Homemade Pizza & Pizza Dough
Introduction to pizza
Pizza is one of America's favorite foods. It's easy to see why: pizza is delicious, versatile, and relatively easy to make at home. Whether you're in the mood for a classic cheese pizza or something more adventurous, like a white pizza with pesto and sun-dried tomatoes, there's a pizza out there for everyone.
Making your own pizza at home is surprisingly simple, and it's a great way to get the whole family involved in the kitchen. The first step is to make the dough. You can either use store-bought dough or make your own from scratch. If you're feeling ambitious, we've got a great recipe for homemade pizza dough that yields enough for two large pizzas.
Once you've got your dough ready to go, it's time to start assembling your toppings. Again, feel free to get creative here - the sky's the limit when it comes to topping a pizza. Once you've decided on your toppings, it's time to preheat the oven and get cooking.
Homemade pizzas are best cooked in a hot oven (around 500 degrees Fahrenheit), so don't be afraid to crank up the heat. Cook time will vary depending on how thick your dough is and how many toppings you've added, but most pizzas will be done in about 20 minutes.
Now comes the hard part: waiting for your pizza to cool enough so that you can actually eat it without burning
The history of pizza
Pizza is a food that has been around for centuries. The history of pizza is long and complex, and it is a dish that has been enjoyed by people all over the world.
The word “pizza” first appeared in a document from the court of Gaeta in 997 AD. The document stated that a certain man owed the bishop of Gaeta some money, and he offered to pay his debt with “a certain amount of baked bread covered with cheese and herbs.” This is one of the earliest known references to pizza.
Pizza as we know it today originated in Italy, specifically in the city of Naples. Pizza was originally made as a cheap food for the poor, as it was simply a flatbread with tomatoes and other toppings. However, it soon became popular with all social classes, and it eventually spread to other countries.
Today, pizza is one of the most popular foods in the world, and it comes in many different varieties. Whether you like your pizza with traditional toppings or something more unique, there’s a pizza out there for everyone to enjoy!
Types of pizza dough
Pizza dough is typically made from a combination of flour, water, yeast, and salt. The proportions of these ingredients vary depending on the type of pizza dough you're making.
There are three main types of pizza dough: Neapolitan, New York-style, and Chicago-style.
Neapolitan pizza dough is made with a high proportion of water to flour, which gives it a softer, more delicate texture. This type of pizza dough is traditionally cooked in a wood-fired oven at a very high temperature for a short amount of time.
New York-style pizza dough has a lower proportion of water to flour than Neapolitan dough, which gives it a slightly crispier texture. This type of pizza dough is typically cooked in a gas or coal-fired oven at a moderate temperature for a longer amount of time.
Chicago-style pizza dough has the highest proportion of flour to water of all the types of pizza doughs, which gives it a thick, fluffy texture. This type of pizza dough is usually deep-dish style and is baked in a pan that has been coated with oil or butter.
How to make pizza dough
Assuming you don't have a bread machine and will be kneading the dough by hand, combine the following ingredients in a large bowl:
1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) of lukewarm water
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil or vegetable oil
Start by proofing the yeast. This is simply combining the yeast with warm water and sugar and allowing it to sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes foamy. If your yeast doesn't foam, it's likely dead and you'll need to start over with fresh yeast.
Once the yeast is foamy, add the flour and salt to the bowl and stir until combined. Then, pour in the oil and continue stirring until everything is well combined.
Now it's time to knead the dough! Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes, adding more flour as needed to keep it from sticking. The dough should be smooth and elastic when you're done.
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap, and allow it to rise in a warm place for 30-60 minutes. Once it has doubled in size, it's ready to use!
Homemade pizza recipes
When it comes to pizza, there are endless possibilities for toppings and flavor combinations. But at the end of the day, it all starts with a great dough recipe. Whether you're looking for a classic hand-tossed dough or something a little bit different, we've got you covered with our favorite homemade pizza recipes.
For a classic hand-tossed pizza dough, start with this recipe from Martha Stewart. It yields enough dough for two 12-inch pizzas, and only requires active dry yeast, all-purpose flour, salt, sugar, and olive oil. If you're feeling adventurous, try out this recipe for grilled pizza dough from Serious Eats. The key to success is to roll out the dough as thinly as possible so that it doesn't tear when you transfer it to the grill.
If you're looking for something a little bit different, why not try whole wheat pizza dough? This recipe from King Arthur Flour is made with whole wheat flour, bread flour, olive oil, salt, and water. For an even heartier option, try this recipe for ancient grain pizza dough from Bon Appétit. It uses a mix of whole wheat flour and other alternative flours like spelled and rye.
Conclusion
Making pizza at home is a fun and easy way to impress your friends and family. With a little bit of prep work, you can have fresh pizza dough ready to go whenever the mood strikes you. And, once you've mastered the art of making pizza dough, the possibilities are endless — you can top your pizzas with anything from traditional marinara and mozzarella to more unique toppings like barbecue chicken or roasted vegetables. So what are you waiting for? Grab a pizza stone and get cooking!
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