Description
This homemade pizza recipe features a classic hand-tossed crust topped with savory pizza sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and your choice of toppings. Perfect for a family dinner or casual get-together, this recipe guides you through making the dough from scratch, letting it rise, and baking to golden perfection in a hot oven.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 cup warm water (110°F/45°C)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Toppings
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Toppings of your choice (pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, sausage, etc.)
Instructions
- Activate the Yeast: In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active and ready to use.
- Make the Dough: Add the all-purpose flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir the ingredients together until a shaggy dough forms.
- Knead the Dough: Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead it for about 10 minutes until it becomes smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky but not sticky.
- Let the Dough Rise: Place the kneaded dough into a greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, and set it in a warm place to rise. Allow it to double in size, about 1 hour.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it inside the oven so it heats up while the oven preheats.
- Prepare the Dough for Baking: Punch down the risen dough to release air. On a floured surface, roll out the dough to your preferred thickness, shaping it into a circle or rectangle depending on your baking sheet or pizza stone.
- Add Sauce, Cheese, and Toppings: Transfer the rolled-out dough onto a baking sheet or pizza peel if using a stone. Evenly spread the pizza sauce over the dough, sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese, and arrange your chosen toppings on top.
- Bake the Pizza: Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust edges are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Slice it into portions and serve warm.
Notes
- For a crisper crust, use a pizza stone preheated in the oven.
- Be sure the water is warm but not hot to avoid killing the yeast.
- Kneading time is important for gluten development that gives the crust its chewy texture.
- Customize toppings as per dietary preferences or seasonal availability.
- Leftover pizza can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated for best taste.
