Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Add the yeast and sugar to the water. Add in 3 cups of flour. Reserve the 1/2 cup for later if the dough remains too sticky. Add the egg, olive oil and salt on top of the flour.
- Using your dough hook knead the mixture until it starts coming together. If the dough is too sticky after 2-3 minutes, add the 1/2 cup of flour as needed. You may need to add 1-2 tablespoons more depending on your brand of flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then knead on a medium low speed for ten minutes, or until the dough comes together and is smooth. (The dough should be light and soft, not dense and tough. Once it rises it gets easier to handle)
- If you are kneading the dough by hand it may take 12 minutes. Look out for a smooth texture and elasticity. The dough should not get too tough. Flour your surface as needed.
- Grease a large bowl with oil or cooking spray and place the dough inside. Cover with a kitchen towel and let it rise for at least 1 hour. It should double in size. It may take longer to rise in dryer climates or in the winter. (You can place in a large airtight container and keep in the fridge overnight as well. Let it come to room temperature the next day before using)
- Sprinkle your counter with flour and portion the dough and shape into disks. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes before rolling out into a pizza crust. Sprinkle corn meal on the bottom of your pizza pan before adding the dough(This step is optional. It creates texture). Top with sauce, cheese and toppings of your choice and bake at 400 F for 15-20 minutes, or until the crust is cooked through and the cheese is starting to turn golden brown.
Notes
Flour variations. I have never tried it myself, but you can make this whole wheat by using 1/2 whole wheat flour and 1/2 plain flour. If you have bread flour, use it. Bread flour makes a great pizza dough.
Bread dough. You can replace the water with warm milk to create a soft dough that can be used for bread rolls or chicken bread,
Texture. The dough should not be tough. If you've ever made bread before, you'll know that the dough should be light and elastic, not tough like cookie dough. The lighter the dough, the more airy the pizza crust will be. It should be easy to manage with a dusting of flour, but not too dense.
Baking. Always make sure your oven is fully preheated before baking your pizza. The high heat gives the pizza its rise and fluffy center. Low temperatures will result in a denser crust.
For a takeout pizza like crust, brush your pizza pan liberally with oil before adding the pizza dough. the dough will fry and give a Pizza Hut like crust.
What to make. The dough is so versatile. You can use it to make calzones, stuffed breads, and even breadsticks.