Basic Square Pan Pizza Dough Recipe Sicilian Style Dough

THE BEST SICILIAN PIZZA DOUGH RECIPE!

Steps:

• Add room temperature water to a mixing bowl. Dissolve the sugar and yeast, and add the flour gradually while mixing. Add salt, and mix the dough so it comes together as a shaggy dough.
• Place the dough in an air-tight container, or in a bowl covered with plastic wrap. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes to let the gluten hydrate and ddevelo.
• Take the dough out of its container and knead it to a smooth, springy dough ball. This step can either be done by hand or in a stand mixer This should only take a couple of minutes.
• Place the dough in a lightly oiled airtight container or in a bowl covered with plastic wrap, and let the dough rise for 4-6 hours.
• Remove the dough from the rising container and stretch it out directly on a baking sheet or on a sheet of parchment paper. Use your fingertips and press it outwards from the middle into a rectangular shape. But make sure to keep an edge around the pizza. This will create a nice, raised crust!
• Top teh pizza with your favorite sauce, cheese and toppings.
• Bake the pizza for 30 minutes at 400°F (205°C), until the crust is nice and crispy and slightly brown.

SHEET PAN PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon or dough whisk, stir together the flour, salt, sugar, and yeast. Pour in the warm water and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Continue mixing until no more dry flour appears in the bottom of the bowl.
• Dust a clean work surface with flour. Transfer the dough to your floured work surface and knead it until it comes together in a smooth ball that is tacky but doesn't stick to your hands. This should take about 5 minutes. To knead the dough, place the heel of your hand (or both hands) on the center of the dough and press down and away from you. Fold the dough up and over, turn the dough 45 degrees to the right, and repeat, sprinkling with a little flour as needed if the dough keeps sticking to your hands.
• Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil into a large bowl (preferably one with a tight-fitting lid). Place the dough ball in the bowl and turn to coat it in the oil. Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and let the dough rise until it doubles in volume, 1 to 2 hours at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator. (If refrigerating the dough, take it out of the fridge about an hour before you proceed to the next step so it can come back to room temperature.)
• Grease a large (13 x 18-inch) rimmed baking sheet with 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Place the dough in the pan and press it out with your fingers until it reaches all the way to the edges and corners of the pan. If the dough keeps shrinking back, let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes and try again. After the dough is pressed out all the way to the edges of the pan, cover the whole pan with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rest (proof) for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours. (The longer the dough proofs, the more it will puff up and the fluffier your finished pizza crust will be. For grandma-style pizza, 30 minutes is all you need. For traditional Sicilian-style pizza, 1 to 2 hours is best.).
• Preheat the oven to 500°F. Top the dough with sauce, cheese, and any other meats and veggies you like.
• Transfer the baking sheet to the oven. Bake the pizza for 15 minutes, rotating the pan once halfway through, until the bottom of the crust is golden brown. (Use a spatula to carefully lift up one corner of the pizza to check underneath.)
• Remove the pizza from the oven. Let it cool for 5 minutes, then cut into squares and serve.

SICILIAN PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Coat a large bowl with teaspoon of olive oil and set aside.
• Stir first three ingredients together and let sit for 10 minutes, until nice and foamy.
• Place three cups of flour in large bowl and mix in salt.
• Place one cup of flour on work surface.
• Mix pour olive oil into yeast mixture and then pour yeast mixture into bowl with flour.
• Stir until as combined as possible.
• Turn out onto floured surface.
• With well floured hands, knead dough to work in the cup of flour on the board.
• Continue kneading until nice, smooth dough-ball is formed.
• Place in oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, then kitchen towel and let sit for 30 minutes.
• Dough should double (at least).
• Use half the dough to form a pizza crust, crimp the edges, brush edges with olive oil and top as desired.
• Bake on pizza stone or ceramic tile at 425 F for approx 15 minutes.