Every year on February 9, pizza lovers across the world celebrate International Pizza Day. While ordering pizza from outside is the usual choice, it is entirely possible to prepare a delicious, market-style pizza at home—without an oven and within half an hour. Celebrity chef and MasterChef India winner Pankaj Bhadouria has shared a simple pan-pizza recipe that can be made easily on a gas stove.

Chef Bhadouria explains that with basic ingredients available at home, one can prepare an instant pizza base, fresh Italian-style pizza sauce, and a flavourful topping. The method not only saves money but also allows families to enjoy freshly made pizza multiple times at the cost of a single restaurant order.

Ingredients for Instant Pizza Base

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 cup curd

• 1 cup water

• 1 teaspoon olive oil

Ingredients for Pizza Sauce

• 8 medium tomatoes

• 2 teaspoons oil

• 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic

• Salt to taste

• A few basil leaves

• ½ cup tomato purée

• Red chilli flakes (to taste)

• 1 teaspoon sugar

Toppings Required

• 1 tablespoon garlic butter

• Mozzarella cheese (as required)

• Cheddar cheese (optional)

• Bell peppers, onions, cherry tomatoes and olives (as preferred)

Step-by-Step Pizza Recipe (Without Oven)

To prepare the pizza base, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Add curd and water gradually, mixing well to form a very soft dough. Use the same measuring cup for flour and water to maintain balance. Cover the dough with a muslin cloth and set aside for resting.

For the sauce, wash and halve the tomatoes, extract excess juice and keep aside. Heat oil in a pan, lightly sauté garlic, then place the tomatoes cut-side down. Cover and cook until the skins separate. Remove and discard the skins, mash the tomatoes, add salt, basil leaves and tomato purée. Finish with sugar and red chilli flakes. The fresh Italian-style pizza sauce is now ready.

Once the dough has rested, mix in olive oil and divide it into portions. Lightly flour a surface and shape the dough into a pizza base. Heat a pan, grease lightly with oil, place the base in it and sprinkle a little water around the edges. Cover and cook until the base puffs up and turns crisp underneath.

Spread garlic butter on the base, followed by the prepared pizza sauce. Add mozzarella and cheddar cheese generously, then layer chopped vegetables on top. Place the pizza back in the pan, cover, and cook on low to medium heat for 4–5 minutes until the cheese melts and toppings are cooked.

Perfect Pan Pizza at Home

Chef Pankaj Bhadouria notes that while many online recipes fail due to incorrect techniques, following this method carefully ensures a perfectly cooked pan pizza every time. On International Pizza Day, this easy, oven-free recipe offers a delicious way to celebrate with family at home.