Pizza Dough
This simple pizza dough recipe creates a crust that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, perfect for homemade pizzas with your favorite toppings.
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- 600 g 600g (4 cups) bread flour or pizza flour (or plain/all-purpose) Bread flour is preferred for a chewier texture.
- 2 tsp 2 tsp (6g) rapid rise or instant yeast
- 2.5 tsp 2.5 tsp (15g) salt (kosher/cooking salt)
- 4 tsp 4 tsp (20g) white sugar
- 4 tbsp 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 330 ml 330 ml (1 1/3 cups) warm tap water Water should be warm to activate yeast.
- 1 tbsp 1 tbsp extra flour For dusting.
- 2 tsp 2 tsp extra olive oil For coating the rising bowl.
Toppings (per pizza)
- 130 g 130g / 1 1/3 cups mozzarella cheese, freshly grated
- 1/4 cup 1/4 cup pizza sauce
- 1 cup Toppings of choice Choose your favorite toppings.
Instructions
Dough Preparation
- Mix dry ingredients: Place flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon.
- Add wet ingredients: Make a well in the center. Pour in olive oil and warm water. Mix to combine until the dough comes away from the side of the bowl.
- Knead the dough for 5 minutes on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Shape into a ball.
First Rise
- Drizzle a large bowl with extra olive oil. Place the dough in, turning to coat with oil.
- Cover with cling wrap and put in a warm place for 1-2 hours until it doubles in size.
Optional Fridge for Flavor Development
- After rising, refrigerate the bowl with the dough for up to 5 days without punching it down to improve flavor.
Form and Second Rise
- Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured surface and shape it into a log, fully deflating it.
- Cut the dough into 3 equal portions and shape each into a ball, placing them smooth side up on a tray.
- Cover with a damp tea towel and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour.
Stretch and Prepare
- Preheat the oven to its maximum temperature, ideally 275°C (530°F).
- Sprinkle flour on your work surface, place one dough ball on top, gently deflate and stretch into a round shape.
- Transfer to a pizza pan and adjust the shape as needed.
Topping and Cooking
- Spread with pizza sauce, cheese, and your choice of toppings.
- Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden.
- Cut into wedges and serve immediately.
Notes
Serve your homemade pizza hot from the oven. It can also be paired with dipping sauces or a refreshing salad. If you have leftover dough, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze after the first rise for up to 3 months.