Hawaiian Pizza

Did you know Hawaiian pizza is the most popular pizza in Australia, accounting for a full 15% of all pizza sales? And it's a popular choice in this country, as well; though far from ousting pepperoni from the top spot, this ham-pineapple concoction has been making steady inroads, particularly among kids.

Hands-on: 20 to 30 min | Bake: 24 to 28 min | Yield: 2 pizzas, about 16 slices

Ingredients

Crust

• 3 cups Sir Lancelot High-Gluten Flour
• 3/4 cup Hi-maize Natural Fiber*
• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Pizza Dough Flavor, optional but tasty
• 1 teaspoon instant yeast
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water, enough to make a soft, smooth dough

Topping

• 1 fresh pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into cubes, 4 to 5 cups; or 2 (20 ounce) cans pineapple chunks, well drained
• 1 pound unsliced ham, cut into cubes or chunks
• 2 cups tomato or pizza sauce
• 2 to 4 cups shredded cheese; mozzarella, or your favorite combination
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

Crust

1. \Mix and knead together all of the dough ingredients, by hand, mixer or bread machine, until you've created a soft, smooth dough.
2. Allow the dough to rise, covered, for 1 hour. Use immediately, or refrigerate for up to 24 hours; this will heighten the crust's flavor.
3. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, and divide it in half.
4. Lightly grease two 12 to 14 inch round pizza pans; or a couple of baking sheets; or a couple of pieces of parchment (if you're going to bake on a stone).
5. Shape each piece of dough into a 10 to 14inch disk (thick crust vs. thin crust), and place in the prepared pans.
6. Cover with lightly greased plastic wrap, and let rise for 1 to 2 hours, until the crust is as puffy as you like. While the crust is rising, prepare the topping. And, towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Topping

1. Lightly grease a frying pan or skillet, and sauté the pineapple until lightly browned. Remove the pineapple, and sauté the ham. While this step isn't strictly necessary, it intensifies the flavors, and helps keep the pizza from getting soggy from pineapple juice.

To prepare the pizzas

1. \Bake the pizza crusts, without toppings, for about 12 \ minutes, until they're set but not browned.
2. Remove from the oven, and spread with tomato sauce. Layer with the pineapple and ham, then sprinkle with cheese.
3. Return pizzas to the oven, and bake for an additional 12 to 16 minutes, until the crusts are brown and the cheese is melted and barely beginning to brown.
4. Remove from the oven, and transfer to a rack. Slice and serve as soon as possible.

Notes

* Hi-maize gives the crust an extra-crisp bottom; if you don't have it, use a total of 3 3/4 cups high-gluten flour.

Attributio

Recipe and photo used with permission from: King Arthur Flour