Sourdough Flatbread Pizza

Here it is!  The moment you have all been waiting for...(that is, if you read the Cinnamon-Apple Flatbread post).  Sourdough Flatbread Pizza!!!!  Are you excited?  Well, you should be.  And if you're not, just make this recipe, and you will be.  Chunks of pepperoni and mushrooms stud this crispy sourdough bread among pools of melty cheese...Hang on, I have to wipe the drool off my keyboard.


Sourdough Flatbread Pizza


1 cup sourdough starter, fed or unfed (or substitute 1/2 cup lukewarm water and 1/2 cup flour)
3/4 cup lukewarm water
2 teaspoons instant yeast
3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 Tablespoons nonfat dry milk
3 Tablespoons olive oil
Your favorite toppings, cut into chunks:  Sharp cheddar and sharp white cheddar (chipotle cheddar is also especially good), sauteed mushrooms, pepperoni


Combine all of the dough ingredients, and mix and knead them - by hand, mixer, or bread machine - to make a smooth, soft dough.  Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, and let it rise for 1 hour.  Gently deflate it, and allow it to rise for another hour.


Lightly grease an 18 x 13 inch rimmed baking sheet, or two 9 x 13 inch pans.  Drizzle olive oil on top of the spray.  Gently deflate the risen dough, then press and shape the dough into a rectangle and place it in the pan.  Pat and stretch it to fit the pan, letting it rest for 10 minutes or so if it shrinks back, then stretch it to the edge of the pan again.  Arrange the cheese, mushrooms, and pepperoni on top of the dough.


Cover the bread and let rise for 1 hour, until it is puffy.  Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 425F.  Uncover the bread, then bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the crust is golden brown around the edges, and the center is set.  Remove it from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack.  Cut with a pizza cutter.  Makes about 12 servings.


Enjoy!  -Cardamommy