Pizza 9, Chapatti Pizza - Chapatilla or Pizzadilla (A version of Quesadilla)
Chapatti Pizza - Chapatilla
Mamta Gupta
On one of my visit to my brothers family in India a very long time ago, everyone wanted to eat home made Pizza. Their house was in the middle of extensive renovation and we did not have access to their oven. It was a decision made just before dinner, so there wasn't time to make pizza dough with yeast either. After some serious head-scratching, I decided to use chapatties as pizza base. However, a chapatti on its own is too thin to support the weight of all the pizza topping, so I decided to make Chapatti Sandwich, with the filling supported by one chapatti on top of of the fillings. It came out so well that everyone wanted to have Chapatti Pizza again the following day!
It is only later on I realised that there is already a similar dish in existence called Quesadilla! I have since eaten quesadillas on many occasions. Though they look similar, the taste is different to my Indian version.
You can use ready-made or leftover chapatties or make them fresh or use ready made tortillas. The amounts given are for one Pizza. Experiment with various fillings.
I don't think there is any dish called Chapatilla or Pizzadilla. I just gave it this name in jest, naming it after Quesadilla!
Ingredients
2 chapatties/tortillas per person
Chopped/thinly sliced tomatoes.You can use a jar of ready made pesto instead.
1-1 1/2 heaped tablespoon grated or crumbled cheese of your choice for each pizza. Mature cheddar, Stilton, a mix of Mozzarella and Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Parmesan, St. Augur etc. that you have lying around in the fridge will do.
A few additional/other filling suggestions. Make sure not to overload, chapatties can not support too much filling.;
Chopped green chillies
Thinly sliced mushrooms
Chopped or whole coriander leaves
Thinly sliced red onions
Chopped/sliced, stoned olives
Chopped green/red peppers
Vegemite and Cheese Quesadilla, suggested by Charlie Clark from Australia
Fish; tinned/grilled/pan-fried salmon/tuna or other fish of choice, flaked.
Pepperoni or any other type of cold meats, prawns, sausages, anchovies etc., chopped up and mixed with a cheese of choice.
Ploughman's English filling; cheddar cheese, chopped pickled onion (pickled in vinegar and salt) and Branstons.similar pickle, all mixed up
Re-fried Pinto beans, mixed up with chopped up salad and cheese.
Chilli Con Carne and cheese of choice
Additional ingredients that can be added to most savoury Quesadilla fillings
A sprinkle of chilli flakes.
1 mushroom, thinly sliced, raw or pan fried
1 tsp. oregano or other fresh herbs, chopped.
To Serve, here are some ideas:
Tabasco
Or Chilli Sauce
Hot Tomato Relish/Salsa or Mild Tomato Relish/Salsa or Avocado Salsa.
Sweet chapatilla; Fruit - apple/peach/pineapple/mango/banana/berries etc., chopped up and mixed with cream/ricotta cheese (ground paneer will also work). If fruit is firm, stew in microwave for a couple of minutes. Mix with sweetener & cream cheese
Serve with cream or ice-cream.
Instructions
Place one chapatti on a plate or board.
Scatter a tablespoon of chopped/sliced tomatoes and grated cheese. You can use tomato paste or even a ready made pesto.
Top with a thin layer of any of the additional pizza topping ingredients that you like or have. Do not overload with toppings though, chapatties can not support too much weight.
Top with cheese of choice evenly and sprinkle with oregano/coriander, if desired.
Cover with the other chapatti and press firmly.
Heat a griddle/tava to medium hot. If it is too hot, chapatties will burn too quickly, before cheese inside has melted and other ingredients are cooked.
Lift the chapatti pizza gently and place on the tava. Brush the top with a thin film of oil.
As the cheese melts, continue to press it gently all over, to gel the ingredients and melting cheese together.
Turn over, using a wide spatula for support, so that the cheese and other ingredients do not spill out. Brush with oil again and cook, pressing gently with the spatula. You may turn it over a further couple of times.
As soon as it is crisp and cheese inside has melted fully, lift off the pan and serve immediately with any sauce/relish/salsa of choice. Slicing it into wedges makes it easier to eat and look attractive.
You can experiment with other fillings.
Notes
Also see Sandwich Selection. Many fillings fro here can also be used to make a quesadilla