India ka Rs. 8 Wala Pizza



I cannot tell you how I had felt almost 15 years ago, when I first tasted a pizza in India. Yes, 15 years ago... (I feel old :( :( ) I had a pizza with my cousins in Law Garden of Ahmedabad. It tasted like a hard naan, with ketchup, veggies, and cheese. Then a year later, I came to US and tasted the regular cheese pizza, soft crust, pizza sauce, and "melted" cheese. At that time, I liked Indian Pizza better than US Pizza.

Then I stayed here in US for 14 years and started to develop a taste American Pizza and started liking this over Indian Pizza, but my recent trip to India changed it all over again. I know I sound like I am all over the place... but I have this thing with Pizza, I only like certain types, certain combos, etc...

So, what's up with Rs 8 in my post title. Well this time when I went to India, I kept tell my hubby's sister (didi) that I want to eat "Rs. 8 wala Pizza" and she kept telling me that there is no such pizza. I told her that I had it in Law Garden 15 years ago, so she took me there but all pizzas over there now had melted cheese and they all had started using a mini oven to make pizzas. I kept describing it to her that the cheese should not be melted and crust has to be kinda hard. We went to almost five different vendors at different places with no success in finding my Rs. 8 wala Pizza.

So, then one day, we went shopping and we were shopping for over 5 hours and we both started to feel hungry. She took me to a small cart in the shopping area which served sandwiches, chaat, and lots of other stuff. The cart menu (on the cart itself) said that they served Pizza as well. I was going to come back to US in less than a week. So I told her I will get a Pizza, she insisted that I get something else otherwise I will be disheartened again. I said no I will have a Pizza. And GUESS what, it was my Rs. 8 wala Pizza. When the guy came with the plate, I jumped with so much excitement that he thought I have lost it and kept staring at me instead of serving me :)...

I told Didi that this is what I have been looking for. She gave me the strangest expression and goes, "THIS pizza". I go, "Yeah". She goes, "Oh this we get it at all these carts, not at a regular food place, you should have told me earlier; and you kept saying Rs. 8, Rs. 8, this Pizza is now Rs. 40". My Oh My.. time did change Big TIME!!!!

So here is to old memories and new ones that I will be making with this dear Pizza of mine...

Ingredients:

1. 7 inch Pizza Crust (available at any super market)
2. One tblsp Ketchup
3. Two tblsp Salsa
4. Three tblsp - chopped onions, coriander, green bell peppers
5. Shredded Pizza Cheese (your choice & amount)
6. Chat Masala - One tsp

Process:

1. Spread ketchup and salsa over pizza crust.
2. Add onions, coriander, and greed bell peppers.
3. Heat mini oven and bake for 5-7 minutes on 350 F.
4. Take out Pizza and sprinkle shredded cheese as much as you like.
5. Sprinkle chaat masala over it.
6. Serve hot.

This was loved by all at home and I am sure you will love it too. Whenever I eat this, I get a feeling for India or Nostalgic Feeling :)

ENJOY!!!