Recipe for Homemade Pizza

Ingredients

Regarding the dough:

1. One packet of 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
2. One and a half cups of warm water (about 110°F/43°C)
3. Between three and four cups of all-purpose flour
4. Two teaspoons of olive oil
5. One teaspoon of sugar
6. One teaspoon of salt

Regarding the toppings:

• One cup of homemade or store-bought pizza sauce
• Two cups of mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Toppers of your choosing (pepperoni, olives, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, etc.)
• Fresh basil (for garnish, if desired)
• Flakes of red pepper (optional)

Directions

Get the dough ready:

• Dissolve the sugar and yeast in warm water in a bowl. Until it foams, let it sit for five to ten minutes.
• Add the salt and 3 1/2 cups of flour to a large mixing bowl. Create a well in the middle and pour in the olive oil and yeast mixture.
• Stir to form a dough. If the dough is sticky, gradually add additional flour until it becomes smooth.

Work the dough by kneading it:

• After transferring the dough to a floured surface, knead it for five to seven minutes, or until it becomes elastic and smooth.
• Put the dough in a basin that has been lightly oiled, cover it with plastic wrap or a moist cloth, and let it in a warm location to rise for around an hour, or until it has doubled in size.

Warm up the oven:

• Set the oven temperature to 475°F (245°C). Put the pizza stone in the oven to preheat if you plan to use one.

Form the pizza:

• For two medium pizzas, punch down the risen dough and divide it in half, or leave it whole for a large pizza.
• On a surface dusted with flour, roll out the dough to the thickness you want. If using a stone, move it to a pizza peel or baking sheet.

Include the toppings:

• Leaving a thin border around the borders, cover the dough with a coating of pizza sauce. Add your preferred toppings and a dollop of mozzarella cheese.

Make the pizza:

• Gently slide the pizza onto the hot pizza stone or into the oven. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and the crust is brown.

Serve:

• After taking the pizza out of the oven, give it some time to cool. If preferred, garnish with red pepper flakes and fresh basil. Cut and savor!

Advice:

• Try experimenting with different toppings and cheeses!
• Before adding the sauce and toppings, prebake the dough for five minutes to get a crispier crust.

Savor your pizza that you created yourself!