Perfect pizza dough
Updated Nov 24, 2014
Chatelaine
Instructions
- Stir 2 tbsp flour with 1/2 cup warm water and yeast in a large bowl. Let stand until cloudy and bubbly, about 5 min. Stir in remaining flour, 1/2 cup more warm water, oil and salt. Stir until dough starts to come together. Transfer dough to a well-floured surface. Knead until dough is smooth, 2 to 3 min. Lightly spray same bowl with oil and return dough. Cover loosely with a kitchen towel and let rest for 1 hour. Dough should double in size.
Toss your takeout menus! This quick and easy recipe makes fresh and fast pizza (and lots more too!)
Switch It Up!
Keep it interesting with these delicious variations
Whole-Wheat
Instead of 1 cup of all-purpose flour, use 1 cup whole-wheat flour and 2 tbsp ground flax seeds. Continue with recipe.
Herb & Garlic
Stir in 1 tbsp each of finely chopped fresh oregano, thyme and parsley and 1 tsp garlic powder along with oil and salt. Continue with recipe.
Green-Onion
Instead of olive oil, use dark sesame oil. Stir in 1/2 cup finely chopped green onions along with oil and salt. Continue with recipe.
Cheese
Knead 1 cup finely grated cheddar into perfect pizza dough before using.
5 Ways to Use it!
Start with pizza and take it from there!
Pizza
Divide perfect pizza dough or whole-wheat dough into 4 portions. Roll each into an 8-in. circle. Add pizza toppings. Bake at 425F for 15 min.
Two-Bite Garlic Rolls
Divide perfect pizza dough in half. Roll 1 portion into a 10 × 16-in. rectangle with long side closest to counter edge. Spread with 1/4 cup garlic butter. Roll up dough into a log. Slice into 12 rounds. Lay, cut-side down, in a greased 24-cup mini-muffin tin. Repeat with remaining dough. Brush with olive oil. Bake at 350F until golden, 20 to 25 min.
Asian Flatbread
Divide green-onion dough into 8 portions. Form into balls. Roll each into an 8-in. circle. Heat a non-stick pan over medium-high. Add 1 tsp oil, then a pancake. Cook until bottom is golden, 1 to 2 min. Flip and cook about 2 more min. Repeat. Serve with Chinese or Indian dishes, or use as sandwich wraps.
Focaccia
Grease an 8 × 8-in. baking dish with 1/4 cup olive oil. Pat any dough variation into dish until it fits. Dimple surface with fingertips. Place half an olive into each dimple. Brush with olive oil. Bake at 350F until golden brown, 30 min.
Calzone
Divide perfect pizza dough into 4 portions. Roll each into a 9-in. circle. Lay pizza toppings on one half of circle. Fold over filling to form a half-moon packet. Seal edges. Brush tops with oil. Bake at 425F until golden, 15 min.
