Homemade Pizza

Homemade Pizza: A Delicious and Easy Recipe to Make at Home

 

There’s nothing quite like a homemade pizza – hot, delicious, and made just the way you like it. Whether you’re a fan of classic Margherita or prefer to pile on the toppings, making pizza from scratch is a fun and easy way to enjoy a fresh and tasty meal at home.

 

 

➤ To Make This Recipe, You Will Need The Following Ingrédients :

 

For the Dough:

2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast, equal to 1 packet. See notes

¾ cup warm water, 105-115° F

2 teaspoons sugar

2 cups all-purpose or bread flour, plus up to 1/3 cup as needed (250-290 g)

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for bowl/crust

 

For the Pizza:

½ cup pizza sauce

1 cup mozzarella cheese, whole milk low moisture

pizza toppings, as desired

Pizza Garnishes

Roughly chopped parsley

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Red pepper flakes

 

 

 

➤ To make this delicious Homemade Pizza :

 

 

In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water. (The warm water and sugar activates the yeast.) Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 5 minutes.

 

In a large bowl, add the salt, garlic powder, and 1/2 of the flour. Stir to combine. Add the warm water/yeast mixture and the olive oil.

 

Use a wooden spoon to stir well, then gradually stir in the remaining cup of flour.

 

Continue to stir until an elastic ball has formed, slightly sticking to the sides of the bowl.

 

Dust your hands with flour and knead the dough in the bowl for 3-5 minutes. If the dough becomes too sticky, gradually add additional flour in small dustings, up to 1/3 cup additional.

 

 

If you poke the dough with your finger and it slowly comes back, it’s ready to rise. Shape into a ball.

 

Drizzle a separate large glass bowl with a little olive oil and use a pastry brush to distribute the oil on the bottom and sides. Add the ball of dough.

 

Cover with plastic wrap and allow it to rise for 30-60+ minutes, until doubled in size. (This gives time to for the gluten to develop, which allows the dough to stretch without breaking.) You can also let it rise in the fridge overnight.

 

Preheat oven to 450° F during the last 30+ minutes to ensure it has plenty of time to get fully up to temperature. Place the pizza pan (or stone) in the oven as it preheats.

 

Gently punch down the dough and knead it 5 times to smooth it out.

 

Spread the dough into an even 12-inch circle, either with your hands or with a rolling pin. (I also like to use my fingers to form a crust along the edge.)

 

 

 

Remove the pizza pan from the oven and sprinkle it with a thin, even layer of flour. Transfer the dough onto it.

 

Use a fork to gently poke holes in the dough to prevent the crust from bubbling up as it bakes. Drizzle it with 1 tablespoon olive oil and use a pastry brush to spread it in an even layer over the dough.

 

Top with pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings.

Bake for 13-15 minutes. Even if the cheese is melted, give the crust enough time to cook and crisp on the bottom, resist the urge to remove it too early, but don’t let it get too brown on the top. Mine takes 15 minutes exactly.

 

Remove the pizza from the oven and use a spatula to lift the crust to check the bottom, ensuring it’s slightly browned and crisp.

 

Garnish with parsley, grated Parmesan, and red pepper flakes if desired. Slice and serve!

 

 

➤Pro Tips:

 

1. Use a pizza stone for a crispy crust: A pizza stone helps distribute heat evenly and creates a crispy crust. Preheat the stone in the oven for at least 30 minutes before placing the pizza on it.
2. Don’t overdo it with the toppings: While it’s tempting to add all your favorite toppings, too many toppings can weigh down the pizza and make the crust soggy. Stick to a few toppings that complement each other.
3. Use a combination of cheeses: While mozzarella cheese is the classic choice for pizza, you can experiment with other types of cheese like cheddar, Parmesan, or goat cheese to add some extra flavor.
4. Let the dough rest: Letting the dough rest for a few hours helps activate the yeast and allows the gluten to develop, resulting in a chewy and flavorful crust.
5. Experiment with different sauces: While tomato sauce is the most common pizza sauce, you can try making pesto, Alfredo sauce, or barbecue sauce for a unique twist on the classic pizza.

 

 

➤Storing Leftover Pizza:

 

If you have leftover pizza, you can store it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. To do this, wrap the pizza slices in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place them in an airtight container. When you’re ready to eat them, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake for 10-12 minutes or until heated through.

 

 

➤Make-Ahead Method:

 

●If you don’t have time to make pizza from scratch, you can make the dough and sauce ahead of time and freeze them for later use.

 

●To freeze the pizza dough, form it into a ball and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Place it in a resealable freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use it, thaw it in the fridge overnight and let it come to room temperature before rolling it out.

 

●To freeze the pizza sauce, let it cool to room temperature and transfer it to a resealable freezer bag or airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use it, thaw it in the fridge overnight or microwave it until it’s heated through.

 

 

In conclusion, making homemade pizza is a fun and delicious way to experiment with different flavors and toppings. With these pro tips and a little practice, you can create a perfect pizza in the comfort of your own home.

 

 

This is an easy one and oh so good. 

 

Try it out and don’t forget to RATE and COMMENT below!