Homemade Pizza

My daughter is crazy about western food. So I have to cook pizzas, pastas, dumplings, steaks etc, for her at least twice a week.

I was inspired by Azie Kitchen to make this pizza dough. The dough is super easy to make. Top it with sauce, your favourite toppings and cheese then bake until bubbly. Awesome homemade pizza!

This recipe makes 2 large pizzas or 4 smaller pizzas and it is so much better than most store-bought doughs. If you’re feeding a larger crowd, you can double or triple the basic ingredients, the recipe scales up just fine. I also use the same recipe for calzones. 

Homemade Pizza

Ingredients

1½ cup warm water (3/4 cup plain water plus ¾ cup hot water)

2 tsp active dry yeast (Mauripan Brand)

¼ tsp sugar

4 cups all-purpose flour                                       

½ tsp salt

¼ cup olive oil (plus more for coating the bowl)

1 small jar of Prego brand traditional spaghetti sauce (379gm)

Favorite pizza toppings, as desired

Directions

1.    In a small bowl, combine the warm water and sugar then followed by the yeast and stir to combine well. Let the mixture sit until it begins to foam, about 10 minutes.

2.    In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt then make a well in the center. Add the yeast mixture and the olive oil. Using a fork or a small knife, incorporate the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients until you’ve formed a floury and shaggy dough.

3.    Knead the dough with your hands until it does not sticks to your hands like bubblegum however if the dough still sticky then add a tablespoon of flour at a time until it’s easier to work with; avoid adding too much flour if possible.

4.    On a lightly floured surface, continue to knead the dough gently, a few times, by pressing the heels of your hands into the dough, pushing forward slightly. This is called "punching" the dough.

5.    Lightly coat a clean bowl with olive oil then add the dough, turning once to coat the dough in oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put it in a warm area to let it double in size, about 1 hour.

6.    Preheat the oven to 240C. Punch down the center of the dough with your fist then divide it into 2 equal pieces.

7.    Lightly grease a 12-inch pizza pan with butter and work with a piece of pizza dough at a time.  Stretch the dough with your hand into a bigger and thinner circle to fit into the pan then prick the crust all over with a fork. 

8.    Spread with half jar of Prego brand traditional spaghetti sauce then loads the dough with the desired toppings and grated mozzarella cheese and bake it at 240C for 5 minutes then at 220C for another 15 minutes. Remove carefully and let it cool for 5 minutes then cut and serve.

Note

All-purpose flour will give you a chewier crust however if you can’t find all-purpose flour then you can substitute it with a bread flour which will gives you a much crisper crust.