homemade pizza dough

This is a short video of my favorite pizza dough… I’ve been making this recipe since, ugh going to date myself here… 1992.

It’s so delicious that I’ve never bought pre-made dough or crust since.

You will need:

• 3 cups of flour
• packet of yeast
• 1 tsp sugar
• salt
• cracked pepper and/or red crushed pepper (optional)
• 2T honey
• 2T olive oil
• corn meal (when ready to bake)

Preheat the oven to 425F.

Empty packet of yeast into a glass and add 1/2c of warm water. I usually let the water run until I get it just right, i.e. not too hot but not too tepid. Adding a teaspoon of sugar will feed the yeast and really get it going. I place the yeast on the preheating oven to keep it warm.

In a large mixing bowl add 3 cups of flour and make a well. Add the honey, olive oil, salt and any other optional ingredients. I always add crushed red pepper and cracked black pepper but have also experimented with adding an egg, herbs and hard cheese.

After the yeast is nice and bubbly add 1/2 cup of cool water and then pour the contents of the glass into the mixing bowl. I gently fold a few times with a fork. I’ve heard this can break the yeast strands, so I’m usually careful not to go too crazy. Flour your hands and then use your dominant hand to do the kneading. (I leave one hand dough free in case the phone rings.)

After you are satisfied with your dough dust the bowl with flour and let the dough rise. This is a great time to have a glass of wine!

Since this is pizza dough I don’t proof it, meaning there is no real reason to punch the dough and let it rise again. I could be wrong… I’m not a professional baker.

I used to make one pizza from this dough, but my lovely wife showed me that rolling this pizza dough extra thin is the way to go (and she is quite right). Rolled out for a thin style pizza crust will give you two large pizzas; however, if you wanted to make a calzone I would say don’t roll as thin.

Dust your pizza stone (or in my case crusty baking sheet) with corn meal before throwing your dough on top. This will keep your pizza from sticking to the surface.

We like a white pizza meaning no red sauce. Brush with olive oil, add toppings… bake!

Enjoy, let me know what you think.