Simple Pizza Dough
I used to buy pizza dough in the store, until I realized how much better it tastes when I make it from scratch. Sure, in a pinch, prepared pizza dough will work, but with just a few easy steps and some patience,
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (use bread flour for a crispier crust), plus more for dusting
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 1 instant dry yeast
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cup warm water (about 110ºF, I don't use a thermometer, I use very warm tap water)
- 2 tbsp olive oil, plus more for oiling bowl
Instructions
- Lightly oil a large bowl and set aside. Attach the dough hook to your stand mixer. Combine flour, sugar, yeast and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and combine. While the mixer is running, add the water and 2 tablespoons of the oil and knead 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. Knead for several minutes, then shape into a smooth, firm ball. Place dough in the oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Put it in a warm area to let it double in size, which takes about an hour. if you have the time, remove the plastic wrap, punch the dough down and let rise again for another hour. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into desired sized pieces for your recipe.
