Easy Pizza Dough From Scratch Fine Cooking Magazine Food

EASY PIZZA DOUGH FROM SCRATCH-FINE COOKING MAGAZINE

Steps:

• Pour water into a 3 quart bowl, or large lidded plastic food container.
• Using a wooden spoon, mix in the oil, salt, yeast, and sugar.
• Don't worry about dissolving all of the ingredients; just stir well to combine. Don't bother proofing the yeast either-it shouldn't fail if used before it's expiration date.
• Add the flour and mix until uniformly moist. The dough will be quite wet. No kneading is necessary.
• Cove the bowl with plastic wrap, or partially cover. Leave the lid open a bit to let gases escape. Let the dough rise for two hours at room temperature. The dough will fully expand and may even begin to collapse by this time.
• Do not punch down the dough. It will collapse on its own and later shrink while it chills in the refrigerator. It will never regain it's height, and that's OK. Chill for at least 3 hours before using. After 2 days, tightly cover the bowl to keep the surface of the dough from drying out. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. After that, tightly wrap into 1/2 pound balls and freeze for up to 3 weeks.
• On a floured board, roll, and use your fingers to stretch the dough to your liking. If the dough continues to contract, let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes, covered, then stretch some more. Add your favorite pizza toppings.
• Bake in the bottom third of the oven using a pizza stone or baking sheet. I use parchment paper so the dough does not stick. Turn the pizza half way through baking.
• Depending on how thick or thin you like your pizza crusts, the amount varies. I make two large pizzas with very thin crusts, about 12X18". Prep times are approximate.
• For thin crusts (1/16th of an inch thick), bake at 550 for 10 to 15 minutes.
• For regular style crust (1/8 inch thick) bake at 550 for 8 to 10 minutes.
• For a thick crust (1/2" thick) bake at 500 for 20 to 25 minutes.
• Let pizza sit for a minute or two before cutting.
• Variations:.
• Whole wheat dough: subsitute one cup of whole wheat flour for the same amount of all purpose flour, and add 2 tablespoons of extra water.
• Cornmeal dough: substitute 1 cup of stone ground yellow cornmeal for the same amount of all purpose flour and add 1 tablespoon of extra water.

EASY PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• In large bowl dissolve yeast & sugar in warm water.
• Let sit for 10 minutes.
• Stir in oil, salt, & 4 1/2 cups flour.
• Mix in remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time.
• When all mixed & pulled in, turn onto a floured surface knead until smooth & elastic -- approx 8 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large bowl, place dough ball in bowl, lightly oil ball & cover with a damp cloth.
• Let rest in a warm place, or oven on lowest setting until doubled in size. Approx 1 hour.
• Deflate & turn onto floured surface divide into 3 equal pieces & form rounds.
• Cover & let rest 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425°.

ALL-PURPOSE PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Sprinkle the yeast over the hot water in a small bowl. Let stand until dissolved and slightly foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the bread flour, all-purpose flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Pour the yeast mixture into the well and add the olive oil. Stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, dust the dough with flour and knead, dusting with more flour as needed, until very smooth and elastic but still slightly tacky, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours. Divide the dough into two 1-pound balls. (If making sheet-pan pizza, let the dough rise, covered, on an 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet coated with 3 tablespoons olive oil instead of in a bowl; do not divide into two balls.)
• If not using the dough right away, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before using.

BASIC PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Whisk 1 1/3 cups warm water (105 degrees F) and the sugar in a bowl; sprinkle the yeast on top. Set aside until foamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in the olive oil.
• Whisk the flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the yeast mixture. Gradually stir with a wooden spoon to make a rough dough.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes, dusting with more flour if necessary. Form into 2 balls. Brush 2 large bowls with olive oil, add a ball of dough to each and turn to coat with the oil. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 hour, 30 minutes. Roll out and top as desired, or wrap in plastic wrap and freeze up to 1 month.

QUICK AND EASY PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Combine water, yeast, and sugar in a bowl; let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add flour, salt, and oil, and stir until a ragged dough forms. Transfer to a lightly floured work surface.
• Knead with floured hands until dough is smooth, elastic, and tacky but no longer sticky, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl brushed with oil, turning dough to evenly coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in volume, 30 to 45 minutes.

THIN-CRUST PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast and sugar in hot water in a bowl. Let stand until yeast forms a creamy foam, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Mix 1 3/4 cup flour and salt in a large bowl. Pour in yeast mixture; mix well until dough comes together.
• Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead until smooth, adding remaining 1/4 cup flour if dough is too sticky, about 2 minutes. Roll dough into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a greased pizza pan.

QUICK AND EASY PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in flour, salt and oil. Beat until smooth. Let rest for 5 minutes.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll into a round. Transfer crust to a lightly greased pizza pan or baker's peel dusted with cornmeal. Spread with desired toppings and bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let baked pizza cool for 5 minutes before serving.

PIZZA FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the oil, salt, sugar and 2 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rest in a warm place for 10 minutes. , Meanwhile, combine sauce ingredients; set aside. Divide dough in half. On a floured surface, roll each portion into a 13-in. circle. Transfer to greased 12-in. pizza pans; build up edges slightly. Prick dough thoroughly with a fork. , Bake until lightly browned, 12-15 minutes. Spread sauce over hot crusts to within 2-in. of edges; top with sausage, mushrooms, green pepper and cheese. Bake 20 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

THE BEST PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix warm water and 1 teaspoon sugar; add yeast and whisk until dissolved. Let stand until bubbles form on surface. In a large bowl, whisk 3 cups flour, salt, remaining 1 teaspoon sugar and, if desired, dried herbs. Make a well in center; add yeast mixture and oil. Stir until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead, adding more flour to surface as needed until no longer sticky and dough is smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a large greased bowl; turn once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes; transfer bowl to refrigerator and chill overnight. Allow dough to come to room temperature, about 30 minutes, before rolling.