How to Make Pizza Dough

Knowing how to make pizza dough at home is fun and can save you a lot of money. You can create pizzas with your choice of toppings and shave hundreds of calories off your diet. There is a common misconception that making pizza dough is difficult. This is not true. With a few tips, trick and practice, you can learn how to make pizza dough quickly and effortlessly.

What You Need to Make Pizza Dough

If it’s your first attempt at making pizza dough, it is best to keep ingredients as few and simple as possible. You need 2 cups of flour, ¾ cup of warm water, 1 envelope of active dry yeast, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt and 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil. Make sure water is warm and not hot, and opt for fibrous flour instead of white.

How to Make Pizza Dough

It is important to note that the amount of water you use will affect the volume of your pizza dough. You might need to add or reduce water depending on whether you like pizzas thick or thinner.

Step 1: In a large bowl, mix water, yeast and sugar. Combine ingredients thoroughly and allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes. If brownish foam forms on the top of your mixture, it means the yeast is fresh. If not, it is advisable to purchase another envelope of yeast.

Step 2: Stir in only 1 cup of flour into the yeast mixture. Mix well and set mixture aside for 30 minutes.

Step 3: Add the salt and olive oil, combining ingredients thoroughly. Stir in another cup of flour.

Step 4: Use your hands to knead the dough for 15 minutes. If it sticks, add a pinch of flour until it no longer sticks to your bowl.

Step 5: Pour a teaspoon of olive oil and spread it all over the dough. Transfer pizza dough to a new, clean bowl and cover the top with plastic wrap.

Step 6: Place oiled dough in a warm area like a sunny window or oven for 40-45 minutes. When it has doubled in size, knead it one more time and refrigerate overnight.

Step 7: Turning the dough into crust is (for most people) the best part about learning how to make pizza dough. Remove dough from the fridge and use hands to pat it into a circle. Here, you get to decide how thick your pizza should be.

Step 8: Preheat oven to 230 degrees or 450F. Lightly grease a baking tray and place pizza dough evenly on it. Add any topping you like and bake until it turns golden brown. Remove from oven and serve.

Cooking Tips

One of the best perks about knowing how to make pizza dough is choosing your favorite toppings. You can brush the crust with tomato paste, layer it cheese and add anything from salami to avocadoes. To make healthier pizza, form a thinner crust and use lean meats, vegetables and even pineapples as toppings. You can also experiment with low-carb sauces to boost the taste.

Learning how to make pizza dough has many, many benefits. Not only do you get to create your own flavors, you can also control the amount of calories your pizzas contain. With just a few ingredients, you can enjoy restaurant-standard pizzas right from your very own kitchen. Bon appétit!