Thai Chicken Pizza

I haven't had Thai Chicken Pizza in quite a while. I loved it then. I wasn't really a big fan of this recipe. It reminded me of that recipe I enjoyed so many years ago, but it just wasn't as good. It had a lot of the right flavors but not in the right proportions. The sauce was way too sweet, thick and rich. I even used much less than the recipe called for but it was too much. I cheated a bit and bought deli chicken tenders and the breading was good at absorbing and taming the sauce's overwhelming flavors.  I also discovered that for the first time in how long, I didn't have scallions, so I used thinly sliced onion.  It wasn't horrible, but I don't see us making this particular recipe in the future.  I have a different recipe for a Thai peanut sauce that I think would taste better.  My husband like it better than I did, so maybe I am being a little harsh.

California Pizza Kitchen Thai Chicken Pizza

Spicy peanut sauce

 

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup hoisin sauce

1 tablespoon honey

2 teaspoons red wine vinegar

2 teaspoons minced ginger (or more if you wish)

2 minced garlic cloves

2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

2 teaspoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon Vietnamese chili sauce (or dried chili flakes)

1 tablespoon oyster sauce

2 tablespoons water

 

Thai chicken pieces

1 tablespoon olive oil

10 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4 inch cubes

 

For the pizza

1 pizza dough, use your own recipe

cornmeal or flour, for handling

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

4 scallions, slivered diagonally

1/2 cup white bean sprouts

1/4 cup shredded carrot

2 tablespoons chopped roasted peanuts

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 

1. Combine sauce ingredients in a small pan over medium heat.
2. Bring the sauce to a boil; boil gently for one minute.
3. Divide into 2 portions for use on chicken and pizza; set aside.
4. To make Thai chicken: Cook the chicken in olive oil over med-high heat, stirring, until just cooked; 5 to 6 minutes do not overcook.
5. Set aside in refrigerator until chilled through.
6. Once chilled, coat the chicken with 1/4 cup sauce.
7. Set aside in refrigerator.
8. To make the pizza: Use a large spoon to spread 1/4 cup sauce evenly over pizza dough within the rim.
9. Cover sauce with 3/4 cup cheese.
10. Distribute half the chicken pieces over the cheese followed by half the green onions, bean sprouts, and carrots, respectively.
11. Sprinkle an additional 1/4cup cheese over the toppings and top the pizza with 1 TBSP chopped peanuts.
12. Transfer the pizza to oven; bake until crisp and golden and the cheese is bubbly, 9 to 10 minute.
13. When cooked through, remove pizza from oven.
14. Sprinkle 1TBSP chopped cilantro over the hot cheesy surface.
15. Repeat with remaining ingredients for a second pizza.