Homemade Pizza is a weekly treat in our house. It might seem like a hassle to make your dough from scratch, but as long as you have an hour to leave it to rise, the actual dough making aspect is the quick bit. The more you make it the easier it gets. Now I really enjoy the process of kneading the dough and look forward to Pizza night in our house.
I am a big fan of recipes that my children can help out with and also meals we can eat together as a family. Pizza is ideal for this. I often make pizza dough when my 4 year old has a friend coming over for dinner as children love to choose their own toppings. My eldest son is very fussy and I lose track with which topping he likes/doesn't like. So I find homemade pizza works well as he is in control of the flavours!
When you make your own dough, the results are always great, this particular dough has a lovely flavour. Plus you can stretch out super thin if you like your base to be crispy. Or have a more doughy base if you prefer. If you want a inexpensive way of feeding a family this is the ultimate, I often use 'Pizza night' as a way of using up left overs from the fridge. Ham, salami, mushrooms, bacon, rocket etc... Or be more indulgent and buy some delicious Parma Ham or Prosciutto from the deli! The below recipe will make 4 large pizzas or 4 medium pizzas and dough left to make garlic pizza bread or dough balls (which my kids LOVE).
If you have never made pizza before, or have tried other recipes but not got on well with it, please try this. You will never look back! As all my recipes, it is fool proof and minimum effort, maximum output. Enjoy and please tweet me pictures or let me know how you get on!
Recipe:
500g Strong white bread flour
1 level dessert spoon salt
1 level dessert spoon caster sugar
1 sachet (7.5g) fast action yeast
325ml luke warm water
2 table spoons extra virgin olive oil (if you haven't got extra virgin, olive oil works just fine as I found out last week!)
Toppings of your choice.
Tomato sauce: There are lots of options here. You can use passata straight from a jar, or tomato puree spread on the base if strapped for time.
Alternatively:
The ultimate pizza base sauce: Finely chop an onion and garlic. Fry in a pan with a little olive oil. When the onions are nicely caramelised, add a 500 can/jar of passatta. Bring to the boil and then reduce down to a simmer. Season well with salt and pepper and add fresh basil.
Method:
Wash your hands and remove any rings as this will get messy!
Pre heat your oven to 220c. The hotter the better!
Put your pizza tray/oven tray(s) in the oven, as the pizza needs to go onto a hot tray for a nice crispy base.
Add the water, yeast, oil and sugar to a measuring jug and give a good stir. Leave for a couple of mins to settle whilst you do the next bit.
Weigh out the flour, sieve into a large roomy mixing bowl and add the salt.
Use a fork to make a well in the middle of the bowl of flour for the water/yeast mixture.
Slowly pour in the water mixture into the middle of the 'well' stirring with a fork as you go. Once all the liquid is incorporated, use your hands to knead together for about 3 mins until you have a nice smooth dough in a ball.
Cover the bowl with a tea towel to leave to rise for an hour. It will be ready when the dough has doubled in size.
Once risen, wash your hands and lightly flour them. Now, knock the air out of the dough with your hands until you have a nice smooth ball again. If you are using the dough straight away, separate the dough into portions. If you have made it in advance, you can put the dough into a sandwich bag and put in the fridge until you need it? Incidentally it also freezes well.
Use your hands to stretch into pizza bases, or a rolling pin if you prefer?
I tend to put the bases onto a piece of foil, as you can then put the toppings on and transfer them to the hot baking trays when they are ready to cook.
Add your tomato sauce and then toppings of your choice. I recommend putting the cheese on last.
Bake in the oven for 6-10 mins as ovens vary. Try and put in the middle of the oven, so you can watch the pizza cooking through the oven door.
Enjoy!
