Can I just tell you guys how much of a game changer making your own pizza dough is? It is surprisingly easy too. And way more healthy (if you don't count the mounds of delicious pizza toppings you add to it but I won't tell if you won't).
Through much trial and error, rising and ... well not rising, I've finally found the perfect balance of ingredients for the perfect dough. You will need water, olive oil, honey, active dry yeast, salt and flour.
In a large mixing bowl combine water, olive oil, yeast and honey. Let sit for about 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes it should look foamy like so.
Add your salt and most of your flour.
Life gets a lot easier if you have a stand mixer, but if not don't worry! It's not much more work to do the kneading by hand. If you have a mixer put on speed 2 and mix slowly adding in remaining flour.
The dough should begin to stick to the dough hook and clear off sides of bowl. Knead for about 2 minutes.
*If you're not using a stand mixer, simply knead dough on a floured surface and form into a ball.
Rub the insides of your mixing bowl with olive oil and place the ball back inside turning to coat all sides. Cover with a clean towel and place in a warm area for 1 ½ hours to rise.
Once your dough has risen punch it softly down. Remove it from the bowl and transfer to a floured surface. Either using your hands or a rolling pin, roll into desired shape working in more flour as necessary to keep from sticking.
You can use a pizza stone or baking sheets. In this case I used a baking sheet and made a rectangular shaped pizza crust. Place back in a warm area for about 10 minutes to rise.
Your dough is now ready for toppings! Check back for some complete pizza recipes using this dough!
- 1¼ cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2¾ cups flour
- Mix water, oil, yeast and honey in a large mixing bowl.
- Let sit for 10 minutes. Will become foamy.
- Add salt and 2 cups flour.
- Using a stand mixer on speed 2 (with dough hook) mix while add rest of flour then once sticking to hook and not bowl sides knead for 2 more minutes.
- OR if using hands knead on a floured adding remaining flour.
- Rub mixing bowl with olive oil and add dough ball back, turning to coat.
- Cover with a towel and place in a warm area for 1½ hours.
- Punch down, remove back to a floured surface and roll with a rolling pin into desired shape. Use more flour if needed.
- Place in a warm area for 10 more minutes.
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