01/12/2012
A few of you have asked for my pizze crust recipe. Here you go!
1 1/2 cups water, 110 degrees F (if the water is too hot, it will kill the yeast; too cold, and the yeast won't activate)
1 teaspoon sugar
1 envelope instant dry yeast
3 1/2 cups bread flour, plus more for rolling
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus 2 teaspoons
Place the water and sugar in a small bowl. Pour the yeast into the water and stir to dissolve. Put the bread flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook and combine. While the mixer is running, add the water/yeast mixture (make sure you get all of the yeast into the bowl) plus 2 tablespoons of the oil. Beat until the dough forms into a ball. If the dough is sticky, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together in a solid ball. If the dough is too dry, add additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured surface (don't use too much flour, as this will get incorporated into the dough as you knead). Gently knead 6-8 minutes to create a smooth, firm ball.
Grease a large bowl with the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil. Add the dough to the bowl, rub a little of the olive oil on top of the dough, and cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Put the bowl in a warm area to let it double in size, about 1 hour.
Punch the dough down once it has risen to release the air. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into 2 equal pieces. Cover each piece with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel to let them rest for 10 minutes.
For a thinner crust, you can repeat the process with the 2 equal pieces of dough. Let each piece double again in size in a warm area for about hour. Punch each dough ball down for a second time. Divide each into 2 pieces, for a total of 4 balls of dough. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
* If you do not have bread flour, you can use all-purpose flour. Bread flour, however, will give you a crispier crust.
Let me know questions. Happy eating!
