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5 from 3 votes

Our Favorite Pizza Dough

Make a batch of dough, pull together some toppings and have your own Pizza Fantasy Night!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Rising Time40 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: Italian
Author: LydiaF

Ingredients

  • 3 cups flour plus extra for kneading
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2-3 teaspoons yeast use one packet if your yeast is premeasured
  • 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups warm body temperature or cooler water
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

Rick's Method (Rick eschews a written recipe...most of the time he gets good results):

  • Whisk yeast with the sugar and water in a large bowl. Set aside to proof.
  • When the bubbles form add the salt and olive oil and begin stirring in the flour about a cup at a time until a ball forms.
  • The dough will be very wet so sprinkle a generous amount of flour on a board and knead. Add more flour as necessary to prevent sticking. Eventually the dough will change texture and become smooth and elastic. Rinse out the mixing bowl, rub olive oil over the dough and put it in the bowl. Cover with a towel and allow to rise until doubled (it will take anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour)
  • When doubled, punch the dough down and knead briefly. Cut into portions and roll, stretch, form the shape of whatever you're going to cook the pizza on.

Lydia's Method (the same I use to make flatbreads)

  • Set aside about 1/4 cup of flour
  • Mix the flour, sugar, salt and yeast together in a large mixing bowl.
  • Make a well in the center and pour the olive oil in.
  • Add a cup of the water, hold the rest in reserve
  • Use a wooden spoon to mix everything together. Add more water if necessary to help the dough form a ball.
  • Put a small amount of the extra flour onto your kneading surface and turn the dough out onto it.
  • Knead for about 10 minutes. The dough will be sticky. Keep adding small amounts of the extra flour as needed to prevent the dough from sticking. If it seems too dry, sprinkle it with water.
  • Continue to knead until the dough changes and becomes smooth and silky. Form it into a ball.
  • Rinse out the mixing bowl, rub olive oil over the dough and put it in the bowl. Cover with a towel and allow to rise until doubled (it will take anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour)
  • When doubled, punch the dough down and knead briefly. Cut into portions and set aside, covered with a damp towel for about 20 minutes. (To me, allowing the dough to rest makes it easier to shape).

Baking the pizza

  • No matter which method you choose, make sure the oven is very hot, 450°F/230°C.
  • If you use a stone, place it in the oven while it's heating.
  • Top the pizza, taking care not to overload it. Bake for 10 - 15 minutes until the bottom is cooked through.

Notes

What toppings will you choose?