Homemade pizza is a labor of love that yields delicious rewards. It’s a journey of dough rising to airy perfection, of sauces simmering with vibrant flavors, and of toppings that tantalize the taste buds.  Within one’s homemade comfort, it lets one unravel their creative side while showcasing the magic of inventive flavor profiles. They are so forgiving that even a simple one with just a sauce and cheese tastes heavenly. It’s a testament to how a handful of ingredients, a pinch of creativity, and a dash of enthusiasm can yield a gourmet masterpiece right in your own kitchen. So let’s get cracking and  roll out the dough, fire up the oven, and discover how simple ingredients can transform into extraordinary flavors.

‘Sage and Grapevine Serendipity’ actually originated from a Saturday morning farmer’s market trip. Some luscious grape caught my attention followed by freshest of the sage. So I thought why not marry them off in a flatbread pizza or a simple toast along with some guest appearance by other ingredients. The flavor profile of this pizza is a testament to how a handful of carefully chosen ingredients can harmonize into a symphony of taste. The earthy notes of sage, the sweet juiciness of grapes, the smoky allure of barbecue chicken, and the satisfying crunch of candied pecans—all atop a golden bed of homemade dough. Let’s dive into the magic of homemade dough flatbread pizza!

PREP TIME

1.5 hr 

COOK TIME

20 minutes

CUISINE

Italian

Recipe Essentials

For Dough :

• 3 and 1/2 cups (450g) all-purpose flour
• 1 and 1/3 cups lukewarm water, between 100-110°F(hotter temp kills the yeast)
• 7g or 2 and 2/4 tsp or 1 packet Instant yeast
• 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 Tbsp olive oil, plus more for brushing the dough
• 1 tsp kosher salt

For Flatbread :

• Grapes, 10-12
• Sage, few sprigs
• 150g Chicken tenders, grilled with salt, pepper and garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp Barbeque sauce 
• 10-12 Pecan
• 1 tbsp Maple syrup
• 1/3 cup Fontina Cheese
• 1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese
• 1/3 Cup Feta cheese
• 50g Crème Fraise or Mascarpone Cheese
• 5 Garlic Cloves, crushed
• 2 Pearl Onions, cut into roundels
• Olive oil 
• Salt and Pepper
• Balsamic Glaze for garnish

Directions

 Dough :

• Mix the Yeast, warm water and sugar in a tall edge mixing bowl and rest the mixture covered with a kitchen towel for 10 minutes.
• Once the mixture turns frothy after the yeast has been activated, add rest of the ingredients for dough and mix it. Use a mixer/dough hook if using an electric mixture, if using hands to work the dough, use a wooden spatula to give it a mix and bring the dough together roughly. 
• Knead the dough for at least 5-7 minutes, either way. Check the dough for readiness by poking it with a finger and wait for the dough to bounce back. Knead some more if you don’t see it. Once your test is complete, the dough is ready to proof.
• Oil the mixing bowl and place the prepared dough it. Cover it with the kitchen towel and let it stand in room temperature for minimum of an hour. You can place it in the oven with oven light on incase of cool weather.
• Once the dough is double in size, it’s all set to be turned into a pizza or a stuffed bun.

Flatbread Pizza :

• Candied Pecan : Lightly toast the pecans in a pan before adding the maple syrup with some salt. Once the pecans are coated with the syrup, remove from heat and wait for the pecans to harden. You can eat the pecans as , but be sure to save some for flatbread (Yeah ! They are too good!).
• BBQ Chicken : Cut the chicken to small bite sized pieces and marinate them in the BBQ Sauce.
• Base sauce : Mix the Crème Fraise, Garlic and some finely chopped Sage together. Lightly thin it by adding some olive oil into it.
• 3 Cheese Mix : Mix the grated Mozzarella, Fontina and Feta.
• Assembly : 
  • Preheat the oven 475 degree Fahrenheit
  • Divide the prepared dough into two parts and save one for later
  • Brush a sheet pan with olive oil and spread the dough. Shape it however you want, either a rough round or square or freeform, I promise it’s gonna taste heavenly in any shape!
  • Brush the spread dough with olive oil so that the crust doesn’t get soggy and comes out crispy.
  • Smear the Creme Fraise base sauce across the dough face.
  • Sprinkle the cheese on it. It might seem like a lot of cheese but trust me it isn’t !
  • Add the chicken chunks evenly through out the dough.
  • Add the grapes, onion roundels and pecans evenly as well.
  • Give the final touch by garnishing with some sage 
• Bake the prepared flatbread pizza for 12- 15 minutes at 475 degrees till the crust turns golden brown and the pizza is cooked.

Flavorful Footnotes

• Use Mushrooms instead of Chicken as Vegetarian option. Mushrooms pair up well to the above flavor profile.
• Balsamic Glaze : Cook Balsamic Vinegar with Maple syrup or brown sugar to a thick syrup to get a Balsamic glaze. Honey or maple syrup can be used as an alternative to Balsamic Glaze,
• Store the leftover dough in freezer. Keep it in room temperature for 45 minutes – 1 hour before using it.
• For storing baked pizza, refrigerate the pieces and air fry or bake it for few minutes to crisp up the crust for consumption.

Ready to transform your kitchen into a pizzeria of innovation ? Just remember that the best dishes often arise from experimenting and embracing the unexpected. All the best !