Is there anyone around who doesn’t love pizza? Yes, we thought so… Which is why we just couldn’t allow an invitation to pass by a young, hard-working Rustenburg couple to share their eazy-peazy (but delicious) pizza recipe with us. With pizza outlets in abundance (and since the arrival of delivery services all over town) sitting down for the family or group of friends’ weekly pizza party is little more than a formality for most. While some people enjoy preparing their own pizzas and are quite boastful about their Italian “fare”, the economic climate of recent years doesn’t necessarily allow everyone the same luxuries.
In this column, our hosts this week Thando and Charmaine Haltesi guide us on how to make a delicious pizza without breaking the bank.
But please understand folks – Thando and Charmaine work with feeling and intuition and not necessarily from a recipe – Thando was a “pizza man” at a well-known pizzeria in one of the country’s mega cities before the couple managed to escape the concrete jungle to settle in Rustenburg where his pizza experience has stood him in good stead to financially support and feed his family.
Pizza base:
Most people pretty well know what kind of dough they prefer and how to prepare this – especially people for who it’s not too much of a challenge to make their own pizza. The secret lies in the sauce and the filling of course.
Ingredients:
Selection of your favourite toppings ie cuts of meat, mushrooms, pineapple cheese
Olive oil
Garlic
Fresh parsley
Crushed tamatoes
Tomatoe puree
Sugar
Salt
A touch of herbs
Method:
It really couldn’t be easier. In a small pot on the stove scoop a few tablespoons of Olive oil and two or three fresh garlic cloves. Bring almost to boil, reduce heat and add all other ingredients, slowly simmer for 30 minutes, remove from heat and mix into a paste.
Bake your pizza base in the oven until crackly and crispy, remove, cover with pasta sauce, allow to cool, dress with snippets of cold meat, mushrooms, lots of cheese.
Return to oven until cheese has melted, remove once again and dress with cuts of avocado.
Take our word for it - your Italian friends will soon go “L’appetito vien mangiando” – appetite comes with eating!
The good news is that Thando and Charmaine also do take-aways or events such as birthday parties – Book them on 073 424 3004.
