This week we're celebrating some of NZ's award winning cheeses, announced this week at the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards. 

Meyer Fenugreek Gouda or Puhoi Feta are both good choices for this recipe.

Basic Pizza Dough

Makes 3-4 medium-sized pizza or flatbreads

Ingredients

3 tsp dried yeast
1 tsp sugar
1-1 ½ cup warm water
500g (about 4 cups) high grade flour
1 tsp salt
4 tbsp olive oil
Extra ½ cup flour for kneading

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 100 C.
2. Make a yeast sponge by stirring yeast and sugar into half cup of water in a cup. Set aside to get frothy – about 10 minutes.
3. In a large bowl combine flour and salt. Make a well in the centre and pour in frothy yeast sponge, half remaining water and olive oil.
4. Using a knife or your hands (or a dough hook if using a processor), gradually draw in flour from the sides into the liquid and work the mixture into a dough that is soft and sticky but still able to be handled. Add more water or flour as you go to get a soft, not too sticky dough. Turn out onto well-floured surface and knead for 10 minutes until dough is soft and springy. Add any additional flour (for ease of kneading) gradually at this stage, trying not to add too much as we are aiming for a soft dough.
5. Once dough springs back to the touch, place in oiled bowl, cover with damp tea towel and place on another folded tea towel in preheated oven and switch it off. Leave for 30 minutes or until doubled in size. Whilst dough rises prepare your toppings/fillings.
   
   

Flatbreads

Ingredients

1 basic dough
3 cups thinly sliced leeks
2 pears, 1-cm cubed
50g butter
½ tsp sea salt
1 cup walnut pieces
150g cheese
5-10cm square comb honey or 2-3 tbsps liquid honey

Method

1. Preheat oven to 220 C.
2. In a saucepan sauté leeks in butter until softened – about 20-30 minutes.
3. Split dough into 3-4 equal pieces and roll each into 25cm long ovals. Transfer to baking tray.
4. Spread over cooked leeks and pears and bake for 10-15 minutes until golden. Add walnut pieces and if using a hard cheese (gouda, cheddars etc) add this now too (if using feta see next step) and cook for a further 2-3 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and if using feta or a blue, crumble over piping hot bread and dab or drizzle with honey.
6. Serve warm.