Recipe: Jerk Chicken Pizza with Mango Salsa

JERK CHICKEN PIZZA WITH MANGO SALSA

FOR THE DOUGH:
1/4 cup warm water (105-115 degrees F)
1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
2 tsp sugar
2 cups flour
1/4 cup semolina flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup warm water

FOR THE TOPPING:
4 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 tbsp jerk seasoning
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup sliced Shiitake mushrooms (or regular mushrooms)
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup Asiago cheese, grated
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated smoked mozzarella cheese (or an additional regular mozzarella

FOR THE MANGO SALSA:
1/2 mango, ripe, diced
2 tbsp diced red onion
1 tbsp diced tomato
1 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp chopped fresh mint, basil, or cilantro (or mixture)

TO PREPARE THE PIZZA DOUGH:
In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup warm water, yeast and sugar and stir well to combine. Set aside for 5 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, semolina flour and salt. Add olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir well and add to flour. Add the additional 1/2 cup warm water. Bring the mass of dough together until a compact ball is formed. Turn dough out onto work surface and knead vigorously for 7 minutes until smooth and satiny.

Place a small amount of olive oil in a large bowl. Put dough in the bowl and turn it twice to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel. Set the bowl in a warm place. Allow dough to double in bulk, about 1 hour.

Punch down dough and let stand for 20-30 minutes at room temperature before using.

Roll dough into a circle about 10 inches in diameter, building up the edges slightly. Place dough on a pizza pan or baking sheet.

TO PREPARE THE JERK CHICKEN:
Coat chicken with jerk seasoning. Heat olive oil in a saute pan and when hot, sear chicken on both sides. Remove chicken from pan, add mushrooms to pan and saute them for about 1 minute. Drain liquid from pan. Slice chicken into thin strips.

TO PREPARE THE SALSA:
In a small mixing bowl, combine and mix thoroughly all salsa ingredients.

TO ASSEMBLE AND BAKE THE PIZZA:
Spoon barbecue sauce onto dough. Top with mushrooms and chicken strips. Sprinkle cheeses on top.

Bake pizza in a preheated 450 degrees F oven for 7-8 minutes until crust is browned and cheese is golden and bubbly.

Garnish pizza with mango salsa as soon as pizza is removed from oven.

Makes 1 (10-inch) pizza
Source: Thomas Catherall from Atlanta, Georgia entered this recipe in the 1991 Pizza Chef Showcase; printed in Pizza Today February 1993.