Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucy  I've made my own pizza before, but I have to honestly say that this is one of the few things I'd much rather just buy. I always say that the best thing about the fact that New Yorkers move to Florida in droves is that they bring their pizza making skills with them. :tongue2: We usually order pizza on Friday nights, when we are both so tired we can barely move. I almost never, ever cook on Friday. It's either take out, leftovers, or salad.
If I had a really good dough recipe, I might make it more, but I haven't found one I really like all that much. |
Lucy,
Pizza dough is easy to make:
- 4 C All purpose flour
- pinch of salt
- 1 packet of yeast
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- enough warm water to form a dough ball
Add all ingredients but water in a stand mixer bowl with a dough hook (or a mixing bowl and mix with a spoon)
Add water, 1 C at a time until the dough comes together and starts to form a ball.
Move the dough to the counter and knead for 7 to 10 minutes and form into a ball.
Place dough ball into a lightly oiled bowl, cover and place in a warm place until the dough doubles (about 1 hour).
Punch down the ball and knead briefly to remove any big air pockets.
Separate the ball into 4 equal pieces.
Shape them into a ball and, if not using them right away, wrap in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil and freeze them for as long as a month.
You can shape the dough as thin or as thick as you like and (remember the words of Todd English) "never trust a round pizza!"
The thing that make home made pizza better than store bought is that you can buy better cheese than they use in the pizza shops.
My home made pizza has $2 to $4 of great cheese on it. If a pizza shop used that kind of cheese, I'd be paying $25 for a pizza.
You can make your own great tomato sauce too.
If you can find DOP San Marzano tomatoes, you will have great success.
Sauté 1/2 onion diced and 1/2 carrot shredded and 1/2 tsp dried thyme in 3 Tbs of olive oil until softened.
Take a can of San Marzano tomatoes and crush them by hand.
Add them and their juices to the sauté and stir them through.
Simmer for 30 minutes or until the sauce has the consistency you want.
Taste for salt and you are ready.
The next trick is to get a baking stone for you oven.
Pre-heat it for 30 to 60 minutes at the highest temperature your oven will go.
I do mine on 550 F Convection.
It will take about 6 to 8 minutes to bake a great pizza this way