Hope McCarthyComment

Pizza Dough

Hope McCarthyComment
Pizza Dough

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 1/3 cup warm water- 100-110 degrees

  • 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast

  • 1 1/2 Tbsp granulated sugar

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil

  • 1 1/2 tsp salt

  • 3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

  • 1 Tbsp Italian herbs (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In the bowl of a standing mixer or just a regular bowl, whisk together warm water, yeast and sugar. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes.

  2. Add olive oil, salt and flour and Italian herbs (optional). Mix in the standing mixer on low for 7 minutes or turn the dough out on a floured surface and knead for at least 7 minutes. Dough is ready when you poke it and it bounces back a bit.

  3. Lightly grease a large bowl with olive oil and put dough in it. Cover with plastic wrap. Place in a cool oven with the light turned on to rise.

  4. Let rise for 60-90 minutes. You want the dough to double in size.

  5. Remove dough from cool oven. Divide dough in half and shape into 2 balls. You can cook 2 pizzas or you can put one of the balls in the freezer for another time. Let the dough rest for 15 minutes.

  6. Preheat oven and pizza stone to 450 degrees for at least 30 minutes. You want the pizza stone to be piping hot.

  7. Using a rolling pin, roll the pizza dough out into a circle the size of your pizza stone.

  8. Remove pizza stone from the oven, place pizza dough on top and add sauce, cheese and toppings.

  9. Bake pizza on middle rack for 15 minutes.

  10. Let pizza rest for 10 minutes before slicing.