Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Kaddo Pizza

Good Living.

My definition of good living has certainly evolved over time, but these days it often involves food.  Food so good that you  get excited just thinking about it (like these pop tarts).  Food so good want to share it with your friends and family.  If only it would last that long ;)

The idea for this pizza came together a bit serendipitously at work one day, but it immediately went on the meal plan for the weekend.  I may or may not have immediately shared my plans with one or two co-workers.  Too bad they had never had Afghani food and did not share in my excitement!

I thought back to the first time I tried Afghani food, with my friends Adeeb and Christina, at Helmand in Baltimore.  It was then that I fell for kaddo, a baked sweet pumpkin served on a yogurt mint sauce and topped with a meat sauce.  This would be the basis of my pizza.

I made some of my usual choices to keep things on the healthy side (whole wheat crust, greek yogurt, reduced sugar and good quality beef) but not at any sacrifice of flavor.  Oh the flavor...  the sweet caramelized pumpkin, spiced beef and cooling mint yogurt.  Not your traditional pizza, but delicious and one worth sharing!




Kaddo Pizza
inspired by Helmand, loosely adapted from Tiny Urban Kitchen
Yield:  2 10-12" pizzas

1lb whole wheat dough (if you like thick crusts, you'll need closer to 2lb of dough)

For the pumpkin:
1 sugar pumpkin
3T coconut oil, melted
1c evaporated cane juice (or granulated sugar)

For the sauce:
2c greek yogurt (like 2%)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2t dried mint
1/2t salt

For the meat mixture:
2T extra virgin olive oil
1 lg onion, diced
1lb grass-fed beef
1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
2 lg garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2t ground coriander
scant 1/2t sea salt
1t freshly ground pepper
1/2t ground tumeric
2T tomato paste
1/2c water

Preheat the oven to 300deg.  Halve and de-seed the pumpkin (I use a spoon to scrape out the seeds).  Peel (or cut off the skin of) the pumpkin and cut into wedges.  Place the pumpkin in a large baking pan or rimmed baking sheet.  Top with oil and sugar, then cover with foil.  Bake for 2.5hrs, then baste the pumpkin pieces with the accumulated juices.  Cover and return to the oven for another 45min or so.  Once pumpkin is nice and caramelized (deep orange in color), remove from the oven and set aside to cool.  [You can save the pumpkin sugar syrup here and use it for your morning oatmeal or latte!]

While the pumpkin is roasting, prepare the sauce and meat mixture.  For the sauce, combine all ingredients and mix well.  Cover and refrigerate until it's time to make the pizza.

For the meat sauce, begin by heating the oil in a large heavy bottomed skilled over medium high heat.  Add onions and saute until they're golden brown (5-10min).  Add the beef and continue to saute until the meat is no longer pink, breaking up the meat with a spatula or spoon to avoid large clumps.  Once the meat is browned, add the tomato, garlic and spices, then stir to combine.  Add in the tomato paste and mix well.  Add water, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.  Cook until the liquid has evaporated, then set aside.

Once the pumpkin is out of the oven, turn to 400deg.  Preheat your pizza stone, if you're using one.  Dice the cooked, cooled pumpkin.  Roll out half of the dough on a surface dusted with a little cornmeal to your desired thickness (I went thin).  When it's the size of your pizza stone (or cookie sheet), remove the preheated stone from the oven, top with yogurt mint sauce, half the beef mixture, and then the roasted pumpkin.  Bake for 10-12min, until crispy.  Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Serve, with leftover yogurt mint sauce for dipping :)




I couldn't help but smile when eating this pizza, the memories of good friends, my first experience of Afghani food, and the creation of a new recipe.  Good living, indeed.

As part of the Foodbuzz Featured Publisher program, I have been entered for the chance to win a trip to Greece courtesy of FAGE.  You too can enter to win one of three trips to Greece by entering the FAGE Plain Extraordinary Greek Getaway here:  http://www.fageusa.com/community/fage-greek-getaway.

23 comments:

Kelly said...

How gorgeous and very, very unique. This is unfortunately one of those ethnic cuisines I haven't tried yet, but hopefully, someday soon.

brandi said...

such a gorgeous dish! and perfect for this weather, too.

Emily @ A Cambridge Story said...

This looks awesome - might be a good use for the pumpkin I have laying around! I've been the Helmand in Bmore and can attest to it being excellent!

Erica said...

I've never had Afghani food, but boy does this combo sound terrific! You always post such unique, delicious recipes1

vanillasugarblog said...

yes please.
shann you are really amazing me lately.
we should get YOU your own food joint, not me.

Candace said...

Shannon, you have never steered me wrong with pumpkin. We loved your enchiladas. This pizza looks absolutely perfect. I'm pinning it to try soon.

Nutmeg Nanny said...

This pizza is super awesome! I don't think I have ever seen anything like this....yum!

Joanne said...

Super swoon. I love kaddo...like...I would eat it every day if I could. Maybe once I start running again. Putting it on pizza is an AWESOME idea.

Delicious Dishings said...

I love kaddo. This is such an awesome idea!

Fun and Fearless in Beantown said...

I equally adore the Helmand, especially their use of pumpkin in a lot of their dishes!

Elizabeth said...

Ooh, I loved the kaddo from Helmand in Cambridge. It was so nice chatting with you tonight! I liked learning more about your background and everything. Can't wait to chat again soon!

Kristen said...

this is such a unique pizza. good luck with the fage competition!!

Rosiecat24 said...

Wow, this sounds totally delicious! I love sweet and savory combinations, and this one sounds perfect for fall. Yum.

Kerstin said...

Best idea ever - I think I would eat the whole pie in one sitting :)

Simply Life said...

oh what a fun pizza idea!

Unknown said...

Nice articles. I'm just blogwalking and very happy to stop here. And also give you some comment here.

Dont forget to give us some your comment into my blog too.

Thanks for share,
* Rio Prasetyo *

Cara said...

hehe, this is why I keep my mouth shut about food while at work - and seek out my fellow foodies on twitter and what not :) No one around here would get it! But this, I totally get it. Tell me next time and I promise I'll be excited. Better yet, invite me over and I promise I'll help you eat it!

Cotter Crunch said...

oh that is good food. I wish I could be the one you share that with. Unique and flavorful!

Bridget said...

Beautiful pizza!! I've never had Afgahni food per se, but I love other Middle Easter cuisines so I think I would be a big fan! There's a Helmand in Cambridge I think?

Unknown said...

You are so creative! I love the adaptation of the traditional Helmand recipe. Speaking of which . . . it's been awhile since I've been there!

Anonymous said...

An fantastic very unique pizza! Loving the yogurt sauce!

Sook said...

Food definitely makes my life more flavorful, I must say. :)

Lisa (bakebikeblog) said...

what a unique and wonderful dish!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Blogging tips