New Orleans Style Shrimp Pizza

It is a cold, cold Friday.

Not good planning on my part.  It would have been an ideal day for a soup or stew!  But I had pulled this pizza recipe awhile ago because it sounded good for a light Friday dinner.  I had some shrimp left from holiday entertaining so I thought it would be a good use for it. Sometimes there are downfalls to pre-planning!  I could so go for hot chicken soup tonight; um, I can't pull that, 'I feel like opening a can of soup' this early in the game! I will solve the need for heat based liquid with perhaps an Irish Coffee later. :) problem solved!  Perfect night for that too!

This pizza recipe is based on a Sandra Lee Semi Homemade recipe.  I simply substituted the prepackaged suggestions with fresh.  Other than the shrimp, which I had, everything else is pretty much what I always keep on hand.  So ta-da, keeps with my budget.

New Orleans Shrimp Pizza

Preheat oven to 450°

Pizza dough for 1 pizza
2 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning
1 1/2 c. chunky tomato sauce
1 tsp. hot sauce-btw, I HATE the smell of hot sauce.  Most of my friends know I am gun shy of hot food.  However, I do realize I do not always cook for myself and my husband LOVES hot sauce.  I struggled through the tsp.  Let him add his own after it is cooked!
2 tsp. minced garlic-sounds like a lot, but it works.
2 c. shredded mozzarella
1 chopped pepper
1 small chopped onion-I was concerned about a raw onion taste but, once chopped small it really enhanced the Old Bay flavor.
Peeled, cooked shrimp-however decadent you want to be!  Like I said I had it from the holidays.


I defrosted some basic chunky tomato sauce, the green pepper (I was ok using garden peppers that were frozen because they would be cooked), and the shrimp. I made my basic pizza dough-the recipe calls for Betty Crocker pizza dough mix, go for it, I would have had I not been home!-early in the day and walked away from it all.

For the last rising of the dough, I added 2 tsp, of Old Bay seasoning.

While your dough is resting chop your pepper and onion. Note the damp paper towel under my cutting sheet.  I saw that done at a food show.  Simply dampen a paper towel and put it underneath your mat.  It prevents slipping!

Mince the garlic and add to your tomato sauce.  I added a bit of salt and pepper at this point.  Stir in the hot sauce.

Time to work your dough onto the pan.  It takes some practice to stretch dough.  But honestly once it is cooked, even the ugliest attempt at making a circle of dough tastes great!  I recieved a nice pizza stone for Christmas a few years ago.  Because it is so cold today, I warmed it up a bit before I stretched my dough.  Any sheet pan would work fine for baking you pizza.  I prick randomly with a fork because I always have air bubbles.

Spread the sauce and add the peppers and onion.  Arrange the shrimp evenly.  I sprinkled a little Old Bay at this point.  No reason, other than I wanted to!

Top with the mozzarella.  Ok, this is looking so good!

Bake the pie at 450° for about 15-20 minutes.

I have to tell you this was really good.  Besides the dough, the entire thing took me no more than 45 minutes. It was so satisfying.  I served with a simple green salad.  I did not miss having chicken soup at all!  It is still REALLY cold, and I am still looking forward to my Irish Coffee; but, this pizza hit the spot.  It was quick, simple, yet tasted very, um, special.  It was a special pizza on an ordinary Friday night.

 YES 2 pieces.....have issue?  It is Friday!  (actually, my eyes were bigger than my stomach, I didn't finish what I took :(, but oh so good!)

Have a good night.  Wish you were all here to share!