How to make Homemade Pizza from scratch

How to make Homemade Pizza from scratch
Homemade Pepperoni Pizza
When I think back at my first experience eating pizza, I’m immediately taken back home to when I was about 10 or 12 years old. My best friends mother had whipped up some little pizzas for us as a snack using store bought pizza bases, a little sauce and some toppings. I can’t remember what was on it, but what I do remember was that I liked it very, very much. After that,  she very kindly shared that recipe with my mother, who whipped them up for us at home, every once in a while.

Fast forward to about 7-8 years ago, I actually learned to make my pizza bases from scratch. After a whole lot of trial and error, I finally found a combination that worked well for me. And I’ve stuck to that ever since. And its safe to say, that since then, I have never bought a store bought pizza base. It is quite easy to make, once you know what your doing. Coupled with this, I’m also going to share my no-cook pizza sauce recipe with you. This recipe is probably older than my pizza dough recipe. As far as the toppings go, we’ve tried a lot of combinations. Once you have the basics in place, you can switch up you toppings to suit your tastes.

I’m going to whip up 2 pizzas today, one is a pepperoni pizza and the other is a mixed vegetable pizza. While, we’re tried a few topping options, these two have got to be strong favorites in my house.

So let’s get on to the recipe, shall we?

Homemade Pizza 


For the pizza dough – 

2 cups all purpose flour (maida)
1 tsp instant dried yeast
1 tsp sugar
150ml luke warm water (approx.) (use as needed)
2 spoons olive oil
Salt, to taste

In a little bowl, combine the yeast, sugar and a couple of tablespoons of warm water. Set the bowl aside for about 5-10 minutes for the yeast to activate.

After 5-10 minutes, the yeast will turn frothy and is now activated.

In a large mixing bowl, take 2 cups flour and add the salt (I use about 3/4 tsp salt). Using your fingers, mix the salt through the flour.

Make a well in the middle of the mound of flour and add the yeast mix.

Start combining the flour with the yeast and gradually add warm water, as needed to form a soft dough.

The dough will be tacky at first, but will eventually be much more manageable and smooth.

Stretch the dough while kneading and continue this process for about 5 minutes. (See video above, for method). Halfway through the process, add the oil in 2 stages and continue working the dough.

Shape into a ball, and place in a greased bowl. Drizzle a little olive oil on the dough and lightly coat the top of the dough, so that it doesn’t dry out. Cover the bowl with some cling film or a clean, damp towel and leave the bowl in a warm place for the dough to rise. Leave to prove (rise) for about an hour, or till the dough doubles in volume. (It might take a little longer during cooler months.)

For the sauce – 
1-1 1/4 cup passata, tomato puree or canned tomatoes (If using canned tomatoes, process them to a puree before using)
2-3 small cloves of garlic, minced
2 tsp olive oil
Salt, to taste
Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
A little less than 1/2 tsp dried mixed herbs
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4-1/2 tsp red chilly flakes

Add all the ingredients into a bowl. Stir to mix thoroughly.

The sauce is now ready to use.

To make the pizzas – 


Preheat the oven to 250 deg C.

Divide the dough into 2 portions.

Stretch the dough to form the base. (See the video above for method)

Spread the sauce over the base, leaving a little margin from the edges.

Add toppings of your choice and cheese. (I use a combination of mozzarella and colby / cheddar).

Bake for 10-12 minutes or till the dough (pizza base) is cooked through and the cheese has melted.

Enjoy!

NOTES:
1) Remember to use warm water, not hot water. Hot water will kill your yeast and your dough will not rise.

Homemade Veggie Pizza from scratch
Homemade Veggie Pizza from scratch
Homemade Veggie Pizza from scratch
Homemade Veggie Pizza from scratch

How to make Homemade Pizza from scratch

Recipe by Trisha VazCourse: MainsCuisine: American, ItalianDifficulty: Medium
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Resting Time

1

minute

Learn to make your own Pizza dough and sauce at home and then personalise your toppings to make a pizza thats perfect for you.

Ingredients

  • For the pizza dough –
  • 2 cups all purpose flour (maida)

  • 1 tsp instant dried yeast

  • 1 tsp sugar

  • 150ml luke warm water (approx.) (use as needed)

  • 2 spoons olive oil

  • Salt, to taste

  • For the pizza sauce –
  • 1-1 1/4 cup passata, tomato puree or canned tomatoes (If using canned tomatoes, process them to a puree before using)

  • 2 small cloves of garlic, minced

  • 2 tsp olive oil

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

  • A little less than 1/2 tsp dried mixed herbs

  • 1/4 tsp dried oregano

  • 1/2 tsp sugar

  • 1/4-1/2 tsp red chilly flakes

  • For the pizza –
  • Veg pizza toppings – Onion, capsixum, kalamata olives, pickled jalapeños, cheese (I use a combination of mozzarella and cheddar and colby jack)

    Pepperoni pizza – Pepperoni slices, cheese (I use a combination of mozzarella and cheddar and colby jack)

Directions

  • For the dough –
  • In a little bowl, combine the yeast, sugar and a couple of tablespoons of warm water. Set the bowl aside for about 5-10 minutes for the yeast to activate.
    After 5-10 minutes, the yeast will turn frothy and is now activated.
  • In a large mixing bowl, take 2 cups flour and add the salt (I use about 3/4 tsp salt). Using your fingers, mix the salt through the flour.
  • Make a well in the middle of the mound of flour and add the yeast mix.
  • Start combining the flour with the yeast and gradually add warm water, as needed to form a soft dough.
    The dough will be tacky at first, but will eventually be much more manageable and smooth.
    Stretch the dough while kneading and continue this process for about 5 minutes. (See video, for method).
  • Halfway through the process, add the oil in 2 stages and continue working the dough.
    Shape into a ball, and place in a greased bowl. Drizzle a little olive oil on the dough and lightly coat the top of the dough, so that it doesn’t dry out. Cover the bowl with some cling film or a clean, damp towel and leave the bowl in a warm place for the dough to rise. Leave to prove (rise) for about an hour, or till the dough doubles in volume. (It might take a little longer during cooler months.)
  • For the pizza sauce –
  • Add all the ingredients into a bowl. Stir to mix thoroughly.
    The sauce is now ready to use.
  • To make the pizza –
  • Preheat the oven to 250 deg C.
  • Divide the dough into 2 portions.
  • Grease 2 baking trays with a little olive oil.
  • Stretch the dough to form the base and place on the greased baking tray. (See the video for method)
  • Spread the sauce over the base, leaving a little margin from the edges.
  • Add toppings of your choice and cheese. (I use a combination of mozzarella and colby / cheddar).
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes or till the dough (pizza base) is cooked through and the cheese has melted.

    Enjoy!

Recipe Video

Notes

  • For the cheese – I use a combination of mozzarella and cheddar and colby jack
  • For the toppings – Use whatever toppings you’d like on your pizza.
  • Remember to use warm water, not hot water. Hot water will kill your yeast and your dough will not rise.