Description
Delicious homemade pizza brings Italian culinary magic right into kitchens with crispy, golden crust and melted cheese perfection. Gourmet ingredients and simple techniques combine to create a mouthwatering meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- 1 packet active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Toppings:
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup pepperoni slices
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
Seasonings and Extras:
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions
- Activate the yeast by dissolving it in warm water (around 110°F), allowing it to foam and become frothy for approximately 5-7 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and dried oregano, creating a well in the center for the liquid ingredients.
- Pour the activated yeast mixture and olive oil into the flour mixture, stirring until a shaggy dough begins to form.
- Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and knead vigorously for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm area for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Punch down the risen dough and roll it out on a floured surface to fit your preferred pizza pan or baking sheet.
- Spread minced garlic across the dough’s surface before layering tomato sauce evenly, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Generously sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the sauce, then strategically arrange pepperoni slices across the surface.
- Dust the pizza with black pepper and place in a preheated oven at 450°F for 12-15 minutes until the crust turns golden and cheese becomes bubbly.
- Remove from the oven, garnish with fresh basil leaves, slice, and serve immediately while hot and crispy.
Notes
- Choose warm water precisely between 105-115°F to activate yeast perfectly without killing it, ensuring proper fermentation and rising.
- Knead dough on a clean surface with consistent pressure to develop gluten, creating a stretchy and smooth pizza base that holds toppings beautifully.
- Rest dough at room temperature in a draft-free spot to help it rise evenly, allowing natural fermentation to enhance flavor and texture of the crust.
- Preheat pizza stone or baking sheet for crispy bottom, transferring directly into hot oven to simulate professional pizzeria cooking techniques.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg