Cuisine – Pizza for my Valentine

February is here already! And with February comes every man’s nightmare … Valentine’s Day. Never fear though gentlemen, this year I have devised a Valentine’s Day that doesn’t involve extortion. Start the day by surprising your lady with a beautiful bunch of roses. Buy these cheaply from the supermarket discarding the clear cellophane, rubber bands, and price tag first. Make her a cup of coffee before she gets out of bed. Text her sweet nothings while you both spend the day at work. Buy a bottle of wine, preferably something local, and be sure to have a glass poured and waiting when she arrives home. While asking about ‘her’ day, begin Operation Gourmet Pizza. When complete, cuddle up on the couch and let her choose the TV channel. Cut her the first slice of pizza, top up her wine, compliment her hair and enjoy the fruits of your labour, gentlemen. Good luck!

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Operation Gourmet Pizza – Caramelised Onion, Beef and Blue Cheese

2 cups plain flour
1 tablespoon active dried yeast
1 tablespoon sugar, white or raw
2 teaspoon table salt
2/3 cup warm water
5 large red onions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon thyme, freshly chopped or dried
Good dash of balsamic vinegar
4 tablespoon olive oil
4 big cloves garlic, chopped finely
2 hearty pinches of rock salt
1 tablespoon rosemary, freshly chopped or dried
400g beef rump or sirloin steak
150g blue cheese
50g crème fraiche
2 handfuls fresh rocket
I like to make my own pizza bases but, if time is of the essence, two store-bought pizza bases will work just as well. To prepare your own bases, sift one cup of plain flour into a large bowl. Add yeast, sugar, one teaspoon of salt and mix to combine. Make a well in the centre and pour in the warm water. Mix briefly and sift in remainder of flour. Knead in the bowl for approximately five minutes. Cover the bowl with a tea-towel and place in your hot water cupboard for at least 20 minutes.

Heat a dash of olive oil in a small pan over a low heat. Add the red onions, brown sugar and a half teaspoon of salt. Cook gently for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add thyme and balsamic vinegar, cook for a further five minutes.

While onions are cooking, prepare rump steak. Place a clean pan on a high heat adding a splash of olive oil. When pan is hot, grill steak for three minutes on each side (this will vary according to the thickness of the meat.) Place steak on a plate and season with remaining salt, plus pepper. Cover loosely and leave to rest for 10-15 minutes.

While steak is resting, prepare bases. Pop dough on to a floured bench and split in two. Turn oven to bake at 180 degrees. Knead each piece of dough for five minutes then flatten to desired circular size with rolling pin. Generously brush olive oil on to both bases and sprinkle over garlic and rosemary. Evenly sprinkle over rock salt. Place both bases on a floured tray, pop on the middle shelf of the oven, bake for about 10 minutes or until lightly golden.

Remove pizzas from oven and place on large boards. Top each with warm onions then beef (thinly sliced across the grain.) Mix blue cheese and crème fraiche in a small bowl and dot over both pizzas. Sprinkle over your rocket. Enjoy your gourmet pizzas from the comfort of the couch with your Valentine, and feel the loooooove.