Week 13: Recipe #3--Taco Pizza

This recipe came from the Pioneer Woman.  I was lazy and didn't want to make the dough, so I used store-bought refrigerated dough.  Maybe in the summertime when I'm not working I'll have the time for that.  You can use the link below and follow her recipe to make homemade dough, or just take the easy way out like I did.  Tastes good either way.  I served this with a green salad.  Serves 8.

Photo from Pioneer Woman

You'll Need:

• refrigerated pizza dough (I used Pillsbury; or click link below to copy Pioneer Woman's dough recipe)
• 1 can (14 oz.) black beans
• 1 tsp.  taco seasoning
• 4 whole corn tortillas, sliced into thin strips
• 1/2 cup canola oil, for frying
• 1 cup grated sharp cheddar
• 1 cup grated monterey jack cheese
• 1 head green leaf lettuce, sliced/shredded thin
• 2 whole ripe tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 cup cilantro leaves
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 3 Tblsp. hot sauce (more or less to taste)

Preparation:

1. Pour black beans into a saucepan.  Add seasoning to taste and heat up beans over medium-low heat.  Use a potato masher to mash the beans to desired texture.  Continue cooking/heating beans over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until no longer runny (should be the texture of refried beans).  Set aside.
2. In a small skillet, heat canola oil over medium heat.  When hot enough to fry, drop in the tortilla strips in batches, frying quickly and removing from oil with a fork when crisp--about 30 to 45 seconds per batch.  Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.  Set aside.
3. Place rack in the bottom position in the oven.  Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
4. With hands, spread pizza dough on oiled baking sheet, making sure it's relatively thin.  Spread layer of refried beans all over pizza crust.  Sprinkle mixed grated cheeses over the top.  Place pan in the oven (in the bottom half of the oven) and bake for 9 to 12 minutes.  Watch it to make sure crust doesn't burn.
5. Remove pizza from oven.  Sprinkle on shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and cilantro leaves.
6. Mix together sour cream and hot sauce, adding enough hot sauce to make the mixture pourable.  With a spoon (or you can put it in a pastry bag) drizzle mixture over finished pizza.
7. Sprinkle with tortilla strips.  Cut into squares and serve immediately with good quality salsa.

Recipe and link:  http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/taco-pizza-7/