Step 1

1.To make the dough, combine both flours, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Mix until well combined. Add 2 cups of lukewarm water and mix until a sticky dough forms. Use your hands to lightly knead the dough in the bowl (it will be very sticky but that’s okay). Cover with a damp cloth and set aside to prove for 60-90 minutes or until doubled in size.

Step 2

2.In the meantime, for the pizza sauce, place all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the sauce to a simmer and then turn the heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse. If your tomatoes are whole, use a fork to crush them as the sauce cooks. Then turn the heat off and set your sauce aside until you’re ready to assemble your pizza.

Step 3

3.Tip the dough onto a floured surface. Sprinkle with a little more flour, then knead for 5 minutes or until smooth.

Step 4

4.Use a knife to cut the dough into 4 even portions. Use your hands to form each portion into smooth balls. Place onto a large tray sprinkled with plenty of flour. Cover with a damp tea towel and allow to rise for 30 minutes to an hour or until puffy and almost doubled in size.

Step 5

5.Preheat the Panasonic Combination Steam Microwave on the oven setting at 220°C (430°F). Alternatively, use your conventional oven setting on your regular oven. Place the grill tray in the microwave (if using your oven, use a large flat baking tray) to preheat at the same time. Also ensure the integrated water chamber is filled with water.

Step 6

6.To form the pizza base, carefully transfer a dough ball to a floured surface (try not to disturb the top of the dough – it helps to use a pastry scraper for this). Use your fingers to start flattening the dough through the centre. Then stretch and shape the dough into a round, leaving the ‘crust’ higher than the centre. Flip the dough over a few times to stretch it out, too. Watch the video for my technique if you need a visual reference!

Step 7

7.Place the pizza base on a sheet of baking paper. Spoon over 2-3 tablespoons of the pizza sauce, spreading it out over the dough. Drizzle with a little olive oil. Sprinkle with one-quarter of the grated pecorino and comte or gruyere. Top with slices of salami or pepperoni, then some pieces of mozzarella. Carefully transfer the pizza (using the baking paper to hold it) to the microwave grill tray. Place in the microwave, close the door and then select the Combination 1 (microwave power + grill). Immediately hold down the steam button to trigger a 1-minute ‘steam shot’. Cook for 10-12 minutes (or 20-25 minutes if using a regular oven) or until the top of the pizza is starting to char and the cheese is golden.

Step 8

8.Remove the pizza from the microwave and sprinkle with some extra fresh mozzarella, torn basil and chilli flakes.

Step 9

9.Repeat with remaining pizza dough and ingredients.

Step 10

Notes - This recipe was made using the Panasonic Combination Steam Microwave (NN-DS59N).

Step 11

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