Introduction
California Pizza Kitchen, with its full named CPK, deservedly occupies the leader’s position in the category of experimental, international food, including pizzas. Of all their signature pizzas, probably the most notable is the Tostada Pizza for featuring great colors, excellent crispy crust, and authentic Mexican ingredients. As much as its always a delicacy to dine at CPK recreating this dish at the comfort of your home can be fulfilling. Here is a recipe for this scrumptious dish: using several basic ingredients, some tricks and a little time you can prepare this restaurant dish at home. If you are in the hunt for a simple tostada pizza recipe at home, or if you’re craving for that restaurant like tostada pizza, then brows through this guide.
What Makes the Tostada Pizza Special?
I think it will be better to begin with what sets the Tostada Pizza apart from other pizzas. It’s a fusion masterpiece: large, thin crust covered with pasty black bean spread, gooey cheese, fresh mexican salad including shredded lettuce, crunchy tortilla strips and zesty southwestern/grilled dressing. But it is not just dough, sauce, and cheese; it is an adventure of an initially taste and then even a look and feel! If you have grown to love the pizza from CPK or you are new to eating the creation, then this is among the best vegetarian tostada pizza that you can prepare at home.
The beauty of the Tostada Pizza lies in its perfect harmony of flavors: The black bean spread provides the tastiness and depth which is nicely balanced with fresh lettuces and tomatoes; The southwestern dressing complements the salad brilliantly. To this, we combine the joy of bite, crunch of tortilla strips and what we get is a dish that’s not only tasty but fulfilling. In the best tradition of food porn, it is the kind that makes one want to order more, piece by piece.
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A Brief History of California Pizza Kitchen
This restaurant was established in Beverly Hills California by Larry Flax and Rick Rosenfield the latter of whom was a former attorney. These two people saw themselves in a position of opening a restaurant whose specialty would not be in conventional types of pizzas. Eventually, the customers associated CPK with creativity while the Phi’s Thailandese experience was married with the traditional pizza preparation styles to produce more differentiated products such as the BBQ Chicken Pizza, Thai Chicken Pizza and a new star product-the Tostada Pizza.
The Tostada Pizza which was part of their new menu was inspired by culinary cuisines from Mexico and the South Western part of America. It is inspired from a tostada which forms a basic outline of a tortilla base with fresh and happy colors on top, as a pizza. It paved way to a creation of a unique item that came out really famous because of its spices and the genuine usage of vegetables and fruits.
Currently, Tostada Pizza has been proved to be among the most saleable products at CPK due to their variety and popularity. As if its EXCLUSIVE taste could not be surpassed, recreating it at home let alone let you tweak it to your liking.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Despite the creativity of tostada pizza it is rather qualitative and easy to make because it does not require using of exotic ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
For the Pizza Base:
1 pre-made thin pizza crust
1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
For the Black Bean Spread:
1 canblack beans (15 oz), drained and rinsed
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste
For the Toppings:
2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
¼ cup of shredded Monterey jack or cheddar cheese
1 cup tortilla strips
For the Southwestern Dressing:
¼ cup ranch dressing
1 tablespoon salsa
1 teaspoon lime juice
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Optional Garnishes:
Chopped cilantro
Sliced avocado or guacamole
Sour cream
Pickled jalapenos
All of the above can be obtained from any supermarket and in fact some may already be in your kitchen. Well, I though they were great for those who like Mexican food, as such spices are quite provocative and are still included in the recipe.
Step-by-Step Recipe
1. Prepare the Black Bean Spread
If you put black bean spread on a tostada pizza, the other qualities don’t come together because the spread holds the flavors together. Here’s how to make it:
Chop the garlic coarsely then blend the black beans with the garlic, olive oil, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
Blend until smooth. If it’s too thick, add a little water until the meringue is creamy and spreadable.
This step is important because your “Mexican pizza recipe” should be rich in that delicious base that makes the pizza so appealing. Black bean spread also makes a great dip or filling for tacos, so you should make extra!
2. Preheat Your Oven
Now let’s move on to step number three or oven preparation and that is to set your oven to 450 °F which is equivalent to 232 °C. To bake the pizza in the best possible way, place a pizza stone in the oven to heat with the oven for the best results for your pizza. To achieve the perfect restaurant like texture, you need a hot oven.
3. Assemble the Pizza Base
Pour the black bean mixture onto the seasoned pizza crusts and spread to cover the entire base of the crust but leave a thin margin on all sides. Sprinkle and spread the shredded mozzarella cheese on top so that each piece gets a good dose of cheese.
4. Bake the Pizza
You will then need to place the pizza directly on the hotplate or in a baking pan that has been preheated. To bake, take approximately 10-12 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the crust is a beautiful, golden brown. Make sure you do not over-brown the crusts on the pizza because they will need to go back into the oven when they rise.
5. Add Fresh Toppings
Remove the pizza from the oven, leave the pizza to rest for a while before removing it from the oven. Cover it with the topping. Add a layer of lettuce – shredded romaine, cherry tomatoes, halved, and shower the pizza with Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese. Fresh ingredients like these also give your dish a youthful look.
6. Drizzle the Dressing
In another small bowl, whisk together the ranch dressing, salsa, lime juice, and smoked paprika. Spoon this easy, Southwestern dressing over the pizza and serve it generously. For those of you who have attempted to replicate the CPK Tostada Pizza at some point, the dressing is a very important component of the original recipe.
7. Add Tortilla Strips and Garnishes
Top the pizza with crunchy tortilla strips and any optional garnishes you prefer: onions, cool chopped red peppers, chunky avocado, and a dollop of sour cream will enhance the salad. If you include these ingredients, you enhance the flavor and tenderness of the dish that makes this dish exceptional.
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Pro Tips for Success
Customize Your Crust
Feel free to experiment with different crust options: the sandwich can be made with whole wheat bread; cauliflower or gluten-free bread. I prefer the crust to be thin and crispy but you can make any type of crust you like.
Make It Protein-Packed
It’s also important to note that this recipe is vegetarian: it can easily be served with some grilled chicken or spicy tofu for those who prefer a heartier meal. Or, you can add black beans or corn to enhance the flavor of the chicken and add texture.
Turn Up the Heat
Mix cayenne pepper into a black bean spread for a spicy note and texture, or opt for a great salsa in a dressing. Again, crushed cayenne pepper flakes make a nice garnish for a spicy palate.
Perfect Your Tortilla Strips
Homemade tortilla strips are easy to make and taste better than store-bought ones. Simply cut corn tortillas into thin strips, toss them with a little olive oil and salt, and bake at 375°F (190°C) until crisp.
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Why You Should Try This Recipe
Who wouldn’t be tempted to click, let alone the more appealing, ‘Tostada Pizza Recipe’. Whether it’s a game night with friends, a family dinner or just a craving for something different, this dish always satisfies. The food is bright, beautiful, fresh as if it was made today and can be ordered according to each group’s preference or special needs.
While staying at home, people have made adjustments to enjoy California Pizza Kitchen’s Tostada Pizza by preparing it at home. Moreover, it’s an opportunity to be creative and make it a little different from the previous one in your own way. Isn’t that love?
And yes, always have your preparation, arrange your ingredients and there you are ready to taste the best homemade pizza. Happy cooking!
