Description
This classic homemade pizza recipe yields a delicious, crispy crust topped with savory pizza sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and your favorite toppings. Perfect for a cozy night in, this recipe guides you through making fresh dough, letting it rise, and baking it to perfection at a high temperature for that authentic pizzeria taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 2 tsp active dry yeast
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
Toppings
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Your favorite toppings (pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, etc.)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a mixing bowl, dissolve the active dry yeast in warm water (about 110°F or 43°C) and let it sit for about 5 minutes until the mixture is frothy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix Dough: Add the all-purpose flour, olive oil, salt, and sugar to the yeast mixture. Stir until a dough begins to form and ingredients are well combined.
- Knead Dough: Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic, which helps develop the gluten for a good structure.
- Let Dough Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a clean cloth or plastic wrap, and leave it in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C) to ensure it’s hot enough for a crisp crust.
- Shape Dough: Roll out the risen dough on a floured surface to your desired thickness and shape, whether round or rectangular.
- Add Toppings: Spread a layer of pizza sauce evenly over the dough. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese and arrange your favorite toppings on top.
- Bake Pizza: Carefully transfer the assembled pizza to a baking sheet or pizza stone and bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
- Slice and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes, then slice it and enjoy your homemade creation.
Notes
- Use warm water (not hot) to activate the yeast properly without killing it.
- Kneading is essential to develop the dough’s gluten, resulting in a chewy texture.
- Letting the dough rise in a warm place helps it ferment and expand for a lighter crust.
- A pizza stone can be used for a crispier crust if available.
- Customize toppings as desired, but avoid overloading to prevent sogginess.
