Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Homemade Pizza: Dough & Tomato Sauce


Pizza Dough

4 c. flour
1.5 c lukewarm water
1 packet yeast
1 t. sugar
2 T olive oil
1 t. salt

Mix yeast an sugar into 1/2 cup of the warm water; let sit 5-8 minutes.

Mix flour and salt together in large bowl. Add additional 1 cup of water, yeast mixture and olive oil to form pizza dough, adding extra flour or water as needed.

Turn dough into an olive-oil coated bowl, cover with towel in a warm area for 1 hour. After 1 hour, punch down dough and let rise another hour.

Roll out on floured countertop, and transfer to pizza peel sprinkled with cornmeal.

Spray or brush a thin coat of olive oil on crust. Sprinkle with tomatoes/sauce, and other desired ingredients. Bake at 400 degree until cheese and crusts are browned to your taste.

TOMATO SAUCE

Saute 1 t. garlic in olive oil. Add 1 can of tomatoes, 1 t. oregano, and 1 t. basil, and simmer until juice reduces.


PIZZA INGREDIENT IDEAS

Cheeses
  • Fresh mozzarella (skip the bagged, shredded stuff! Just chunk up fresh mozzarella around the pizza.
  • Fontina
  • Feta
  • Bleu cheese
Meats
  • Sausage
  • Pepperoni
  • Bacon
  • Canadian Bacon
  • Shrimp
  • Crab
  • Chicken

Vegetables/Fruits/Herbs
  • Mushrooms: fresh or canned
  • Roasted red peppers
  • artichokes
  • garlic
  • onions
  • Olives: black, green, kalamata
  • Tomatoes: fresh sliced or sundried
  • green peppers
  • jalapenos
  • spinach
  • sliced pears
  • pineapple

  • Basil
  • Cilantro

  • Red pepper flakes
  • caraway seeds