Now I love California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) - and as we do not get this here in the UK, I decided to create my own Tostada Pizza. CPK is an american style chain restaurant specially around the west coast where they do any entire page of different pizzas, and this one below the Tostada is a cross between Italian and Mexican and is just divine!
A wholemeal crispy pizza crush, smothered with beans and cheese then fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions and avocado with crunchy tortilla chips and garlic sauce drizzle, what more could you want in a meal! This is a beautiful meal, all my favourite flavour in one meal.
You can definitely mix this up a little and adding your own touch, I sometimes add a little sweetcorn and roasted peppers to add to the tostada pizza. I think when you make it at home you can always add your own twist to a meal which makes ever so more special.
However the next time I go to CPK I will need to try a new dish, however I always say that and order the same meal every time I go, do you ever do that? I think when it's a dish I love, as in love everything about it nothing to change I always just order the same as I know it will fill that belly with satisfaction.
I do sometimes wish that CPK comes across the transatlantic to the UK, as I think I would do great specially in big cities like London and Birmingham. I've heard that there are a few dotted in Asia and Middle east, just need to come a little further to UK now
Below I made a dairy free version without cheese and using a tortilla as a base instead a heavy doughy base, trying to keep it light and crisp, I did add a little sweet and instead of the garlic sauce, I made a yummy avocado lime dressing by whizzing up avocado, fresh lime juice and coriander.
Ingredients
500g Strong Wholemeal Flour
1 Packet Fast Acting Yeast
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Olive Oil
250ml Warm Water
200g Black/Pinto Mexican Beans
120g Grated Cheese
Handful Lettuce leaves
2 Tomatoes
1 Avocado
1 Small Chopped Onion
Garlic Sauce
Tortilla Chips
To a mixer add the wholemeal strong flour, yeast, salt and oil and mix.
Add the warm water and mix using the dough hook.
Knead for about 5-10 minutes ( 5 minutes if by machine and 10 minutes by hand).
Cover and allow to rise for about an hour-2 hours until doubled in size.
Divide the dough into 2 and roll out on to 2 pizza pans or pizza stones.
Spread half the bean mixture on each pizza dough.
Top each with half the cheese sprinkle evenly all over.
Baked in the oven for about 12-15 minutes until the cheese has browned and based is baked.
Remove the pizzas from the oven and immediately top with lettuce, onions, tomatoes and avocados.
Drizzle on some garlic sauce and crushed tortilla chips, serve immediately and enjoy!
Tostada Pizza - CPK Inspired
CPK Inspired Tostada Pizza, even better than the original version!