Italy | Breads

Pasta per Pizza

(Italian pizza dough)

Yield: Dough for 2 medium or 4 individual pizzas


INGREDIENTS PREP AMOUNT
Yeast, active dry 1 packet, 1/4 oz, or 2 1/4 tsp
Water lukewarm (110°F) 1/4 cup
Sugar pinch
 
Flour, bread or all-purpose 3 to 3 1/2 cups
Water lukewarm (110°F) 1 to 1 1/2 cups
Salt 2 tsp
Olive oil 2 Tbsp

METHOD

Basic Steps:  Proof → Mix → Knead → Rise → Punch down → Divide & Form → Roll out & Top

By Hand

  1. Stir yeast and sugar into the 1/4 cup warm water in a small bowl. Let set for about 10 minutes to proof.
  2. Pour yeast mixture into a large bowl. Pour 1 cup of the flour in with the yeast and mix together well. Add another 2 cups of the flour and about 1/2 of the water. Mix together with your hands until all comes together. Add more water as you knead to bring all together to form a smooth dough, not too sticky but not too dry. Add more flour or water as needed to get a good consistency.
  3. Knead for another 8-10 minutes until smooth. Form into a ball.
  4. Wipe a large bowl with a little olive oil. Place dough in bowl and flip to cover with oil. Cover with plastic wrap or a towel and place in a warm space to rise until doubled in size, anywhere from 1-3 hours.
  5. Punch dough down to deflate. Knead another 2-3 minutes. Cut into 2 or 4 pieces. Form each piece into a ball.
  6. Use for any pizza recipe or wrap in plastic wrap and freeze right away for later use.

By Mixer with Dough Hook

  1. For Step 2 above, instead put all ingredients in the following order into the mixer bowl: yeast mixture, flour, water, salt, olive oil. Mix together for 8-10 minutes on medium speed until smooth. Add more flour or water as needed to get a good consistency.
  2. Remove dough from mixer and knead by hand 1-2 minutes. Proceed with Step 4 above.

By Food Processor

  1. For Step 2 above, instead put all ingredients in the following order into the processor bowl: yeast mixture, flour, water, salt, olive oil. Pulse machine until dough comes together in a large ball. This happens quickly. Add more flour or water as needed to get a good consistency.
  2. Remove dough from processor and knead by hand 1-2 minutes. Proceed with Step 4 above.

VARIATIONS

  • 1-2 tablespoonsful of chopped fresh herbs can be added to dough in Step 2 if desired.
  • Whole-wheat Pizza Dough: Substitute 1/4 cup of the regular flour with whole-wheat flour. You may have to add a little more water.

NOTES

  • As with any yeast bread recipe, the exact amounts of flour, water and rising time needed are dependent on the day's weather. Use your intuition.