Paneer pizza recipe with step by step pics. This is a yum & delicious homemade paneer pizza made with toppings of paneer and mix veggies. The recipe shared shows how to make the pizza dough and then bake the pizza in an oven. For the pizza sauce, I always use homemade Pizza sauce. though you can also add store brought tomato pizza sauce.
I make paneer pizza with fusion flavors of both Indian and Italian cuisine. sometimes fusion food tastes good and takes the dish to a completely new level. I marinate paneer cubes and veggies with some curd and Indian spices. Paneer pizza is one of the favorite pizza at home. You can always add vegetables which your family likes or prefers. At my home both onions and capsicum win hands down in any pizza. For the capsicum or bell pepper, you can use any colored bell pepper. For a vegan version of this pizza, use tofu instead of paneer and vegan mozzarella cheese.
For the pizza base, I have used my recipe of Whole wheat pizza dough. with step by step pictures, I have mentioned in detail on making the wheat pizza dough. You can even make this pizza with your favorite pizza dough.
The whole wheat pizza dough recipe is very simple and easy. The pizza base is made from 100% whole wheat flour. this recipe gives a nice soft textured pizza base and one which is crisp from outside after getting baked. There is no denseness, chewiness or hardness felt in the pizza bread.
You can knead the dough with your hands or in a stand mixer. just make sure that the dough is kneaded very well till smooth, soft and supple.
A suggestion and tip to follow when making any type of paneer pizza:
While using paneer in any pizza recipe, it is better to marinate and then add. Paneer’s taste is bland and when marinated it takes the flavors of the marinating ingredients. If paneer cubes are added directly on the pizza, they taste bland. Also they dry out by the time pizza is baked and become dense. Marinated paneer cubes do not become dry or dense when baking paneer pizza.
You can make regular paneer pizzas or thin-crust pizzas with this recipe. The recipe makes for 4 to 5 medium thick paneer pizzas or 7 thin crust pizza.
How to make paneer pizza
A) making dough:
1. Take 1 teaspoon instant yeast (3 grams) and ½ teaspoon sugar in a mixing bowl or a tray.
2. Add 1 cup lukewarm water.
3. Mix very well so that the yeast granules dissolve in water.
4. Next add 3 cups whole wheat flour, 3 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt.
5. Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice. If you do not have lemon juice then add buttermilk or fresh curd instead.
6. Begin to knead the dough.
7. Knead to a smooth and soft dough. Add more lukewarm water if required while kneading. Overall knead for at least 8 to 10 minutes.
8. Place the dough in a bowl. Brush or spread some olive oil all over the dough.
9. Place a cotton kitchen towel covering the dough or pan. Allow to leaven for 45 minutes to 2 hours or till the dough increases in volume and doubles up. Timing will vary with the temperature conditions in your city.
10. After the dough has leavened well, it will nicely increase in volume and double or triple up.
Preparation and marination for veggies and paneer
11. Meanwhile when the dough is getting leavened, prepare the toppings. Take 1 cup onion cubes, 1 cup bell pepper cubes (capsicum), ½ cup roughly chopped spinach (about 12 to 15 small to medium sized spinach leaves) in a mixing bowl. Spinach can be skipped. For bell peppers, you can use any colored bell pepper. I have used red and yellow bell peppers.
12. Add 2 tablespoons fresh curd. This step is optional and you can skip it. You can also use sour cream instead of fresh curd.
13. Add 100 grams paneer cubes.
14. Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder or cayenne pepper, ¼ teaspoon cumin powder, ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder and 1 pinch salt. You can add more of the spice powders if you want.
15. Gently mix and toss the paneer and veggies with the curd, spice powders and salt. Cover and keep aside to marinate for 30 minutes or more. If keeping for more than 30 minutes, then keep in the fridge.
Assembling and making paneer pizza
16. Once the dough has doubled up, gently punch and knead the dough lightly again. Make a log shape from the dough and slice in 4 to 5 equal parts. for thin crust pizzas cut the dough in 6 to 7 parts.
17. Spread some olive oil on a 9 to 10 inch baking tray. Sprinkle some semolina (rava or sooji) evenly all over the tray. You can even use flour or cornmeal for sprinkling. Also preheat oven to its maximum temperature for 15 to 20 minutes before baking.
18. Take the pizza dough ball and sprinkle some flour on it and begin to roll it using a rolling pin.
19. roll to a medium thickness in the dough. You can even make thin crust pizzas.
20. Carefully lift and place the pizza in the greased baking pan or tray.
20. With a knife or fork poke the rolled dough.
21. Spread 1.5 to 2 tablespoons pizza sauce on the dough. For homemade pizza sauce check this recipe – Pizza sauce.
22. Break fresh mozzarella cheese and then place it on the dough. Add mozzarella cheese depending on the size of the pizza. Do not add too much or overcrowd the pizza with cheese. You can also grate and add mozzarella cheese. Pizza cheese can also be added instead of mozzarella cheese.
23. Arrange the marinated vegetables and paneer. Again do not overstuff with the vegetable and paneer toppings.
24. Keep the pizza pan in the center rack using both the top and bottom heating elements in the preheated oven. Also keep your oven’s highest temperature. My oven has 250 degrees celsius as the highest.
25. Bake paneer pizza for 15 to 20 minutes till the cheese melts or gets golden and the pizza crust is crisp and golden. Timing will vary depending on the type and size of oven. So do keep a check. For a very crispy base, place the baking tray near the bottom heating element.
26. Remove the paneer pizza on a plate or tray or board. Sprinkle some red chilly flakes and oregano on the pizza. You can also place some torn fresh basil leaves on the paneer pizza.
27. Then slice paneer pizza with a pizza cutter or knife. Then serve. This way make all the paneer pizzas. Leftover dough can be refrigerated or freezed.
More pizza varieties
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Homemade Paneer Pizza
Ingredients
for making dough
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast or 3 grams of instant yeast
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 1 to 1.25 cups lukewarm water or add as required
- 3 cups whole wheat flour, 360 grams
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt or add as required
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
for paneer and veggie marination
- 1 cup onion cubes
- 1 cup bell pepper (capsicum) cubes – any colored bell pepper or capsicum
- ½ cup roughly chopped spinach or 12 to 15 small to medium sized spinach leaves - optional
- 2 tablespoons Curd or sour cream or greek yogurt
- 100 grams Paneer or tofu
- ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder or cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cumin powder
- ¼ teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
- 1 pinch salt
other ingredients
- ½ cup Pizza Sauce or add as required
- fresh mozzarella cheese or pizza cheese as required
- mixed herbs or fresh basil as required
- red chili flakes as required
Instructions
making pizza dough
- Take 1 teaspoon instant yeast (3 grams) and ½ teaspoon sugar in a mixing bowl or a tray.
- Add 1 cup lukewarm water. mix very well so that the yeast granules & sugar dissolve in water.
- Next add 3 cups whole wheat flour, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
- Knead to a smooth and soft dough. Add more lukewarm water if required while kneading. Overall knead for at least 8 to 10 minutes till you get a smooth, soft and supple dough.
- Place the dough in a bowl. Brush or spread some olive oil all over the dough.
- Place a cotton kitchen towel covering the dough or pan. Allow to leaven for 45 minutes to 2 hours till the dough increases in volume and doubles up. Timing will vary with the temperature conditions in your city.
- After the dough has leavened well, it will nicely increase in volume and double up.
preparation and marination for veggies and paneer
- Meanwhile take 1 cup onion cubes, 1 cup bell pepper cubes, ½ cup roughly chopped spinach (about 12 to 15 small to medium sized spinach leaves) in a mixing bowl.
- Add 2 tablespoons fresh curd. This step is optional and you can skip it. You can also use sour cream instead of fresh curd.
- Add the paneer cubes.
- Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder or cayenne pepper, ¼ teaspoon cumin powder, ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder and 1 pinch salt.
- Gently mix and toss the paneer and veggies with the curd, spice powders and salt. Cover and keep aside to marinate for 30 minutes or more. If keeping for more than 30 minutes, then keep in fridge.
assembling and making paneer pizza
- Once the dough has doubled up, gently punch and knead the dough lightly again. Make a log shape from the dough and slice in 4 to 5 equal parts. For thin crust pizzas cut the dough in 6 to 7 parts.
- Spread some olive oil on a 9 or 10 inch baking tray. Sprinkle some semolina (rava or sooji) evenly all over the tray. You can even use flour or cornmeal for sprinkling. Also preheat oven to its maximum temperature for 15 to 20 minutes before baking.
- Take a medium to large sized pizza dough ball and sprinkle some flour on it.
- Roll to a medium thick pizza.
- Carefully lift and place the pizza in the greased baking pan or tray. With a knife or fork poke the rolled dough.
- Spread 1.5 to 2 tablespoons pizza sauce on the dough.
- Break fresh mozzarella cheese in small pieces and then place on the dough. You can also grate the cheese and add.
- Arrange the marinated vegetables and paneer on the dough.
- Keep the pizza pan in the center rack using both the top and bottom heating elements in the preheated oven. Also keep your oven’s highest temperature.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or till the cheese melts or gets golden and the pizza crust is crisp and golden.
- Remove it on a plate or tray or board.
- Then slice paneer pizza with a pizza cutter or knife. Then serve. While serving you can sprinkle some red chilly flakes and oregano. You can also place some fresh basil on the pizza. This way make all the paneer pizza. Leftover dough can be refrigerated or freezed.
Why lemon juice is used?
It helps in gluten development.
Thanks for the recipe. What should be temperature setting in case of a convection oven?
welcome. i also have a convection oven with a fan. the highest is 250 degrees celsius in this oven. so i have used that. you can use the highest temperature in your oven. do note that the higher the temperature then less time will be taken by the pizza to bake. you can even use 200 or 220 degrees celsius if this is the highest temperature in your oven. hope this helps.