Naan. Chicken Tikka Masala. Sounds like the makings of a pretty kick-ass pizza to me.
I don’t know what it is about leftovers, but I always want to make them into pizzas – Spaghetti Pizza, Chicken Satay Pizza, BBQ Chicken Pizza… they were all made from leftovers. Why reheat the same dish over and over, when you can make it into something new like a pizza!
It turns out that naan makes an incredible pizza dough! In fact, I may start using it in lieu of regular pizza dough from now on. It was just a touch crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside – it was perfect!
Chicken Tikka Masala also makes for a perfect pizza topping. The creamy tomato sauce in the dish equates to the tomato sauce on a pizza. Between that and the naan, it’s a combination screaming to be made into a pizza!
Generally when I make a pizza, I add the sauce, then layer on the cheese, and then top with extras like meat and/or veggies – pretty standard. In this case, because the ‘pizza sauce’ is already incorporated with the chicken, I’ve placed it at the bottom. Then I layered on the cheese and other toppings.
I did not specify the measurements of ingredients, because this is a recipe based off of the assumption that you have Chicken Tikka Masala leftover. And since that may vary depending on how much of it you enjoyed the first night, I have left the amount of the ingredients up to your individual needs and desires.
Chicken Tikka Pizza is not just a way to use up leftovers, it’s a whole new and wonderful meal! And if you like Chicken Tikka Masala and Naan, you’re going to love it as a pizza!
- Naan dough
- Chicken Tikka Masala, shredded or roughly chopped
- fresh lime juice
- provolone cheese, grated
- buffalo mozzarella, torn (regular grated mozzarella is ok too)
- black sesame seeds
- cilantro, roughly chopped
- extra virgin olive oil
- Place a pizza stone or baking sheet on the middle rack and preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
- Following the naan recipe, divide the dough into 8 pieces (per step 4 of the naan recipe), and working with one ball of dough at a time, roll out to a ¼-inch thickness (keep the balls of dough you are not immediately using under a tea towel). Transfer the rolled out piece of dough to a piece a parchment paper.
- Brush the edges of dough with the olive oil.
- Top the rolled-out dough with the leftover Chicken Tikka Masala (it can be right out of the fridge). Squeeze a bit of fresh lime juice overtop of the chicken. Sprinkle with the provolone, mozzarella, and black sesame seeds.
- Carefully move the pizza to the oven, using the parchment paper. Place the pizza (including the parchment paper) on to the pizza stone or baking sheet. If using a stone, cook for 8-10 minutes, until the cheeses are melted and the crust is lightly browned. If you're using a baking sheet cook for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the cilantro. Serve and enjoy!
I have never like the chicken tikka pizza from the restaurants.. there is almost no trace of chicken tikka in it.. i wish there was a way to eat it online, i would have devored all ur recipes 😀 this looks fabulous..
That’s one of the many things I love about cooking at home – you can totally customize a dish to your liking. Add as much chicken tikka as you like 😉
Now I have to try your Chicken Tikka Masala because I kinda sorta really need this pizza like yesterday. NOM NOM.
Give it a try! It’s totally worth it! The pizza was gone almost immediately!
Kathleen… I would have to say…this does sound utterly delicious!!! And that crust is so gorgeously bubbly!
Thanks, Mila! Pizzas are so much fun to make because your options are endless!
So delicious looking, Kathleen! The only pizza I’ve ever had with chicken also included Buffalo sauce…this is awesome!
Thanks, Annie! Ooo… a buffalo chicken pizza sounds good too! I love fusion pizzas 🙂
I have NEVER seen an Indian pizza, but I can guarantee that this would be my FAVORITE kind ever. The photographs are making me crave all of the cheese. Looks like I may be begging my favorite to venture to our local Indian restaurant for dinner tonight.
If you have leftovers… now you know what to do with them 😉 Hope you have a wonderful weekend, Erin. And enjoy your dinner out!
Want.That.Now! Please? :p
I hope you give it a try 🙂
I must admit I often get a bit boring with my pizzas and just make the classics. FABULOUS idea to change it up with leftovers! I’ve done that with a bolognese sauce but not a curry … and not a naan. Thanks for putting this fine idea into my head!
There’s nothing wrong the classics 😉 Give the whole ‘crazy’ pizza thing a try, it’s a great way to rejuvenate dishes!
Love it! And your naan and chicken tikka! So delicious Kathleen! it I had it for lunch!
That’s great! Thanks, Mira 🙂
You’ll laugh, but when I saw your naan post I thought, “I wonder how that would work as a pizza crust?” And, look at you! You read my mind. This looks AWESOME!
Ha! That is funny, Marissa. I like to call it foodie e.s.p. 😉
I never thought of doing this with my leftover tikka masala. I love this and trying it next time.
Give it a try! I’m certain you’re going to love it 🙂
What an interesting way to do pizza! Who knows, maybe now Indians will start eating pizza?? 🙂 Since I’ve started making pizza again, I’ll have to try this one at some point.
Perhaps! That would be pretty cool – fusion food is always so much fun! I hope you give this a try, Susan 🙂
Oh man. This is TORTURE! You’ve got BOTH of them in a recipe. Just shoot me. Shoot me now and put me out of my misery.
Ha – you crack me up, Nagi! Hopefully it’s ‘good’ torture 😛