Italian recipes
Pizza dough
4 (1)
158 min
Serves 4
Italian
Basic tomato sauce for pizzas
1 (14 oz, 400g) can good quality whole tomatoes
3 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
Salt and black pepper
In a saucepan over medium heat add the olive oil and bring to a heat. Using your hands squash the tomatoes into the saucepan. Add the dried oregano and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool down to room temperature. Use on pizza dough and refrigerate remaining sauce for several weeks.
Ingredients
- For the yeast mixture For the yeast mixture
- 3–4 tbsp warm water 44–59 ml warm water
- 1/2 tsp sugar 2.5 ml sugar
- 1 packet of dry instant yeast 1 packet of dry instant yeast
- 1 cup plain flour (00 type) 240 ml plain flour (00 type)
- Water (about 1/2 cup) Water (about 1/2 cup)
- For the main pizza dough For the main pizza dough
- 3 cup all plain flour (00 type) 720 ml all plain flour (00 type)
- 1 tsp salt 4.9 ml salt
- 5 tbsp olive oil 74 ml olive oil
- Water (1 - 2 cups) Water (1 - 2 cups)
- The yeast mixture prepared above The yeast mixture prepared above
Method
Prepare the yeast mixture
In a bowl combine 3 to 4 tablespoons of water with the sugar and dry yeast. Stir well until the yeast is dissolved in the water. Let sit 5 minutes until the mixture thickens.
Sift in 1 cup of plain flour and start mixing. Add water as needed and knead, until you get a uniform dough that does not stick to your hands. Cover the dough with a damp kitchen towel and let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour.
Prepare the main pizza dough
Add the 3 cups of flour, salt and olive oil in the bowl of an electric mixer with the tool for making dough. Start the mixer at lowest speed and gradually add water. Allow enough time for the water to be mixed into the flour and be absorbed; add more only if needed - the amount of water you will need depends on the type of flour you are using. Continue mixing until there is no more dry flour left and the dough does not stick to the bowl. Add the yeast mixture (prepared above) to the dough and continue mixing for about 5 minutes more.
Remove the dough from the mixing bowl and divide it into 2 pieces (you should be able to create 2 12 - 14 inch pizzas). Shape the pieces into balls, place them on a baking tray and cover them with a damp kitchen towel.
Let them sit for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until they double in size.
On a well floured work area, use a rolling pin to shape each piece of dough into a round, 12 to 14 inch pizza base. Pinch the edge of the pizza to make it thicker (you can make it as thick as you want). Top the pizza base with your favorite ingredients and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the dough is golden brown and crispy.
In a bowl combine 3 to 4 tablespoons of water with the sugar and dry yeast. Stir well until the yeast is dissolved in the water. Let sit 5 minutes until the mixture thickens.
Sift in 1 cup of plain flour and start mixing. Add water as needed and knead, until you get a uniform dough that does not stick to your hands. Cover the dough with a damp kitchen towel and let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour.
Prepare the main pizza dough
Add the 3 cups of flour, salt and olive oil in the bowl of an electric mixer with the tool for making dough. Start the mixer at lowest speed and gradually add water. Allow enough time for the water to be mixed into the flour and be absorbed; add more only if needed - the amount of water you will need depends on the type of flour you are using. Continue mixing until there is no more dry flour left and the dough does not stick to the bowl. Add the yeast mixture (prepared above) to the dough and continue mixing for about 5 minutes more.
Remove the dough from the mixing bowl and divide it into 2 pieces (you should be able to create 2 12 - 14 inch pizzas). Shape the pieces into balls, place them on a baking tray and cover them with a damp kitchen towel.
Let them sit for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until they double in size.
On a well floured work area, use a rolling pin to shape each piece of dough into a round, 12 to 14 inch pizza base. Pinch the edge of the pizza to make it thicker (you can make it as thick as you want). Top the pizza base with your favorite ingredients and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the dough is golden brown and crispy.
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