Pretty much the basic when it comes to pizza dough. Work in your own spices and variants.
Ingredients
- 4 c bread flour / all purpose flour (white)
- 1 ¼ c lukewarm water
- 2 ¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 2 tbsp olive oil, extra virgin is best
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar or honey
- ¼ c more milk or water (milk adds flavor)
Instructions
In a liquid measuring cup pour in the warm water, sugar/honey, and yeast. Stir it up, it should foam a little, and set it aside for several minutes.
In another larger mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.
Wait a few more minutes for the yeast mixture to do its thing.
Now, mix the yeast mixture, along with the extra milk/water into the flour bowl, and add the olive oil. Stir together using a wooden spoon or just clean hands.
Sprinkle a layer of flour on an open clean surface, and some on your clean, dry hands; then drop the dough on the flour and fold it in half about 40 times - you should now have a pretty smooth elastic rubbery dough ball.
Drop it in a bowl, wash your hands, wet them with olive oil and rub over the top of the dough to keep it from drying out. Drape a towel over the bowl and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour.
Lightly oil your pizza pan, or sprinkle flour on it, or cornmeal. Whatever you're in the mood for.
Take the dough out and flatten it out on your pizza pan. Feel free to try the old spinning trick you've always wished you could do - it's easier than you'd think. ;)
Just as a reminder for your memory, here are some typical things you'd put on the pizza dough at this point:
Pizza sauce or any pasta sauce you think would work
Shredded mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese
Green bell pepper
Pepperoni
Italian sausage
Mushrooms
Ham
Onions
Baking should take about 12-14 minutes, but keep your eye on it.
