$5 Friday: Potato and Rosemary pizza

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In early spring the overgrown bushes of rosemary in my front garden transcend into a sea of blue flowers.  The bees love the flowers, and go crazy buzzing around. I love cooking with rosemary, and it pops up in many of my dishes.

Rosemary in flower
Rosemary in flower

The potato and rosemary pizza recipe is simple.  It uses only a few ingredients, and all are cheap. Yet there is something seductive about its simplicity.

Potato and rosemary pizza
Potato and rosemary pizza – only $2.45
Potato and rosemary pizza - baked
Potato and rosemary pizza – baked

Sometimes I make this with smoked salmon and potato, but usually I find myself going back to the potato original.  Try it and you will see why.

Salmon and potato pizza - prebaked
Salmon and potato pizza – prebaked
Smoked salmon and potato pizza - hot out of the oven
Smoked salmon and potato pizza – hot out of the oven

Ingredients

Dough:

200ml water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups flour
1 3/4 teaspoon yeast
Topping:

3 – 4 medium sized potatoes
1 slurp of olive oil
Salt
Rosemary
Handful of cheese

Method:

  1. Make the dough by combining all ingredients in a bread maker and pressing on the ‘dough’ setting.  Leave for 30 minutes for a thin crust, or up to 60 minutes for a thick crust.

    Pizza dough
    Pizza dough
  2. Alternatively, mix the yeast with lukewarm water until it begins to soften and grow.  Combine dry ingredients in a bowl, make a dent in the centre and add the oil and water.  Mix until combined, then knead until it forms a round ball.  Place in a slightly oiled bowl, cover with clingwrap or a moist tea-towel and allow to rise in a warm place for at least 30 minutes.

    Two balls of pizza dough, ready to be rolled out
    Two balls of pizza dough, ready to be rolled out
  3. Meanwhile, boil or steam the potatoes in their skins until half cooked.  Cool, then remove the skins (you may be able to gently scrape them off with your hands).
  4. Using a sharp knife or, optimally, a mandolin, cut the potatoes into thin slices.
  5. Roll out the dough into circles to make one large pizza or two medium pizzas.  Brush with olive oil and prick with a knife.

    Olive oil on pizza dough
    Olive oil on pizza dough
  6. Scallop the pizza with potato pizzas, kind of like a rosette, starting on the outer layer and working in.  Sprinkle with rosemary leaves (you can also use rosemary flowers, but they are prettier sprinkled on when the dish is finished).  Top with cheese and, if desired, a bit more olive oil.
  7. Bake in a hot oven for around 15 minutes or until cooked.

Cost

Flour: 25c
Yeast: 20c
Potatoes:  60c
Olive oil:  40c
Rosemary:  free – growing in my hard
Handful of cheese: $1

Total: $2.45

Rosemary and potato pizza ready to eat
Rosemary and potato pizza ready to eat

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