Pizza Dough

When you’ve got time, ditch the frozen pizza dough and make your own from scratch!

Yield 6 to 8 pizzas (130 grams for an 8-inch pizza, 160 grams for a 10-inch pizza, 200 grams for a 12-inch pizza)

1 tablespoon instant yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the work surface
1 cup cool water
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons salt

1  Whisk together yeast, lukewarm water, and 1/2 cup of the flour in the bowl of the electric mixer. Dust the top lightly with flour. Cover with plastic cling wrap and leave to rise until the flour dusting cracks on top, about 20 minutes.

2  Add 3 cups of the flour, cool water, olive oil, and salt. Start kneading at low speed then increase the speed to medium as you gradually add the flour. Add the remaining 1/2 cup flour as needed to produce a slightly moist and soft dough. Knead with the dough hook attachment until smooth and elastic.

3  Dust the dough lightly with flour and using a dough scraper, scrape it out of the bowl onto a slighty floured surface. Knead lightly. Shape into a ball, flatten slightly, dust with flour. Cover with plastic cling wrap and leave to rise until double in bulk for an hour. (If not using dough immediately: Punch dough, wrap and freeze for up to 1 month. Defrost and let rise in a large bowl in the refrigerator.) When the dough is ready, continue with the chosen recipe.

4  Place a pizza stone or unglazed tiles in the lower part of the oven. Preheat the oven to 500ºF or the maximum heat for at least 30 minutes before baking. Weigh the dough to produce the desired size and shape. Spread semolina flour or all-purpose flour on a baker’s peel. Top with desired topping. Slide the pizza off the peel onto the hot stone (if using a pizza oven) or baking sheet (if using a regular oven).

5  Bake the pizza until the crust is crisp and brown, about 10 to 15 minutes.

6  Using the baker’s peel, carefully transfer the pizza onto the cutting board.

Tip: This recipe is made ideally with an electric mixer such as Kitchen Aid. Do not use a portable hand mixer. If you do not have an electric mixer, simply knead the dough by hand until smooth and pliable. A baker’s peel is a large flat shovel used to slide pizza into a pizza oven. For a regular oven, use a large flat tray, a baking sheet, or a pizza pie pan.

For a step-by-step tutorial, click here:  How to Knead Dough by Hand

Photography by David Hanson | Prop Styling by Becky Kho

• princess Jan 25 2011 @ 05:30pm Report Abuse

     

  this is good and yummy ..
• princess Jan 25 2011 @ 05:30pm Report Abuse

     

  this is good and yummy ..