
• 1 cup bell pepper cubes (capsicum) – any coloured bell pepper or capsicum
• ½ cup roughly chopped spinach 
• ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder or cayenne pepper
• 1 pinch salt or add as needed
• ¼ teaspoon cumin powder
• ¼ teaspoon garam masala

Other Ingredients

• ½ cup Pizza Sauce or add as required
• mozzarella cheese (fresh) or pizza cheese, as required
• mixed herbs or fresh basil, as required
• red chilli flakes as required

Method

Step 1: In a mixing dish, combine the instant yeast sugar. Pour in 1 cup of lukewarm water. 

Step 2: Mix thoroughly until the yeast granules and sugar dissolve in the water. Then, stir in the whole wheat flour, olive oil, salt and lemon juice.

Step 3: Knead the dough until it is smooth and soft. If necessary, add more lukewarm water while kneading. Overall, knead the dough for at least 8 to 10 minutes, or until it is smooth, soft and elastic. 

Step 4: Put the dough in a mixing basin. Brush or distribute olive oil on top of the dough.

Cover the dough or pan with a cotton kitchen towel. Allow to leaven for 45 minutes to 2 hours, or until the dough doubles in volume.

Step 5: The dough will double in size and volume when it has been properly leavened.

Step 6: Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, combine onion cubes, bell pepper cubes and roughly chopped spinach.

Step 7: Mix in some fresh curd or yoghurt. This step is optional and can be skipped. You can also substitute sour cream for the fresh curd. Mix in the paneer cubes.

Step 8: Red chilli powder or cayenne pepper, cumin powder, garam masala powder and salt to taste.

Step 9: Toss the paneer and vegetables with the curd (yoghurt), spice powders and salt.

Step 10: Cover and let aside for at least 20 minutes to marinate. If kept for longer than 30 minutes, then keep covered in the refrigerator.

Step 11: Once the dough has doubled in size, gently punch and knead it again.

Step 12: Form the dough into a log and cut it into 4 to 5 equal portions. Cut the dough into 6 to 7 sections for thin-crust pizzas. 

Step 13: A 9- or 10-inch baking tray should be sprayed with olive oil. Spread the semolina (rava or sooji) equally across the tray. You can also sprinkle it with flour or cornmeal. 

Step 14: Preheat the oven to its highest setting for 15 to 20 minutes before baking.

Sprinkle some flour on a medium to large-sized pizza dough ball. Roll out to a fairly thick pizza that is 1/4 to 1/3 inches thick all over. 

Step 15: Place the pizza in the oiled baking pan or dish with care. Poke the rolled dough with a knife or a fork. Spread 1.5–2 tbsp pizza sauce on top of the dough.

Step 16: Place little chunks of fresh mozzarella cheese on top of the dough. If you don’t have fresh mozzarella cheese, then shred it and add it. Don’t go overboard with the cheese topping.

Step 17: Arrange the marinated vegetables and paneer on the puff pastry. Again, don’t overwhelm the topping with veggies and paneer.

Step 18: Maintain the pizza pan in the centre rack in the preheated oven, using both the top and bottom heating elements. Maintain the greatest possible temperature in your oven. 

Step 19: Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese melts or becomes golden, and the pizza crust is crisp and golden. Place it on a platter, tray or cutting board. Then, using a pizza cutter or knife, cut the paneer pizza into slices. Then serve. While serving, sprinkle with red chilli flakes and oregano.

Step 20: You may also add some fresh basil to the pizza. Make the entire paneer pizza this way. Leftover dough can be refrigerated or frozen.

Tips to Enhance the Taste

• It is recommended to marinate paneer first before adding it to a pizza. Most of the time, paneer is bland and has a distinct flavour. The flavours of the marinade’s ingredients are absorbed when the food is marinated.
• Additionally, plain paneer may dry up and become dense once the pizza is baked if you add it to the pizza. Use of marinated paneer cubes in any recipe, including this one for Paneer pizza, will help to avoid this issue.
• By using olive oil, the greatest outcome is unquestionably obtained. Use any odourless and flavourless oil if you can’t acquire it.
• If you don’t have lemon juice, use fresh curd (yoghurt) or buttermilk instead.

Serving Ideas

Serve some warm, buttery garlic bread on the side of your paneer pizza. This classic pairing can help to soak up any leftover sauce and add a little extra texture to your meal. Pair your paneer pizza with a fresh and colourful salad to balance out the richness of the pizza. 

Nutritional Content in Paneer Pizza Recipe