Taco Pizza

This is easy and yummy! The kids will love this crust, and ask you to make cheesy breadsticks with the leftovers for an after school snack!

1 tsp Active Dry Yeast
1-1/2 c warm water
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/3 cup olive oil
1 can (14 ounce) Black Beans
1 tsp. Taco seasoning
4 whole corn tortillas, sliced into thin strips
1/2 cup canola oil, for frying
1 cup grated sharp cheddar
1 cup grated monterey jack cheese
1 head green leaf lettuce, sliced/shredded thin
2 whole rip tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
1/4 cup sour cream
3 Tbsp. hot sauce (more to taste)

Make the pizza dough: Mix yeast with warm water and set aside for 8-10 minutes. Mix flour, salt, and olive oil in a mixing bowl. With speed on low, drizzle in yeast/ water mixture. Allow to mix until totally combined. Cover bowl with a towel and set bowl in a warm, draft-free place. Allow to rise for 1-2 hours.

Pour black beans into a saucepan. Add seasonings to taste and heat up beans over med-low heat. Use a potato masher to mash the beans to desired texture. Continue cooking /heating beans over md-low heat, stirring occasionally, until no longer runny (should be the texture of refried beans). Set aside.

In a small skillet, heat canola oil over med heat. When hot enough to fry, drop in the tortilla strips in batches, frying quickly and removing from oil with a fork when crisp - about 30-40 seconds per batch. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.

Place oven rack in the bottom position in the oven. Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Remove half the pizza dough from the bowl. Place remaining half in a large plastic bag and refrigerate, saving for another use. With hands, spread pizza dough on an oiled baking sheet, making sure its relatively thin. Spread layer of beans all over pizza crust. Sprinkle mixed grated cheeses over the top. Place pan on bottom rack in oven and bake for 9 to 12 min. Watch it to make sure crust doesn't burn.

Remove pizza from oven. Sprinkle on shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and cilantro leaves.

Mix together sour cream and hot sauce, adding enough hot sauce to make the mixture pourable. With a spoon ( or you can put it in a pastry bag) drizzle mixture over finished pizza.
Sprinkle with tortilla strips. Cut into squares and serve immediately with good quality salsa.

recipe from The Pioneer Woman