Portabella Mushroom and Spinach No Knead Pizza

With a little preparation, homemade pizza can be ready in the same amount of time as cooking a frozen pizza and it is definitely quicker than pizza delivery!

Ingredients
1 lb no knead pizza dough
1/2 cup pizza sauce (we use pasta sauce and mix in dried oregano, basil and onion powder)
1 portabello mushrooms or any mushrooms of your choice, cut into thick chunks or slices
2 cups fresh spinach leaves, washed
1-1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Canola oil

Directions
1. Place the cast iron pan or pizza pan in a cold oven and let it preheat to 400 degrees F.

The ever versatile Lodge cast iron pan, the iron horse of my pans

2. In the meantime, prepare the pizza toppings. Roll out the no knead pizza dough on a floured surface and make sure to dust the rolling pin with a lot of flour as well.

If the dough shrinks, wait 5 minutes to let the dough rest before attempting to roll it out again.

3. Once the oven is preheated, remove the cast iron pan or pizza pan and drizzle some canola oil, ensuring the oil coats the bottom.

Generously oil the pan

4. Place the no knead pizza dough in the greased cast iron pan or pizza pan. Working quickly, spread the pizza sauce, then add the mushrooms and spinach leaves. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese generously all over the pizza.

5. Bake in the oven for 18 to 25 minutes. The pizza is done when the crust is light brown and the cheese is bubbly.

6. Remove the pizza from the pan and let cool for 5 minutes before cutting or serving.

Michelangelo (The Mutant Ninja Turtle, not the renaissance artist) would say "Cowabunga!"

TIP

• If using refrigerated no knead pizza dough:
• Allow refrigerated dough to come to room temperature before rolling it out on a floured surface
• If using frozen no knead pizza dough:
• Allow frozen no knead pizza dough to defrost on the counter or in the fridge until it thaws.
• Use more flour to knead the dough as the moisture content in the dough is higher as a result from freezing.
• Baking instructions: pre-bake pizza dough for 5 to 10 minutes, remove from the oven then add the sauce and toppings. Cook pizza for 18 to 25 minutes as stated above.

Knead frozen dough with more flour.

• Toppings
• Use any toppings you like: ham and pineapple, mexican pizza (ground beef, taco seasoning, tomatos, olives, chopped lettuce), leftover spaghetti sauce, pepperoni and mushroom etc.

Spaghetti Pizza with frozen pizza dough and leftover spaghetti sauce

• Preheating the cast iron allows the pizza to cook the dough evenly. It also prevents the dough from sticking to the pan.
• Buy shredded mozzarella cheese and portion it out into small Ziploc bags and freeze them. Grab a small bag of mozzarella cheese as you need it. Thaw in the fridge overnight for best results.