Plain Pizza Base Recipes

SIMPLE PIZZA BASE

Steps:

• Put the flour, yeast and 1 tsp salt into a large bowl. Stir in 500ml of slightly warm water and the oil. You should end up with a wettish dough that is rough and lumpy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, cover with a tea towel and if your kitchen is cool keep it out, but if it's warm put it in the bottom of the fridge. Leave dough to rise for at least 6 hrs or until doubled in size.
• When ready to cook, bring the dough to room temperature. Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Dust 2-4 baking sheets with semolina. Dust the work surface with flour, then divide the dough into 2 or 4 pieces. Knead each piece on the floured surface, incorporating enough flour to stop the dough being sticky.
• Roll each piece into a pizza shape and lift onto baking sheets. Leave to rise for 10 mins while you sort toppings (see ideas, below). Top the bases with your chosen ingredients, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and bake following the timings for each topping (18 mins for a large pizza or 12 mins for an individual) or until the crust is crisp and the topping is bubbling.

BASIC PIZZA

Steps:

• For the dough, pile the flours and 1 level teaspoon of sea salt onto a clean surface and make a well in the centre.
• Add the yeast and sugar to 650ml lukewarm water, mix together and leave for a few minutes, then pour into the well.
• Using a fork and a circular movement, slowly bring in the flour from the inner edge of the well and mix into the water. Continue to mix, bringing in all the flour - when the dough comes together and becomes too hard to mix with your fork, flour your hands and begin to pat it into a ball.
• Knead the dough by rolling it backwards and forwards, using your hands to stretch, pull and push the dough. Keep kneading for 10 minutes, or until you have a smooth, springy, soft dough.
• Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with clingfilm and leave in a warm place to to prove for 45 minutes, or until doubled in size.
• For the sauce, peel and finely slice the garlic, then pick the basil leaves and finely chop the stalks.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan on a medium-low heat, add the garlic and basil stalks, then cook gently for a couple of minutes, or until the garlic is lightly golden, then add most of the basil leaves, the tomatoes, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Leave the sauce to tick away for around 20 minutes, or until smooth, breaking up the tomatoes up with a wooden spoon. When the time's up, taste, and season to perfection.
• To assemble the pizzas, divide the dough in half. Wrap one half in clingfilm and freeze for another day. With the remaining half, divide the dough into 4 equal balls.
• Flour each dough ball, then cover with clingfilm, and leave to rest for about 15 minutes - this will make them easier to roll it thinly.
• Dust a clean surface and the dough with a little flour or semolina, and roll it out into a rough circle, about ½cm thick.
• Tear off an appropriately sized piece of tin foil, rub it with olive oil, dust well with flour or semolina and place the pizza base on top. Continue doing the same with the remaining dough, dust with a little flour so you can pile them up. Cover with clingfilm and place in the fridge.
• When you're ready to cook them, preheat the oven to 250°C/500°F/gas 9.
• At this stage you can apply your topping: spread the tomato sauce over the base, spreading it out to the edges. Tear over the mozzarella and scatter with the remaining basil leaves. Drizzle with a tiny bit of olive oil and add a pinch of salt and pepper.
• If you can, cook the pizzas on a piece of granite in your conventional oven - if not, cook them one by one on pieces of tin foil directly on the bars of the oven shelf, towards the bottom of the oven (If you're going to cook your pizzas on the bars of the oven, make sure they're not too big - otherwise they'll be difficult to manoeuvre). Cook for 7 to 10 minutes, until the pizzas are golden and crispy.
• Here are some of my favourite topping ideas: Mozzarella, anchovies, chilli, capers and parsley Smoked pancetta, mozzarella, fresh chilli and tomatoes Egg, prosciutto, artichokes, olives, mozzarella, tomato sauce and basil Green and red grapes, rosemary, pine nuts and ricotta Potatoes, mozzarella, rosemary, thyme and tomatoes Slow-roasted shredded pork with thyme, Taleggio and lemon-dressed rocket

PLAIN PIZZA BASE

Steps:

• Find a deep and wide mixing bowl, [Try not to do it on a flat surface such as counter top as it takes more time and can be quite messy. I usually use a wok as i have one:)] Add in the flour.
• Add in yeast and just mix it lightly with the flour.
• Add in water. To be on the safe side, do not add all, always leave a little in the cup and add more if necessary. Mix the mixture with hand until you knead it to a dough that does not stick to your hand.
• Add the olive oil at this stage. You may substitute this with butter or margarine. It's to give the dough its nice golden brown colour when baked. Knead it for a minute.
• Add the salt. It should be 1 flat teaspoon not heap. Knead it for 2 to 5 minutes.
• You may also add ingredients at this stage such as rosemary, basil, cajun spice, etc and made it your unique pizza base.
• Divide and roll to your desired thickness and size. Dust the working surface well with flour. Cover the unused portion to avoid drying out. [If you want to save the dough, divide and roll it tight as a ball, the wrap it with clear plastic film. Keep it in the freezer. I keep them for maximum 2 weeks. Before using it, let it thaw for 30min to an hour, It might get a bit sticky as it has all those water condension. Add a bit of flour and roll your dough.]
• Preheat the oven to 250 degree celcius.
• Add your favourite ingredients and put in the oven to bake at 220 degree celcius for 10 minutes.

PIZZA HUT ORIGINAL PAN PIZZA

Steps:

• Combine sauce ingredients and let sit for 1 hour.
• Put yeast, sugar, salt, and dry milk in a large bowl.
• Add water and stir to mix well.
• Let rest for two minutes.
• Add oil and stir again.
• Add flour and stir until dough forms and flour is absorbed.
• Turn out on to a flat floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, adding more flour as needed, until elastic and no longer sticky.
• Divide dough into three balls.
• Put 3 ounces of oil in each of three 9-inch cake pans, making sure it is spread evenly.
• Using a rolling pin, roll out each dough ball to about a 9-inch circle.
• Place in cake pans.
• Spray the outer edge of dough with Pam and cover with a plate.
• Place in warm area and allow to rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 475°F.
• For each 9" pizza, spoon 1/3 cup sauce on dough and spread to within 1-inch of edge.
• Distribute 1 1/2 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese on sauce.
• Place toppings of your choice in this order: Pepperoni or ham, vegetables, meats (cooked ground sausage or beef) Top with 3 ounces mozzarella cheese.
• Cook until cheese is bubbling and outer crust is brown.
• Serve hot.

VERY SIMPLE MARGHERITA PIZZA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 240C/220C fan/gas 9. Oil a 20 x 24cm baking tray. Mix the flour, yeast, ¼ tsp salt and the sugar in a bowl, then stir in the water. Bring the mixture together, knead until smooth, then press into the oiled tray.
• Spread passata over the dough, leaving a thin border round the edge. Season the passata, then sprinkle with the chopped basil, the mozzarella and the Parmesan, and bake for 15-20 mins or until cooked through. Scatter with the remaining basil and serve with a side salad.