In the realm of culinary artistry, where flavors dance on palates and aromas weave their enchanting spell, pizza stands as a timeless masterpiece. From its humble origins in the bustling streets of Naples, Italy, to its global conquest as a beloved comfort food, pizza has captured hearts and appetites across continents. Its versatility knows no bounds, with countless variations and toppings that cater to every taste and preference. Whether you crave a classic Margherita with its simple yet harmonious blend of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, or a more adventurous creation adorned with exotic ingredients, the perfect pizza awaits your discovery. Embark on this delectable journey as we unveil the secrets to crafting the ultimate pizza experience, transforming your kitchen into a pizzeria of culinary wonders.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
PERFECT PIZZA CRUST
I have spent years trying different recipes and techniques, looking for the perfect pizza crust recipe-and this is it! I'm amazed that I finally found a crust recipe my family prefers over the pizza parlor's! -Lesli Dustin, Nibley, Utah
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 40m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, salt, 1 cup bread flour and the whole wheat flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining bread flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky). , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Preheat oven to 425°. Punch dough down; roll into a 15-in. circle. Grease a 14-in. pizza pan and sprinkle with cornmeal. Transfer dough to prepared pan; build up edges slightly. Add toppings of your choice. , Bake until crust is golden brown and toppings are lightly browned and heated through, 20-25 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 193 calories, Fat 0 fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 149mg sodium, Carbohydrate 42g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 8g protein.
PERFECT PIZZERIA PIZZA DOUGH
This is a wonderful pizza crust recipe. It rises beautifully every time, producing a tender, delicious crust that is so much better than the packaged Boboli crusts that are so popular (...and better than most chain pizzerias!). If you are "pizza crust challenged", this is your recipe- Simple, quick, and made with common...
Provided by Family Favorites
Categories Pizza
Time 25m
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- 1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until foamy, 5-10 minutes. ( Make sure it foams. If it doesn't foam, your yeast may be outdated.)
- 2. In bowl of food processor fitted with large blade, combine flour and salt. Pulse 3-4 times. With motor running (on dough setting, if you have one) slowly add yeast mixture, allowing each addition to mix before adding the next. Continue processing until dough forms a ball and cleans the sides of the bowl. After the ball forms and cleans the sides, process for a few more minutes. If dough seems dry, add warm water 1/2 TB. at a time until a ball forms. If it's too wet (ball of dough doesn't form) add flour 1/2 TB. at a time. You will know you have the right consistency when the dough ball forms, the dough ball cleans the sides of the bowl and the dough is as smooth as a baby's bottom. =) If it's not a really smooth dough ball, return it to the bowl and follow instructions for too wet or too dry above.
- 3. Coat inside of large bowl with olive oil. Place dough in bowl. Turn once to coat and cover with sprayed saran wrap. Set in warm place and allow to rise for 1 1/2 hours.
- 4. After 1 1/2 hours, your beautiful dough is ready to be placed on a 16 inch pizza pan oiled with 1 TB. of olive oil. (Can sprinkle with yellow corn meal, if you wish.) Press evenly to sides of pan. Don't leave the dough too thick. Add your desired toppings and bake at 400 degrees. No par-baking required. The photo at left is my BLT Pizza... Perfect crust every time!
- 5. *** I like to warm a few TB. of olive oil with a halved garlic clove in the micro until very warm and then brush this on the crust right when it comes out of the oven. Yum!
- 6. ~Just A Few Tips On Yeast Doughs~ ( ...or why it took me so many years of making bad pizza dough. lol) I sure can't speak for everyone, but I made some kind of dumb mistakes (...over and over) when attempting yeast doughs. Let me go over a few so that it won't take you as long to figure it out as me. I am by no means an expert yeast bread maker. There are many outstanding cooks on here who could run circles 'round me. But, I was making some very common, newbie mistakes and it took me awhile to get my act together. So here goes... * Water temp is very important! Too hot or too cold and your dough will not rise and your pizza crust will be hard and chewy. Think very warm bath water. * YES, you do have to proof your yeast. Always. lol Give those little guys a warm bath with a little sugar and you will "wake them up" so that they are ready to get to work on your dough. If it bubbles, your yeast is happy as can be and ready to get to work. No bubbles? Stop right there. Your yeast is either old, or your water temp is off. Buy fresh yeast for the best result. (Throw out the stuff from 3 Christmases ago!) * Use Red Star "Quick-Rise" Yeast. It's wonderful and forgiving if your water temp is too high, another of my newbie mistakes. Not a paid spokesperson and I own no stock in the company (...but I wish I did. Red Star... Give me a call and we'll talk... lol.) * Allow enough time for the dough to rise! If the recipe says rise for 1 hour, it means 1 hour... not 30, 35, 40 minutes. If you don't have time to let it rise, but figure it will be okay anyway, it won't. Save the recipe for another day. * Use the right size pan. If the dough is for a 16 inch pan and you use a 12 inch pan and figure that it's fine... nope. Smaller the pan, thicker the dough. Thick dough equals "bready" crust. Too thin it can be too thin to hold up and may burn. Just like The Three Bears... not too thick and not too thin. Medium is just right. Happy Pizza Making! Peg =)
PERFECT PIZZA DOUGH
Oh man, I can't believe I finally found a pizza crust I love!! I've been on a quest, trying a couple of recipes, but I wasn't ecstatic about the results so far and I'd intended to go through more of the recipes here on zaar. Then I happened to be channel surfing when Alton Brown's program was on...and what was he making? Pizza! I made his recipe and am just thrilled! The only modification I made was taking into account his comments about how to make a less-salty dough (which is how I've submitted this recipe). It's exactly what I've been looking for in a pizza crust--flavourful and chewy, especially as a thin crust, now I can have the fun of practicing my technique on stretching out the dough to the perfect thickness (or rather, uber-thinness)... Prep time includes rising, cooking time includes time needed for dough to rest.
Provided by bikerchick
Categories Breads
Time P1DT45m
Yield 2 pizzas
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Place the sugar, salt, 1 TBSP olive oil, water, 1 cup flour, yeast, and remaining cup of flour into your mixer's work bowl.
- Using the paddle attachment, start the mixer on low and mix until the dough just comes together, forming a ball.
- Spray your hook attachment with cooking spray and swap it out with the paddle.
- Knead dough for 15 minutes on medium speed.
- After 15 minutes, tear off a small piece of dough and flatten into a disc.
- Stretch the dough until thin, hold it up to the light, and look to see if a taut membrane has formed (also called a baker's window), you should be able to see a webbing of membranes and nearly be able to see through the dough.
- If the dough tears before it forms, if you aren't able to pull it thin to almost see through before it rips, knead the dough for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
- Form the dough into a smooth ball on the countertop, sealing it unto itself.
- Place the dough ball in a large stainless or glass bowl and add 2 tsp olive oil, tossing to coat.
- Cover with plastic wrap (doesn't have to be a perfect seal) and refrigerate for 18 to 24 hours.
- Place pizza stone or tile onto the bottom of a cold oven (or if your heating element is on the bottom of your oven, simply place stone onto the lowest position oven rack) and turn the oven on to its highest temperature, 500° or mine goes to 550°.
- Split the dough into 2 equal pieces using a knife or dough scraper.
- Flatten each piece into a disc onto the countertop and then fold each piece into a ball.
- Wet hands barely with water and rub them onto the countertop to dampen the surface slightly to make it 'sticky', roll the dough on the surface until it tightens into a smooth ball.
- Cover with a tea towel and let rest for 30 minutes.
- If you won't be immediately using the second ball of dough, spray the inside of a ziplock bag and place the dough ball into the bag.
- Seal and refrigerate for up to 6 days.
- Sprinkle flour or cornmeal onto peel and place dough onto the peel.
- Using your hands, form a lip around the edges of the pizza.
- Stretch the dough into a round disc, holding the center with one hand and gently pulling the edges outward with the other hand, rotating after each stretch, try tossing if you're up for it, but do not use a rolling pin!
- Shake the pizza on the peel to be sure that it will slide onto the pizza stone or tile.
- Dress and bake the pizza immediately for a crisp crust or rest the stretched dough for 30 minutes if you want a chewy texture.
- To dress the pizza, brush the rim of the pizza with olive oil.
- Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the pizza.
- Sprinkle the herbs onto the sauce and then any toppings you might want.
- Top with cheese.
- Slide the pizza onto the tile and bake for 7 or 8 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown, checking the underside for doneness before removing.
- Rest finished pizza for 3 minutes before cutting.
EMERIL LAGASSE'S PERFECT PIZZA DOUGH
This is my new favourite recipe for pizza dough; it's so easy and works so well. I was watching a recent episode ("Pizza Party") of his show and went to the web as soon as it was over to get the recipe. Here it is, but the instructions are different than what you'll find on the web as I use my heavy-duty mixer rather than make this by hand. Enjoy!
Provided by Lennie
Categories Breads
Time 2h10m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In the bowl of your heavy-duty mixer (like a Kenwood or KitchenAid), stir together the water, yeast and sugar; let sit until the mixture is foamy, which takes about 5 minutes.
- Add 1 1/2 cups of the flour, the oil and salt into the yeast mixture and, using the paddle attachment (also known as the K beater), combine until mixture is smooth.
- Switch to the dough hook.
- With the machine running at low, add remaining flour, 1/4 cup at a time; make sure each addition of flour is incorporated before adding the next.
- Once all the flour has been added, turn up the speed and let the machine knead the dough for about 3 minutes; it should be very smooth and perhaps a bit tacky.
- Feel free to add an extra minute or two of kneading if you wish; it won't hurt the dough at all.
- Rub the insides of a large mixing bowl with a little olive oil; remove dough from machine, form into a ball, and place into oiled bowl, turning dough over to make sure all sides are oiled.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in a warm, draft-free area to rise; the dough should nearly double in size, which will take about 60 to 90 minutes.
- An old habit of mine is to place a towel around the bowl, just to make sure no drafts get to the dough.
- When dough is ready, lightly punch it down and knead it a bit, still right in the bowl.
- Lightly flour your work surface and place dough ball on it; let it rest for 10 minutes.
- This makes one large pizza; if you prefer two smaller pizzas, cut dough in half, then form into two balls and let rest, as above.
- After dough has rested, form into a 16-inch round (or two 8-inch rounds) and you're ready to make pizza, using your favourite toppings.
- The biggest trick here, when stretching out the dough, is not to get frustrated; if you find you're stretching the pizza and it's resisting and is too elastic, bouncing right back from each stretch, just walk away for a few minutes; after you let the pizza rest again, you'll find the dough will let you stretch it out.
- You might even want to try flipping it into the air a bit!
- Warning: let it come down on your knuckles, not your fingertips, or you'll tear the dough!
- The best way to bake your prepared pizza is on a baking stone (or you can use a pizza pan, if you don't have a stone) on your lowest oven rack; Emeril suggests 8 to 10 minutes at 475F, but a little lower temperature for a little longer works just fine too.
PERFECT PARMESAN PIZZA DOUGH
This recipe makes enough dough for 4 (12-inch) pizza crusts. Use to make as many pizzas as desired, then refrigerate any remaining dough up to 2 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Provided by Cracker Barrel
Categories Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips CRACKER BARREL Shreds
Time 30m
Yield 24
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Mix 4 cups flour, Parmesan, yeast and salt in large bowl. Add water and oil; stir until mixture forms soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface 5 min. or until smooth and elastic, gradually adding remaining flour.
- Cut dough into 4 pieces. (Each piece is enough for a 12-inch pizza.) Spray each piece with cooking spray. If using immediately, cover desired number of dough pieces loosely with plastic wrap; let stand 15 min.
- Place each remaining dough piece in separate resealable freezer-weight plastic bag that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Seal bags; refrigerate up to 2 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 131.8 calories, Carbohydrate 19.9 g, Cholesterol 4.2 mg, Fat 3.8 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 4.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.2 g, Sodium 120.5 mg, Sugar 0.1 g
PIZZERIA PERFECT BLT PIZZA- MY OWN RECIPE
I was challenged to make the perfect BLT pizza a few weeks ago. After looking at all of the recipes online, most were lacking a good sauce, and a good crust. Pizza without good sauce and crust just aren't worth making, in my book. The results were perfect the first go around... I wouldn't change a thing. The recipe is original...
Provided by Family Favorites
Categories Pizza
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- 1. Prepare dough and let rise as per instructions. (This dough is very easy to make without the mess of having to knead it. Great, easy recipe.)
- 2. Prepare sauce by mixing all ingredients thoroughly. Halve grape tomatoes and shred lettuce. Let come up to room temp. Reserve 1/2 cup grape tomatoes to top cooked pizza.
- 3. Cut bacon in 1 1/2 inch chunks and fry until just before crisp, as you are going to be heating this one more time. Drain on paper towels. When the drippings have cooled slightly, add 1 tsp. drippings to sauce. Reserve an additional 1 TB. drippings.
- 4. When dough is ready, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Use reserved 1 TB. bacon drippings to oil the pan in place of the olive oil that you may ordinarily use. (This little trick brings the smokey flavor of a BLT from the top of the pizza to the bottom.) Sprinkle with corn meal, if using. Spread out pizza dough with your hands.
- 5. Top with sauce, then 1/2 of bacon, then cheddar and mozzarella, then 1 cup halved grape tomatoes, cut side up. (This keeps the juice in the skin instead of on the pizza.) Remember to reserve 1/2 cup grape tomatoes.
- 6. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until done. (Optional tip: When I take my pizzas out of the oven, I combine a halved garlic clove and a few tablespoons of olive oil, microwave until warm and then brush on hot crust.) Add shredded lettuce, other half of bacon (warm in the micro for a few seconds) and reserved 1/2 cup tomatoes.
- 7. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and or red pepper flakes, if desired. Enjoy!
PERFECT-EVERY-TIME PIZZA DOUGH AND PEPPERONI PIZZA
Homemade pizza should be a staple recipe for every cook, and it's really easy to make. Not only that, but it's a great recipe to get friends and family involved. I like making the dough and shaping it into balls ahead of time. You can use them right away or even freeze them for the future. This dough also works for making calzones, dinner rolls and flatbreads.
Provided by Jet Tila
Categories main-dish
Time 10h20m
Yield two 8- to 10-inch pizzas
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Make the dough: In a large bowl, stir together the warm water, yeast, olive oil and salt until the salt dissolves. Let this mixture rest for about 10 to 20 minutes, until slightly foamy.
- Transfer the yeast and water mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer, making sure to scrape all the yeast into the bowl. Add the flours to the mixing bowl. Attach a dough hook and knead on medium speed for about 4 minutes. The mixture will come together into a ball that pulls away from the sides.
- Transfer the dough ball to a clean area to knead. Flour the station and knead well for about 2 minutes. Cut the ball in half and shape each into round balls. Place each ball in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic and let rise in the fridge overnight. This overnight fermentation will give the dough a pleasant sourness. You can do this on the counter in an hour or two, but you won't have the same flavor from a slow rise.
- Make the pizza: Place a pizza steel or stone on the middle rack of the oven and preheat to its highest setting. Let the oven heat up for at least 45 minutes.
- Dust the surface of a pizza peel or the back of a baking sheet with flour or cornmeal. Stretch one ball of dough out into a 12-inch (30.5-cm) round and place on the peel or baking sheet. Place half the sauce in the center of the stretched dough and spread it out evenly with a spoon. You want to cover all but 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) of the edge.
- Drizzle the pizza with a tiny bit of olive oil. Rain half the mozzarella over the pizza. Place half the pepperoni on the pizza in an even pattern. Sprinkle with half the Parmesan and half the dried oregano.
- Slide the pizza onto the heated steel or stone in the oven. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling, 4 to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and let rest for 2 to 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Meanwhile, repeat with the remaining dough ball and pizza ingredients to make a second pizza.
- Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. When the temperature gets to about 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), stir in the garlic and the anchovies and sizzle for about 30 seconds.
- Pour in the tomatoes, bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes, until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly. Lower the heat if the sauce starts to boil. Stir in the oregano, salt, pepper and sugar, if using, and cook for an additional minute. Remove the sauce from the heat and use immediately or store in airtight containers or even resealable plastic bags in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to use.
ALTON BROWN'S PERFECT PIZZA DOUGH
Steps:
- Scale the dry ingredients together and place all the dry ingredients in the work bowl of your stand mixer. Scale the liquids into a measuring cup then add to the dry ingredients. Install the bowl on the mixer and attach the dough hook and turn the mixer to "stir." Mix until the dough just comes together, forming a ball and pulling away from the sides of the bowl. Increase the mixer speed to medium (4 on a Kitchen Aid) and knead for 5 minutes. Remove the dough to a lightly floured countertop and smooth into a ball. Spray a mixing bowl (or the mixer's work bowl) with no-stick spray or rub with the oil. Place dough in bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 18 to 24 hours. Remove dough to counter and punch down into a rough rectangle shape then tightly roll into a log 12-15 inches in length. Split the dough into 3 equal parts using the scraper or either a large serrated knife or a dough scraper. Flatten each into a disk, then shape it into a smooth ball by folding the edges of the round in toward the center several times and rolling it between your hands on the counter. You may want to moisten the counter with water to up the surface tension a bit so that the ball tightens up instead of sliding across the counter. Cover each ball with a clean tea towel and allow to rest for 30 minutes. (At this point you can also transfer doughs to air-tight plastic containers and refrigerate for up to 8 hours. Just make sure you bring them to room temp for half an hour before forming.) To bake, heat oven (pizza stone inside on lower rack) to 500 degrees F, or hotter if possible. Give the oven a good half hour to heat up. When you're ready to build the pizzas, sprinkle a couple teaspoons of flour on a peel and place the dough right in the middle. Pound the dough into a disk with your hands, then pick it up and pull it through your fingers to create the outer lip, a critical feature that cannot be created with a rolling pin. (In fact, rolling rather than stretching will just ruin the whole gosh-darned thing.) At this point you need to start stretching the dough. The most-efficient way to do this is to spin the dough so that the weight of the outer lip stretches the dough via centrifugal force. You can also stretch the dough on the board by turning and pulling it, and turning and pulling. Shake the peel from time to time to make sure the dough doesn't stick. Sticking would be bad. Brush the lip with oil, then dress the pizza with olive oil and tomato sauce. Even distribution is tricky, so you may want to ladle an ounce or two into the middle and then spread it out with the back of the ladle. Top with fresh herbs (oregano and basil) and a good melting cheese. I usually go with a mixture of mozzarella, Monterery Jack and provolone, but that's me. Slide the pizza onto the hot pizza stone. To do this, position the front edge of the peel about 1-inch from the back of the stone. Lift the handle and jiggle gently until the pizza slides forward. As soon as the dough touches the stone, start pulling the peel back toward you while still jiggling. While a couple of inches of dough are on the stone, quickly snap the peel straight back. As long as the dough isn't stuck on the peel, it will park itself nicely on the stone. Keep an eye on the dough for the first 3 to 4 minutes. If any big bubbles start ballooning up, reach in with a paring knife or fork and pop them. Bake for 7 minutes or until the top is bubbly. Then slide the peel under and lift to check the underside, which should be nicely brown. Slide the peel under the pizza and remove to the counter or a cutting board. Let it rest for at least 2 minutes before slicing with a chef's knife or pizza cutter (one of my favorite multitaskers).
BETH'S PERFECT AND EASY HOMEMADE PIZZA DOUGH
Make and share this Beth's Perfect and Easy Homemade Pizza Dough recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Queen B
Categories < 30 Mins
Time 30m
Yield 2 crusts, 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Dissolve yeast in water.
- Combine flour and salt in large mixing bowl.
- Make a well in center of flour and with your hands, work in 1/2 of the yeast mixture.
- Add olive oil and then continue to work in the rest of the yeast mixture.
- Add 1 tablespoon of water if necessary to make dough soft and smooth.
- Turn dough onto flat surface and knead for 10 minutes.
- Oil a large mixing bowl and place dough in it, turning on dough over to get oil on all sides.
- Cover with damp towel and let rise for 1 hour.
- Preheat pizza stone in oven at 500 degrees.
- Divide pizza dough in half. Roll out each half into 12-14" circles making crusts about 1/8" thick.
- Sprinkle 3 tablespoons cornmeal onto pizza peal. Place 1 pizza crust on pizza peal and lightly brush with olive oil. Add all ingredients you want on your pizza.
- Slide pizza from peel onto preheated pizza stone in the oven. Cook until crust is crisp and golden, about 15-20 minutes.
- DOUGH CAN BE FROZEN: After rising, shape dough into 2 balls a, wrap and freeze. To use, thaw at room temperature and roll out as described.
PERFECT PRONTO PIZZA
This traditional pizza is just the right size for our family of five. The combination of cheddar and mozzaell cheeses and blend of herbs are terrific.-Deb Virgl, Mead, Nebraska
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 25m
Yield 4-6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Roll dough into a 13-in. circle. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 12-in. pizza pan. Bake at 350° for 5-10 minutes. , In a bowl, combine the tomato paste, water, garlic powder, oregano and rosemary. Spread over crust. Top with beef and cheeses. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until the crust is golden and cheese is melted.
Nutrition Facts :
PERFECT PEPPERONI PIZZA PIE
Make and share this Perfect Pepperoni Pizza Pie recipe from Food.com.
Provided by nochlo
Categories Toddler Friendly
Time 20m
Yield 2 slices, 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 460 degrees.
- Put one of the crusts on the pizza stone in the oven for 4 minutes then remove.
- On pizza crust, apply 4 oz. of sauce (or how much you want) then add desired amount of pepperoni, and then top with the desired amount of cheese which I add about 4oz or so.
- Return to pizza to the oven on the stone and bake about 10 minutes or until cheese is all melted.
- Cut into squares and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 161.3, Fat 12.8, SaturatedFat 4.4, Cholesterol 30.7, Sodium 541.5, Carbohydrate 3.7, Fiber 0.8, Sugar 0.7, Protein 7.3
PERFECT EVERY TIME PIZZA OR CALZONE DOUGH
Ready in a snap and my kids love it! This can be used for pizza dough too. My dear chef friend Darrin Gleason shared this recipe with me over ten years ago while attending college. It has been a go-to recipe for my family for all these years and I thought I should share it with my cooking community.
Provided by Angela
Categories Bread Pizza Dough and Crust Recipes
Time 15m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Mix 1/2 cup lukewarm water and yeast together in a bowl. Let stand until yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
- Combine 1/2 cup water, olive oil, honey, and salt in a separate bowl; add 1 cup flour and mix well. Mix yeast mixture into flour mixture. Add remaining flour, 1 cup at a time, until dough is well combined.
- Knead dough on a floured work surface until dough is soft, smooth, and elastic, about 8 minutes. Roll dough into 4 calzone shapes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 438 calories, Carbohydrate 80.9 g, Fat 7.7 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 10.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.1 g, Sodium 295.8 mg, Sugar 8.9 g
PERFECT PIZZA DOUGH
This is THE perfect pizza dough...be sure to cook in a hot oven500F+ and on a pizza stone if you have one...if you dont a large unglazed tile in your oven will work well!
Provided by Malinda Coletta
Categories Flatbreads
Time 2h35m
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- 1. I highly recommend cooking by weight. It is fast, and easy to get the exact hydration (water to flour ratio) and dough ball size you want. Personally, I do not use recipes or a mixing cup when I cook dinner for the family, but pizza and bread dough is different. Being exact counts, and nothing works better than a digital scale.
- 2. Add all ingredients in mixing bowl. Mix the dough in a stand mixer, by hand or in a bread machine. If you are using a stand mixer, mix it slowly for two minutes, faster for 5 minutes, and slow again for 2 minutes.
- 3. Cover the dough and let it rise for 1 1/2 - 2 hours, or until double. Punch it down and push out the air bubbles.
- 4. Form the dough into a large ball, then cut it into 5 ½ ounce pieces.
- 5. To make your pizza balls, shape each piece of dough into a ball. Gently roll your dough into a ball, then stretch the top of the ball down and around the rest of the ball, until the outer layer wraps around the other side. Pinch the two ends together to make a smooth ball with a tight outer "skin." Set your ball seam-side down where it can rest. Dust your pizza balls with flour, and store them under a damp towel, in a proofing tray, or under plastic wrap. This will prevent the outside of the ball from drying out and creating a crust, and becoming difficult to work with. The top of the pizza ball should be soft and silky.
- 6. Your pizza balls will need to rest for about an hour to become soft and elastic, so that they can be easily stretched into a thin crust pizza. If you won't need your dough for more than an hour, refrigerate it until you are ready to start.
- 7. While your oven is heating (set it on the highest setting usually between 500 - 550F), you have time to collect and prepare your food for cooking. You will need: · Fresh Mozzarella · Tomato Sauce (try Canned whole Italian San Marzano Tomatoes 2 tablespoons of good olive oil and 2 teaspoons of dried oregano, blend DO NOT COOK!!) · Olive Oil · Fresh Basil
- 8. Assembling Your Pizza Dust your hands with flour, and take a Pizza Ball. Flip it over so that the soft bottom side faces up, gently shape the ball into a flat disk, and then start pulling, stretching and turning the disk in the air to make the dough thinner and thinner. Try to keep working in a circle to keep the thickness of the dough consistent, avoiding thick and thin spots. At the point where can cannot get the dough thinner without making a hole, put your pizza on a floured work surface, and use your fingertips to work out the thick spots by pushing the dough to the outside. We try to make our pizzas about as thick as a credit card and about 10" in diameter. Remember that the more you handle the dough, the tougher it becomes. We don't recommend using a rolling pin, which is hard on the dough and will give you a thin, but tough pizza. Try to shape your dough in the air as much as possible, before you lay it on the counter -- it will enjoy not being over-handled, and will reward you with a pizza that is both crisp and delicate. Also, don't worry if your pizza is not round. We know a professional chef and bakery owner who loves to make his pizzas "football" shaped. He is so gentle with the dough and creative with his ingredients that his non-round pizzas are among the best we have ever tasted. You can assemble your pizza either on a solid surface, then transfer it to a metal pizza peel for cooking; or you can assemble your pizzas on short wooden peels, which you can use to place the pizza in the oven. Most kitchens do not have wood or metal peels a cookie sheet dusted with cornmeal works just fine.
- 9. Cooking Your Pizza Your oven is up to temp 500F ; you have assembled your first pizza, and you are ready to go. Test to make sure you pizza is not stuck on your peel by moving your peel forward and backward using short jerks - it should slide easily around. If it does stick, lift it up on one side using your fingers, and throw a little corn meal underneath. Slide your peel back and forth, and that should loosen it up. If your pizzas consistently stick to the peel, use a more corn meal underneath your pizza dough before you start decorating. Also, if you have a group of people assembling pizzas, and one sits for a while before you place it in the oven, there is a large chance it will stick. Choose a spot roughly centered in your oven and slide your pizza to that spot. The best way to place your pizza is to push your peel toward your spot, then stop it short just short the spot, allowing the pizza to slide off the peel. Pull the peel backward as the pizza slides forward. The perfect pizza is bubbling on top with completely melted (and possibly slightly browned) cheese, has a brown outer crust, The crust is crunchy on the outside and soft and delicate on the inside. Everything is steaming hot. Throw on some fresh basil, use a pizza cutting wheel to cut your pizza into pieces and you have done it.
PERFECT YEAST-FREE PIZZA DOUGH IN A HURRY (FROM SCRATCH)
This is a very simple and quick pizza dough that can be used for making quiches as well. It's yeast and dairy free. Tastes very good!
Provided by Lalaloula
Categories Breads
Time 20m
Yield 1 baking sheet
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- In a bowl combine flour, water, oil and herbs. Using your hands knead into a soft dough (this will take some time).
- Roll out on a lightly floured surface and transfer to a paper-lined baking sheet. Prick with a fork and top with sauce and topping of your choice.
- Bake in the preheated oven at 200°C for about 10-15 minutes (depending on topping and thickness of your dough).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 408.8, Fat 46.2, SaturatedFat 6, Sodium 7.5
OUR VERY FAVORITE PIZZA CRUST RECIPE FOR GRILLING + FIVE TIPS FOR GRILLING THE PERFECT PIZZA
Just five simple ingredients, a stand mixer, and a couple hours rising time will net you this chewy, crispy pizza crust that's perfect for the grill.
Provided by Kare for Kitchen Treaty
Time 2h53m
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Mix the dough
- Stir together the yeast and water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Make sure your water is between 100 - 110 degrees (just a tad above lukewarm, but I always use a thermometer to be sure). Too cold, and the yeast won't activate. Too hot, and the heat can kill the yeast.
- Let sit until the yeast dissolves and begins to get a little foamy, about 5 minutes.
- With the mixer on low speed, add the olive oil, salt, and flour.
- Knead the dough (the mixer does this for you)
- Once the ingredients are fairly well incorporated, turn the mixer to medium speed to begin the kneading process.
- Knead (continue the mixer on medium) for about 8 - 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. It should be very stretchy - it will just kind of stretch and fall off of the dough hook when ready.
- Let the dough rise
- Cover the bowl with a clean towel and set in a warm-ish place away from drafts. I use a spot next to the stove on the kitchen counter or the dining room table. Let rise until doubled in side, about 90 minutes.
- Punch the dough down, and let rise again for about 30 more minutes, until doubled again.
- Shape the dough
- Prepare six sheets of parchment paper. Lay the sheets on the counter or table, then drizzle each with a little olive oil.
- After the dough is finished rising for the second time, remove it from the bowl and place it on a floured surface.
- Cut the dough into six pieces.
- With your hands, smear the oil on a piece of parchment paper, then grab a dough ball - you want spread the oil on the paper and handle the dough with well-oiled hands, so it all works out.
- Now you're ready to shape the crust. You can place the dough on the parchment paper and just kind of spread it out into a circle with your fingers, or you can do like I do and shape it in the air first. I hold on to the edge and quickly rotate the dough so that it stretches and forms a nice flat shape, and then I place it on the parchment and stretch it out the rest of the way. I like to keep the dough on the thin size and about the size of a dinner plate. Much bigger and it can become difficult to handle on the grill. Note: If your dough shrinks and won't work with you, let it sit for about 5 minutes and try again. Another note: If the shaping process seems awkward and frustrating, don't worry! It will get easier and easier, the more you do it. And even when the crust assumes some crazy alien shape, your pizza will still be delicious.
- One last quick rise
- Let the shaped crusts rise on their parchment paper for about 10 minutes, until they start getting puffy.
- Now grill and eat!
- Now start grilling! With the grill on medium-high (about 350-400 degrees), flip a round onto the grill - dough side down, parchment side up. Peel off the paper.
- Cook covered for 3 - 4 minutes, until the crust puffs on top and gets grill marks on the bottom. If the dough sprouts any big bubbles, go ahead and pop them if you can.
- Transfer the crust to a cookie sheet or large platter, grilled side up.
- Add your toppings and transfer back to the grill. Cook until pizza crust is cooked through, the toppings are hot, and the cheese is bubbly, about 3 - 4 minutes. If you have a barbecue with a lid, cooking them covered at this stage helps heat the toppings.
- Remove from the grill to a pizza peel or large baking sheet, Cut into wedges and serve.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly impact the taste of your pizza. Use fresh, flavorful tomatoes, cheese, and meats. For the best results, use a high-quality pizza dough, either homemade or from a reputable store.
- Don't overload the pizza: Too many toppings will make the pizza soggy and difficult to cook. Use a moderate amount of toppings, and distribute them evenly across the pizza.
- Cook the pizza at a high temperature: The hotter the oven, the crispier the crust will be. For a traditional Neapolitan pizza, cook at 900°F or higher. For a New York-style pizza, cook at 500°F to 550°F.
- Use a pizza stone or baking steel: A pizza stone or baking steel will help to create a crispy crust. If you don't have a pizza stone or baking steel, you can use a baking sheet, but the crust will not be as crispy.
- Let the pizza cool for a few minutes before slicing: This will help to prevent the toppings from sliding off the pizza.
Conclusion:
With a little practice, you can make delicious pizza at home. By following these tips, you can create a pizza that is crispy, flavorful, and loaded with your favorite toppings. So next time you're craving pizza, skip the takeout and make your own!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love