Tostada Pizza

When I was in college I used to go to this restaurant with great pizza. One of my favorite pizzas was the tostada pizza. Basically it was taco pizza. Since the bread sticks yesterday only used one pizza dough and the recipe makes two, I figured I would try to recreate the pizza today.

This pizza took me right back to college. It was spicy and full of the flavors one would expect from a taco.

Tostada Pizza

• 1 pizza dough – (my basic pizza dough)
• 1 lbs ground beef
• Taco Seasoning – (recipe follows)
• 2 cups mexican blend cheese
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup Taco Sauce – (recipe follows)
• 3 plum tomatoes
• 1 cup lettuce
• 1/2 cup sour cream

Taco Seasoning

• 1 1/2 tbs cumin
• 1 tbs chili powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp corn starch
• 1/2 tsp cayenne – (adjust to your favorite heat level)
• 1/4 tsp oregano

Taco Sauce

• 8oz tomato sauce
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper – (adjust up and down to your liking)
• 1/2 tsp vinegar based hot sauce
• 1/4 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

The first step is to make the pizza dough and let it rise till it doubles.  Here is a simple and easy pizza dough. If you are running short on time, almost all grocery stores have pre-made pizza dough in the deli section.  Or, you can always stop by a local pizzaria and purchase the pre-made dough.

Next it is time to make the taco sauce.  Combine all of the ingredients in a sauce pan and simmer on low.  Stir every once in a while.  Let simmer until needed.  This will give the ingredients time to meld.

Next brown the beef.  Place the ground beef in a large skill and brown over medium high heat.  Takes about 7-10 minutes. Once the meat is cooked drain it.

While the meat is cooking, mix together all of the ingredients for the taco seasoning.  Mix with a fork to make sure that the cornstarch is evenly distributed.  If you prefer you can use a store bought seasoning.  I prefer to use the one above as you know exactly everything that goes in it.  Also you can adjust it for spice.

To the drained meat add 1/4 cup of water and the taco seasoning.

Next form the pizza dough into a round pizza.

Then dock the dough using a fork.  This is going to be a thin crust pizza so we don’t want the dough to rise too much.  Docking the dough prevents the dough from rising too high.

Then spread the taco sauce over the pizza.  Take the sauce all the way to the edge.  Remember thin crust pizza so we won’t have to worry about a crust.

Next spread the taco meat evenly over the whole pizza.

Cover the pizza with the mexican blend cheese.  You can use a cheddar mixture or even montery jack.  As long as there is cheese, it will taste awesome.

Place the pizza in a preheated 425 degree oven for 16-18 minutes.  When the cheese browns it is done.

While the pizza is in the oven dice up the tomatoes and shred the lettuce.

When the pizza is done remove it from the oven and cover it with the sour cream.

Then layer the lettuce over the top.  Then layer on the fresh tomatoes.

There you go a perfect tostada pizza.

I like to cut this pizza into squares instead of wedges.  I find that with the extra toppings it is easier to eat this way.

A nice thin crust piled high with great ingredients.  One of my favorite pizzas of all time.