dougthecook Homemade Pizza

Introduction

This is my favorite way of making homemade pizza. I have made this and small variations many, many times with great success.

Pizza Dough Recipe

After trying many, many pizza dough recipes this is my favorite. I have made it several times with great success. I use a breadmaker though it turns out fine using a dough hook.

Ingredients

1 cup warm water (105 - 115 F)
2 TBL corn oil (or extra virgin olive oil)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
2 3/4 cups white flour
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 tsp active dry yeast

Directions

Combine white flour, wheat flour, and cornmeal into bowl and either sift or stir with a whisk.

For breadmaker:
Put in water, sugar, salt, corn oil.
Put in flour mixture.
Sprinkle yeast on top.
Mix on dough setting.

Let the dough rise for an hour then punch down. Put dough in refrigerator for 20 minutes (overnight is best) before making the pizza. This recipe made enough for two 9 inch pizzas.

Preparing the Pizza Dough

Pizza dough in iron skillet ready for toppings

Bring pizza dough to room temperature. Split dough in half. Spread dough by hand to cover pan. Using a rolling pin damages the dough and makes it tough.

I do not put any oil in the pan since it is seasoned.

Brush the top of the dough with olive oil to prevent the sauce from soaking into the dough.

Pizza Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

16 ounce (2 cups) petite diced tomatoes or fresh Roma tomatoes
1 T sugar
1 1/2 T dried oregano (or 2 T fresh, chopped)
2 tsp parsley flakes (or 4 teaspoons fresh, chopped)
1 1/2 tsp basil (or 1 T fresh, chopped)
1/2 tsp crushed dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 tsp fennel seeds

Directions

Combine pizza sauce ingredients and simmer 15 minutes. I reduced it until the sauce was as thick as molasses. The sauce was pretty chunky, which I like. If a thinner sauce is wanted, puree the entire finished product in a blender. Better taste is attained if left to sit overnight in the refrigerator.

Pizza Preparation

Spread the sauce to about one inch of the edge. Put on the your favorite toppings and shredded mozzarella cheese. Mine is mushrooms and red peppers.

Cooking the Pizza

Pizza ready to go into oven

Put the pan on the bottom rack at 450 degrees for 20 minutes or until the cheese is slightly brown.

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